Credits: ID1974, Shutterstock.com.

These top tweeted terms are the trending industry discussions happening on Twitter by key individuals (influencers) as tracked by the platform.

1. Defence – 681 mentions

The commissioning of the US Navy’s new naval support facility, collaboration between Boeing and Mitsubishi to modernise Japanese fleet and association between US and Bahrain were widely discussed during the third quarter. The U.S. Navy, the official account of the US Navy, shared an article on the commissioning of its new Naval Support Facility (NSF) in Redzikowo, Poland. The NSF is one of the operational locations for the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System (AAMDS) and will play a key role in the defence of Europe, the article highlighted.

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Further, Boeing Defense, the official account of Boeing’s space and security division, tweeted on a partnership with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) to upgrade Japan’s F-15J fleet. The agreement is part of the US government’s $4.5bn modernisation plan. The enhancements will provide the F-15J aircraft with high-tech electronic weapons, and ultra-modern cockpit system, while enhancing Japan’s defence capabilities.

Defence also trended in discussions shared by U.S. 5th Fleet, the official account of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, about the longstanding relationship between the US Navy and the Kingdom of Bahrain. In a meeting with Bahrain Defence Force Commander-in-Chief, the US 5th Fleet Commander, Samuel Paparo discussed the significance of defence partnership between the two countries vis-à-vis regional security in Persian Gulf. Bahrain is willing to become the first country to join International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC), an organisation formed for maintaining stability in the Persian Gulf.

2. Military – 620 mentions

The UK’s defence ministry revamping its fleet, US Space Force inducting air troops into latest military branch and Russian fighter planes intercepting US combat aircraft were some popularly discussed topics in Q3. Ministry of Defence, the official news portal of UK’s Ministry of Defence, tweeted about a £240m ($317m) maintenance contract awarded to AmeyBriggs, a military equipment supplier, to renew the military’s MITER fleet. The fleet comprising of bulldozers, forklifts, excavators and cranes, is predominantly used for disaster response.

Stars and Stripes, a news provider to the US military community, further, shared an article on the US Space Force, the new branch of the US Armed Forces, approving the movement of 2,400 Air Force troops. The airmen, who are serving under various departments and qualified for transfer, will move to the Space Force early next year, while other space troops are expected to shift in 2022. The transfers, intended to protect US space operations, will increase the division’s strength to approximately 16,000 employees, the article noted.

Another discussion surrounding military was shared by Military.com, a website providing news and information on the military, about the B-52 Stratofortress, a US bomber, being dangerously intercepted by two Russian fighters near the Black Sea. The US Air Force noted that the Russian Su-27 Flankers unprofessionally flew within proximity of the B-52 many times, while restricting its movement, the article highlighted.

3. Battalion – 415 mentions

US Army soldiers honing their combat skills, and marksmanship training for US Army battalion in Italy were some widely discussed topics in Q3 2020. U.S. Army, the official account of the US Army, tweeted about soldiers of 1-189th General Support Aviation Batallion (GSAB) undergoing training to improve their combat skills at Fort Harrison in Montana. Corporal Derek Matosich, a GSAB soldier, said that the training was conducted to refine soldiering skills such as treating casualties, fire operations and combating.

Further, US Army Europe, the official account of the US Army Europe, tweeted about the 509th Signal Battalion Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Matthew Jacobs explaining the sharpshooting training for soldiers in Italy. The battalion’s soldiers are being trained at Cao Malnisio Range on using M4 carbine rifle. The training is significant with respect to preparing soldiers to defend their host country’s assets.

4. Soldier – 368 mentions

Deployment of US Army Reserve unit to Europe, test-firing of lasers by soldiers from combat vehicles and research on trust between soldiers and artificial intelligence (AI) were some popularly discussed topics in the third quarter of the year. The U.S. Army Reserve tweeted on the deployment of the division’s 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion stationed in Wisconsin to Eastern Europe. The deployment is being carried out to give reassurance to US’ North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) partners and allies to ensure stability and harmony in the region, the article highlighted.

Military.com, further, shared an article about the US Army soldiers preparing to fire 50kW lasers from Stryker combat vehicles, which will be eventually inducted into service. The laser test, which is scheduled for 2021, is being conducted to choose the company for serving the army with the ultra-modern air-defence weapon. The test is part of the US Army’s Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) programme, the article noted.

Soldier was also discussed in an article shared by U.S. Army CCDC Army Research Laboratory, the official account of US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, about a simulation study where soldiers and AI displayed symbiosis and trust when they joined forces. The study was conducted by army researchers at Military Academy in New York to prioritise the Army’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle mission. The performance assessment was subject to efficacy of humans and robots in demolishing targets and their co-ordination while engaging enemy targets, the article highlighted.

5. Drones – 267 mentions

Easing of restrictions by the US on military drone exports, Russian bomber producer re-entering drone manufacturing and the US Army testing replacement drones for RQ-7 were widely discussed in Q3. According to an article shared by Aaron Mehta, a defence correspondent, the US State Department has relaxed restrictions on export of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) built for military purposes to foreign countries. The latest rule states that drones operating at speeds lesser than 800kph will not require government approval for international sale. The new policy was predominantly promulgated to normalise global cruise missile sales, but also included certain types of UAVs, the article highlighted.

Another discussion related to drones was shared by Kelsey D. Wratherton, a defence technology journalist, about Tupolev, a Russian aerospace and defence firm, venturing into drone making for the first time in several decades. Known for making combat aircraft, the company will now build drones to be used by Russian Armed Forces. Tupolev will leverage state-of-the-art technology for manufacturing both manned and unmanned aircraft, the article noted.

https://twitter.com/AaronMehta/status/1286747415802974208