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Matej Rafael Risko

@matejrisko.bsky.social

Researcher, focus on Nukes | Missiles | Deterrence | Strategy & Planning | War & International Security | Air Power | Wargames | Strictly personal views, Usual Cavetas Igitur qui desiderat pacem praeparet bellum

1,059 Followers  |  955 Following  |  540 Posts  |  Joined: 19.09.2023  |  2.3658

Latest posts by matejrisko.bsky.social on Bluesky

Post image Post image Post image Post image 21.09.2025 13:54 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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You rarely see Harriers flying. The last vestiges of the Cold War. That's actually why I went there. An amazing aircraft and the spirit of British engineering at its best

#NATOdays

21.09.2025 13:52 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Yeah, same here. Personally, very sceptical towards the (cap)ability to prosecute left of launch effort. It actually isnโ€™t seen as a main priority of COMAOs (in case of OWAs for sure), just a subset of AOs and it would depend on the priorities of the command in the designated MTW.

13.09.2025 10:39 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Addendum - I did not mean to say that things are good and sufficient. There is much to be done, and the current state of affairs is not sufficient. It is just a short (well, not that short) explanation of the approach and a thought.

13.09.2025 10:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

The conflict phase only means that the deterrence failed (in which case both defensive (AD/ABM) and offensive means would be employed).
FIN
14/14

13.09.2025 10:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

For this discussion, it is IMO important that a) the approach is based on denial and b) it is flexible and calibrated and conventional (and nuclear) deterrence are an integral part of it, and the execution of the mission begins already in the competitive phase.
13/14

13.09.2025 10:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

All that combined with offensive counterstrikes led by air and ground based units, and passive measures to minimise the impact of SVNO.
12/14

13.09.2025 10:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Note that brigades and battalions must be capable of operating fully independently (being fully autonomous) for relatively short periods of time - it is doctrinally designed for a high degree of saturation for a relatively short period of time.
11/14

13.09.2025 10:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

GBAD-BDE-HQ must be able to operate without support or replenishment for at least 5 days, and sustaining attached units during the same period, GBAD-BN-HQ must be capable of operating without support or replenishment for at least 3 days.
10/14

13.09.2025 10:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

NATO IAMD is essentially focused on two tasks: defending military related infrastructure and protecting manoeuvring forces. The dispersion (and hardening) in the event of crises would significantly reduce Russia's ability to guarantee the destruction of targets.
9/14

13.09.2025 10:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

That is why there is such an emphasis on strengthening IAMD. This was reflected in the adoption of new CTs in June this year (already exceeding the already strengthened targets for 2023 and 2024).
8/14

13.09.2025 10:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

The goal would be to completely paralyse NATO's defence, disrupt command and control chain, and disrupt communications. In the second echelon, there is manned tactical and strategic aviation, airborne operations, and similar fun.
7/14

13.09.2025 10:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

SVNO is another matter. A ***huge*** mass of drones would be used to saturate and suppress NATO's IAMD in the strategic theatre of operation in the first echelon, combines with a use of ballistic, cruise (and various hypersonic) missiles and other PGMs for killing.
6/14

13.09.2025 10:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

The strategic depth of the European part of NATO is relatively large, and Russia's campaign in Ukraine has not proved very effective. SODCIT is also scalable and iterative in nature (it really depends on the scenario)
5/14

13.09.2025 10:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

When discussing this type of threat, it is necessary to define it โ€“ SODCIT, which is the focus of the almost entire debate (how we would survive continuous all-azimuth (drone and missile) raids with a mass similar to or greater than that in UA), is not the primary concern.
4/14

13.09.2025 10:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

At the same time, during the war the Russia would launch another strategic operation - SODCIT (Strategic Operation for the Destruction of Critically Important Targets). Russia's campaign against Ukrainian infrastructure targets is SODCIT.
3/14

13.09.2025 10:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Countering SAO/SVKO (Strategic Air Operation/ัั‚ั€ะฐั‚ะตะณะธั‡ะตัะบะฐั ะฒะพะทะดัƒัˆะฝะพ-ะบะพัะผะธั‡ะตัะบะฐั ะพะฟะตั€ะฐั†ะธั) is one of the most serious problems NATO faces. The operation formally consists of SOOVKN (repelling a NATO's MRAU) and the SVNO (strategic air offensive operation).
2/14

13.09.2025 10:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

There was a discussion on Twitter about how would NATO counter mass,droned (100s-1000s OWA UAVs) all-azimuth raids,so Iโ€™m copy pasting what I wrote there. In short,the answer is dispersion,hardening,and taking decisive action but the devil is in the details
A short thread (well not that short)
1/14

13.09.2025 10:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

*(plausible deniability means โ€œnavigational errorsโ€ in Romaniaโ€™s and Moldovaโ€™s cases)

01.08.2025 22:13 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

They have been doing this for a long time with Shaheds to Romania and Moldova, where plausible deniability can be easily claimed though. Here it is not possible and it is rather crystal clear.
3/3
FIN

01.08.2025 22:12 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

โ€ฆthe UAV crash (which Gerberas launched against Ukraine have), these are 100% without any doubt deliberate incidents to test NATINADS (and Lithuanian defences) and to annoy Lithuania.
2/3

01.08.2025 22:12 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

IIRC itโ€™s a third such incident that has been publicised, I know of at least one other incident that has not been publicised. Considering the range of Gerbera (600km) and the fact that drones that fell on Lithuanian territory were found without explosives activated kinetically afterโ€ฆ
1/3

01.08.2025 22:12 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Improved KILO class, a Russian design. Safe move for China, not revealing their more advanced Type-039B/C Yuan (or coming Type-041 Zhou)

Suggests both countries still guarded on sub tech

01.08.2025 20:12 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 116    ๐Ÿ” 8    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Absolutely no change of US posture has happened. (Based on only unclass reports) there are always two or more subs at sea and a change of a launch zones to maximise Tridentโ€™s PTPs and strike effectiveness on selected targets is a known form of signalling that was used in the past.

01.08.2025 21:37 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 7    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

(1/2) Nuclear deterrence: 30 years after the Chequers Declaration, a major strategic announcement will take place today as London and Paris will state they are opening the possibility to "coordinate" their nuclear deterrents and that they now protect Europe against "extreme threats".

10.07.2025 06:17 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 44    ๐Ÿ” 26    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

Russiaโ€™s โ€œKherson Human Safariโ€ has gone on for well over a year with limited outrage from the international community or media coverage.

Every day they use drones to specifically target civilians for โ€œtarget practiceโ€ & often post videos of them doing it proudly.

Today they targeted a 1 year old.

09.07.2025 13:27 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 459    ๐Ÿ” 213    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 11    ๐Ÿ“Œ 13

Groupe de Supervision Nuclรฉaire seems to be a way to bridge the cooperation between FR and the UK on bilateral level and secondly between GSN and NPG.Itโ€™s a creation of redundant structure,but bilateral coordination mechanism was necessary (and itโ€™s a good thing also for cooperation within the NATO)

10.07.2025 09:29 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

This should be viewed in the context of the June NPG meeting, which was described as "historic" and was preceded by the approval of new CTs/BBs -most notably strengthening the NATINADS capabilities. SSBNs patrols coordination and CSNO (bear gap patrolling) will certainly be addressed as well.

10.07.2025 09:22 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
New Storm Shadow and missile cooperation to boost jobs as UK and France reboot defence relationship A new โ€˜Entente Industrielleโ€™ will support thousands of UK jobs across projects including air-to air missiles

โ€œa newly signed declaration will state for the first time that the respective deterrents of [UK & France] are independent but can be co-ordinated, and that there is no extreme threat to Europe that would not prompt a response by both nations.โ€ www.gov.uk/government/n...

10.07.2025 06:37 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 122    ๐Ÿ” 14    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 4    ๐Ÿ“Œ 5

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