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Army Technology lists ten of the most popular tweets on military and security in the third quarter of 2019, based on data from GlobalData’s Influencer Platform.

The top tweets were chosen from influencers as tracked by GlobalData’s Influencer Platform, which is based on a scientific process that works on pre-defined parameters. Influencers are selected after a deep analysis of the influencer’s relevance, network strength, engagement, and leading discussions on new and emerging trends.

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Top tweets in military and security in Q3 2019:

1. Tweet on Indian Army’s future primary assault rifle AK-203

India and Russia are expected to soon ink a deal for 650,000 Kalashnikov AK-103 assault rifles, which will be manufactured at a plant in Amethi, India. The weapon will become the primary assault rifle of the Indian Army’s infantry units.

Produced by Kalashnikov Concern, the AK-103 7.62mm assault rifle is a variant of the AK-74M rifle. The AK-203 weighs 3.6kg with empty magazine and offers a rate of fire of 600 rounds a minute.

Username: Livefist

Twitter handle: @livefist

Retweets: 681

Likes: 2,076

2. Jens Stoltenberg’s tweet on the end of INF Treaty

Jens Stoltenberg, the 13th Secretary General of NATO, tweeted that Russia bears sole responsibility for the INF Treaty’s demise. Russia has violated the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty) by deploying an intermediate-range cruise missile, which led the US to take decision to withdraw from the Treaty. NATO announced that it would act to ensure collective defence of its member states.

The nuclear arms-control treaty was signed by the US and the Soviet Union in 1987 to abolish their inventory of land-based nuclear-armed ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500km and 5,500km.

Username: Jens Stoltenberg

Twitter handle: @jensstoltenberg

Retweets: 625

Likes: 837

3. EU Defence Agency’s tweet on its new initiatives

The EU Defence Agency has launched three new initiatives, namely Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD), and European Defence Fund (EDF), to strengthen defence co-operation among the member states in Europe.

CARD is designed to monitor and review defence co-operation of members, while PESCO is intended to enhance collaborative approaches for the implementation of co-operative defence projects with the support of EDF.

Username: EU Defence Agency

Twitter handle: @EUDefenceAgency

Retweets: 203

Likes: 478

4. Jens Stoltenberg’s tweet on the meeting with Canadian prime minister

Jens Stoltenberg, the 13th Secretary General of NATO, met with the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the troops of the Canadian Armed Forces. He acknowledged Canada’s contribution to the NATO deployments and support to the member states such as Ukraine.

Username: Jens Stoltenberg

Twitter handle: @jensstoltenberg

Retweets: 179

Likes: 883

5. A tweet about India’s S-400 Triumf missile deal

India is expected to make an initial payment to Russia for the delivery of S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems, according to the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation of Russia. The $5.4bn deal was signed during the visit by Vladimir Putin to India in 2018, amid sanctions threat from the US.

The S-400 system is a modern surface-to-air missile defence system with the ability to counter fighter aircraft, bombs, and tactical ballistic missile at a maximum range of 400km. India intends to deploy S-400 batteries on its borders with Pakistan and China to enhance its missile-based air defence capabilities.

Username: Livefist

Twitter handle: @livefist

Retweets: 160

Likes: 570

6. NATO’s tweet on Simona Daumantien, a Lithuanian close protection agent

NATO’s tweet on Simona, who serves as a close protection agent for the Lithuanian government, emphasises women empowerment in armed forces. Simona is also undergoing training at the Military Academy of Lithuania to become an officer in the Lithuanian Armed Forces.

Username: NATO

Twitter handle: @NATO

Retweets: 150

Likes: 388

7. Sir Humphrey shares a picture of two US Navy destroyers being shipped for repairs

Sir Humphrey, a former reserve officer with the British Army, shared a picture of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers McCain and Fitzgerald, which entered service with the US Navy in 1994 and 1995 respectively. The destroyers collided with two different merchant vessels in 2017.

Username: Sir Humphrey

Twitter handle: @pinstripedline

Retweets: 133

Likes: 516

8. NavyLookout’s tweet on Iranian boats’ attempt to seize a British oil tanker

NavyLookout, an independent online campaign to promote the Royal Navy and fight against its decline, tweeted about the BP oil tanker MV British Heritage being approached by three boats of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, when it was passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

HMS Montrose, which was escorting the tanker, warned the boat’s crew over radio to leave the area.

Username: NavyLookout

Twitter handle: @NavyLookout

Retweets: 89

Likes: 308

9. Japan’s intention to become a partner in the F-35 program

Japan intends to become an official partner in the F-35 program. The Pentagon may, however, turn down Japan’s request as it anticipates that the entry of a new partner may create issues among the members of the F-35 consortium.

Username: Defense News

Twitter handle: @defense_news

Retweets: 74

Likes: 88

10. Development of the RAF’s sixth-generation fighter

The UK MoD plans to recruit staff for the Team Tempest program, which involves the development of a sixth-generation fighter jet for the UK Royal Air Force.

The program currently employs more than 1,000 personnel, while the MoD plans to double the head count by 2021. The first aircraft is scheduled to enter service with the RAF in 2035.

Username: UK Defence Journal

Twitter handle: @UKDefJournal

Retweets: 63

Likes: 130