Army Technology lists ten of the most popular tweets on land warfare in November 2020 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.

Top tweets on land warfare in November 2020

1. Lucy Fisher’s tweet on UK’s military spending plan

Lucy Fisher, deputy political editor at The Telegraph, an online news website, tweeted on UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement on the biggest defence investment since the cold war. The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) is expected to get an additional £16.5bn ($21.9bn) over four years to transform the armed forces and support global influence.

Boris detailed that the funding will be used to create a new space command that will launch its first rocket by 2022 and a new artificial intelligence agency to develop autonomous weapons system. The funding will also be used to create a national cyber force to protect Britons from cyberattacks.

Username: Lucy Fisher Twitter handle: @LOS_Fisher

Retweets: 94

Likes: 219

2. Armed with Science’s tweet on semi-autonomous robot dogs

Armed with Science, official account of the US Department of Defense, shared a video on Tyndall Air Force Base introducing ultra-durable, autonomous and weather-proof robotic dogs. The video detailed that the robots will be used at strategic locations for surveillance and patrolling missions.

Username: Armed with Science Twitter handle: @ArmedwScience

Retweets: 55

Likes: 151

3. Stars and Stripes’ tweet on withdrawal of US troops from Germany

Stars and Stripes, an online platform for military news, shared an article on US President-elect Joe Biden’s plans to stop Donald Trump administration’s plans to withdraw US forces from Germany. The move is expected to be put into action by January 2021 and is being considered as one of the most significant and quickest national security policy reversals.

The article detailed that Biden is expected to revive relations with NATO allies and evaluate how NATO determines military investment. Biden is also expected to place more importance on military capabilities.

Username: Stars and Stripes Twitter handle: @starsandstripes

Retweets: 24

Likes: 74

4. Shephard News’ tweet on Centauro 2 armoured vehicle

Shephard News, an online news platform focused on aerospace and defence, shared an article on new armoured vehicle, Centauro 2, produced by Iveco – Oto Melara Consortium (CIO) owned by Leonardo, an aerospace and defence company, and Iveco, an industrial vehicle manufacturing company.

Centauro is the first 120mm tank on wheels evolved from B1 Centauro tank destroyer. It is equipped with Leonardo’s state-of-the-art systems along with a fully digital architecture. The article detailed that the vehicle can be used for defence and security missions, apart from operations following natural disasters or of any scenario requiring armed forces intervention.

Username: Shephard News Twitter handle: @ShephardNews

Retweets: 21

Likes: 65

5. Military Times’ tweet on Army infantry drone experiment

Military Times, a website covering military news and information, shared an article on the XVIII Airborne Corps army unit being the first to experiment with autonomous drone resupply from 2021.

The article noted that the unit evaluated three types of unmanned systems for performing tasks such as hauling gear, food and other inventories. A small helicopter type drone that can carry up to 70 pounds and requires a manual load was one of the unmanned systems evaluated by the unit.

A hybrid helicopter with fixed wing device that can carry either 80 or 120 pounds and perform remote drops was the second system evaluated, while the third system can carry 110 pounds and can also perform remote drops.

Username: Military Times Twitter handle: @MilitaryTimes

Retweets: 10

Likes: 49

6. US AFRICOM’s tweet on African Lion 21 military training exercise

US AFRICOM, the official account of the US Africa Command, one of the unified combatant commands of the US Department of Defence, shared an article on the meeting between the Maj. Gen. Andrew Rohling of the US and Gen. Belkhir El Farouk of Morocco to conduct African Lion (AL) 21, the continent’s largest military training exercise amid the pandemic.

The generals agreed to conduct the exercise in June next year. Rohling noted that the exercise will be an opportunity for the US service members to train with Moroccan military professionals.

Username: US AFRICOM Twitter handle: @USAfricaCommand

Retweets: 16

Likes: 47

7. Nicholas Drummond’s tweet on China’s microwave weapons

Nicholas Drummond, managing director at AURA Consulting, a strategic consulting firm, shared an article on how China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) used an innovative and non-lethal approach of deploying microwave weapons to force Indian army troops to retreat from a months-long border standoff in the Himalayas.

Jin Canrong, a professor of international relations at Beijing-based Renmin University, detailed that the PLA used the strategy without violating a no-live-shot rule on the high altitudes. The PLA targeted the microwave weapons on two strategic hilltops, which caused vomiting, pain

and irritation among the Indian soldiers who fled, following which the Chinese army seized the lost ground.

Username: Nicholas Drummond Twitter handle: @nicholadrummond

Retweets: 19

Likes: 43

8. Nick Waters’ tweet on Australian war crimes

Nick Waters, group chief executive officer at Ebiquity, a marketing and media consultancy firm, shared an article on a report from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) on Elite troops of Australia killing Afghan civilians during the Afghan war.

The ADF report confirms Australian war crimes, where junior soldiers were ordered to shoot Afghan prisoners, farmers or civilians between 2009 and 2013 and the crimes were covered by placing weapons near the bodies.

The findings detailed that the war crimes were deliberate and repeated leading to the unlawful killing of 39 people. The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) accepted the report and noted that the incident must be solved and compensated adequately without further delays.

Username: Nick Waters Twitter handle: @N_Waters89

Retweets: 27

Likes: 30

9. Tyler Rogoway’s tweet on French army testing small drones

Tyler Rogoway, editor at The War Zone, a website providing information on defence, shared an article on French army’s Sauron project to develop unmanned aerial vehicle. The French Defense Innovation Agency has released a request for proposal (RFP) for payloads that can detect, intercept, and possibly jam communications, and can be carried by drones weighing less than 55 pounds.

The RFP detailed that either fixed-wing or rotary-wing types will be considered with weight less than 11 pounds and energy requirement of less than 50W. The proposals are to be submitted by January 2021.

Username: Tyler Rogoway Twitter handle: @Aviation_Intel

Retweets: 7

Likes: 27

10. Oriana Pawlyk’s tweet on China’s growing presence in the Caribbean

Oriana Pawlyk, an air war reporter, shared an article on China increasing its presence in the Caribbean region through security cooperation. The country has provided loans and expertise to build highways in Jamaica apart from donating security equipment for the military and police forces. It has also provided the region with Covid-19 test kits, masks and ventilators, the article noted.

China’s moves are part of its strategy to expand its footprint and influence in the region through loans, investments and security efforts. Although the Caribbean region is small and lacks mineral reserves, it offers a strategic advantage in terms serving as a hub for logistics and commerce. It also has great value in terms of security due to its proximity to the US in the event of a military conflict, the article highlighted.

Username: Oriana Pawlyk

Twitter handle: @Oriana0214

Retweets: 20

Likes: 24