Matt Bennett-Blacklock
@t3hbb.bsky.social
Drones, UAS and C-UAS, tech, electronics, radio, embedded, science and engineering. Occasional amateur astronomy stuff.
I do hope he’s wrong. Thankfully that’s not unheard of.
❗️🇭🇺 I assume that this is the last peaceful year for Europeans - a big war may break out in Europe in 2026, - Orban
December 24, 2025 at 2:07 PM
I do hope he’s wrong. Thankfully that’s not unheard of.
Reposted by Matt Bennett-Blacklock
NEW: last night, the US govt launched an assault on the ‘global censorship industrial complex’, aka European tech researchers/campaigners.
It’s a deeply chilling move & speaks as to why we need international solidarity more than ever.
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
It’s a deeply chilling move & speaks as to why we need international solidarity more than ever.
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
A message to America: we are not your enemy
Last night, the US launched an all-out assault on the "global censorship industrial complex", I respond with some deep breaths, solidarity and a vibey video (it's all I have)
open.substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 11:52 AM
NEW: last night, the US govt launched an assault on the ‘global censorship industrial complex’, aka European tech researchers/campaigners.
It’s a deeply chilling move & speaks as to why we need international solidarity more than ever.
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
It’s a deeply chilling move & speaks as to why we need international solidarity more than ever.
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
Reposted by Matt Bennett-Blacklock
Facebook, Instagram, X are simply banned in Russia. No US outrage about free speech there—yet the EU is the target. That contrast says a lot.
Visa bans may be moderate, but the message isn’t: the US is signaling it feels entitled to challenge EU rules governing digital speech.
www.state.gov/releases/off...
www.state.gov/releases/off...
Announcement of Actions to Combat the Global Censorship-Industrial Complex - United States Department of State
The State Department is taking decisive action against five individuals who have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetize, and suppress American viewpoints they oppose....
www.state.gov
December 24, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Facebook, Instagram, X are simply banned in Russia. No US outrage about free speech there—yet the EU is the target. That contrast says a lot.
Reposted by Matt Bennett-Blacklock
The US State Department says it will deny visas to five people, including a former EU commissioner and the heads of three European organisations combating online misinformation, for seeking to "coerce" US social media platforms into "censorship".
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
US denies visas to ex-EU commissioner and others over social media rules
Thierry Breton, the former top tech regulator at the European Commission, says a
www.bbc.co.uk
December 24, 2025 at 4:58 AM
The US State Department says it will deny visas to five people, including a former EU commissioner and the heads of three European organisations combating online misinformation, for seeking to "coerce" US social media platforms into "censorship".
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Matt Bennett-Blacklock
Nina Jankowicz: “They’re not doing this because they have any evidence of censorship — they lost a Supreme Court case that made those claims… They’re doing this because the group of researchers and advocates have stood up to liars like Donald Trump and the platforms that enable them.”
“Chilling and unconstitutional” — @attorneynora.bsky.social @freepress.bsky.social
U.S. Bars 5 European Tech Regulators and Researchers
www.nytimes.com
December 24, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Nina Jankowicz: “They’re not doing this because they have any evidence of censorship — they lost a Supreme Court case that made those claims… They’re doing this because the group of researchers and advocates have stood up to liars like Donald Trump and the platforms that enable them.”
Reposted by Matt Bennett-Blacklock
"It was not Hitler or Himmler who abducted me, beat me and shot my family. It was the shoemaker, the milkman, the neighbor, who received a uniform and then believed they were the master race."
Karl Stojka, Auschwitz survivor
Karl Stojka, Auschwitz survivor
December 23, 2025 at 10:49 PM
"It was not Hitler or Himmler who abducted me, beat me and shot my family. It was the shoemaker, the milkman, the neighbor, who received a uniform and then believed they were the master race."
Karl Stojka, Auschwitz survivor
Karl Stojka, Auschwitz survivor
Reposted by Matt Bennett-Blacklock
FT reports Russian generals are feeding Putin a false narrative of progress in Ukraine, exaggerating Ukrainian losses and hiding failures. This delusion fuels his refusal to end the war, even as Ukraine encircles Russian forces in Kupyansk and the Kremlin’s economy sinks under the weight of reality.
December 23, 2025 at 9:22 AM
FT reports Russian generals are feeding Putin a false narrative of progress in Ukraine, exaggerating Ukrainian losses and hiding failures. This delusion fuels his refusal to end the war, even as Ukraine encircles Russian forces in Kupyansk and the Kremlin’s economy sinks under the weight of reality.
Reposted by Matt Bennett-Blacklock
Ukrainian soldiers say the most effective defense against fiber-optic FPV drones remains the combo of a “Safari” shotgun and the “Ptashka” net launcher. If the drone survives buckshot, it’s caught by a 4x4m net fired up to 30m.
December 23, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Ukrainian soldiers say the most effective defense against fiber-optic FPV drones remains the combo of a “Safari” shotgun and the “Ptashka” net launcher. If the drone survives buckshot, it’s caught by a 4x4m net fired up to 30m.
Interesting to see reports that align with my assumptions on this. I’d also be interested to see how a fibre drone flies early in flight. Those reels are heavy.
👀 The most effective protection against fiber-optic FPV drones, according to the military, is still the combination of the Safari shotgun and Ptashka netgun.
Ptashka netgun: 4x4 meter net flies up to 30 m. The effective range of the shot is 20-25 m.
Ptashka netgun: 4x4 meter net flies up to 30 m. The effective range of the shot is 20-25 m.
December 23, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Interesting to see reports that align with my assumptions on this. I’d also be interested to see how a fibre drone flies early in flight. Those reels are heavy.
Reposted by Matt Bennett-Blacklock
A two-meter drone with a parachute was found in trees on Strâmtu mountain in Argeș County, Romania. A hunter discovered the intact device on Sunday. Police cordoned off the area as authorities investigate its origin.
December 21, 2025 at 3:38 PM
A two-meter drone with a parachute was found in trees on Strâmtu mountain in Argeș County, Romania. A hunter discovered the intact device on Sunday. Police cordoned off the area as authorities investigate its origin.
Reposted by Matt Bennett-Blacklock
This is a warning to us, otherwise we will lose the future of our children.
August 23, 2025 at 7:58 AM
This is a warning to us, otherwise we will lose the future of our children.
Reposted by Matt Bennett-Blacklock
Chief of Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov:Russia is preparing to occupy the Baltics,accelerating its aggression plans to2027Russia views the Baltic states as a target for occupation,while Poland,under current plans,is considered a target for strikes without a full-scale takeover,he said
December 20, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Chief of Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov:Russia is preparing to occupy the Baltics,accelerating its aggression plans to2027Russia views the Baltic states as a target for occupation,while Poland,under current plans,is considered a target for strikes without a full-scale takeover,he said
Reposted by Matt Bennett-Blacklock
Ukrainian defense lines in the Zaporizhzhia region
December 20, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Ukrainian defense lines in the Zaporizhzhia region
Reposted by Matt Bennett-Blacklock
❗️Yet another Russian drone, Merlin-VR, was found in Turkey! Merlin crashed in Balıkesir area.
December 20, 2025 at 11:03 AM
❗️Yet another Russian drone, Merlin-VR, was found in Turkey! Merlin crashed in Balıkesir area.
Reposted by Matt Bennett-Blacklock
🇹🇷 Russian Merlin-VR reconnaissance drone crashed in an empty field in Türkiye.
December 20, 2025 at 11:06 AM
🇹🇷 Russian Merlin-VR reconnaissance drone crashed in an empty field in Türkiye.
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
“US intelligence reports contradict Putin's denials of being threat to Europe”
“US intelligence reports contradict Putin's denials of being threat to Europe”
US intelligence indicates Putin's war aims in Ukraine are unchanged
U.S. intelligence reports continue to warn that Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to capture all of Ukraine and reclaim parts of Europe that belonged to the former Soviet empire, six sources fa...
www.reuters.com
December 20, 2025 at 9:49 AM
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
“US intelligence reports contradict Putin's denials of being threat to Europe”
“US intelligence reports contradict Putin's denials of being threat to Europe”
Reposted by Matt Bennett-Blacklock
US intelligence says Putin still aims to capture all of Ukraine and reclaim former Soviet territories in Europe, six sources told Reuters.
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
HUR Chief Budanov said Russia plans to occupy Baltic states by 2027, accelerated from 2030, and strike Poland without occupation, viewing the West as weak and indecisive.
December 20, 2025 at 8:16 AM
US intelligence says Putin still aims to capture all of Ukraine and reclaim former Soviet territories in Europe, six sources told Reuters.
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Reposted by Matt Bennett-Blacklock
🚀🇺🇦 The Bars missile-drone is a mass-produced product that Ukraine can already launch hundreds of them per day at Russia, — DE sources
There have already been cases when about 100 Bars alone were launched at the enemy at the same time.
There have already been cases when about 100 Bars alone were launched at the enemy at the same time.
December 19, 2025 at 4:01 PM
🚀🇺🇦 The Bars missile-drone is a mass-produced product that Ukraine can already launch hundreds of them per day at Russia, — DE sources
There have already been cases when about 100 Bars alone were launched at the enemy at the same time.
There have already been cases when about 100 Bars alone were launched at the enemy at the same time.
Reposted by Matt Bennett-Blacklock
There were no drones.
No mothership.
No invasion.
Just airplanes, blurry cameras, and a political ecosystem that profits from panic and never apologizes when it’s wrong.
open.substack.com/pub/adamkinz...
No mothership.
No invasion.
Just airplanes, blurry cameras, and a political ecosystem that profits from panic and never apologizes when it’s wrong.
open.substack.com/pub/adamkinz...
The Great Drone Panic: America’s Modern War of the Worlds
How a few blurry videos, a reckless claim from a member of Congress, and a right-wing media frenzy turned ordinary airplanes into a national security panic—and then vanished without accountability.
open.substack.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:47 PM
There were no drones.
No mothership.
No invasion.
Just airplanes, blurry cameras, and a political ecosystem that profits from panic and never apologizes when it’s wrong.
open.substack.com/pub/adamkinz...
No mothership.
No invasion.
Just airplanes, blurry cameras, and a political ecosystem that profits from panic and never apologizes when it’s wrong.
open.substack.com/pub/adamkinz...
Reposted by Matt Bennett-Blacklock
A Russian Orlan-10 drone landed in Turkish territory, about 30mi from Istanbul.
December 19, 2025 at 3:41 PM
A Russian Orlan-10 drone landed in Turkish territory, about 30mi from Istanbul.
Reposted by Matt Bennett-Blacklock
Russian Orlan-10 reconnaissance drone crashed in rural area near Izmit city, Kocaeli province, Turkey, with Turkish authorities launching investigation.
December 19, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Russian Orlan-10 reconnaissance drone crashed in rural area near Izmit city, Kocaeli province, Turkey, with Turkish authorities launching investigation.
Speculating a little here but this looks like FPV attacks with a larger spotter (the footage we see)
𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚!
December 19, 2025: Ukraine’s SBU has released video of a strike on the Russian-linked “shadow fleet” tanker QENDIL in the Mediterranean. As of about 11:30 UTC, AIS data showed QENDIL was located roughly 350 km due north of Benghazi about 14 hours earlier.
That matters.
December 19, 2025: Ukraine’s SBU has released video of a strike on the Russian-linked “shadow fleet” tanker QENDIL in the Mediterranean. As of about 11:30 UTC, AIS data showed QENDIL was located roughly 350 km due north of Benghazi about 14 hours earlier.
That matters.
December 19, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Speculating a little here but this looks like FPV attacks with a larger spotter (the footage we see)
Reposted by Matt Bennett-Blacklock
A Passenger Ferry, a Spy Device & a Suspected 🇷🇺 Plot
🇨🇵 INTEL services are investigating what officials describe as a potential attempt at hostile foreign interference after a sophisticated spying device was discovered aboard a passenger ferry in the Mediterranean
united24media.com/latest-news/...
🇨🇵 INTEL services are investigating what officials describe as a potential attempt at hostile foreign interference after a sophisticated spying device was discovered aboard a passenger ferry in the Mediterranean
united24media.com/latest-news/...
December 19, 2025 at 9:53 AM
A Passenger Ferry, a Spy Device & a Suspected 🇷🇺 Plot
🇨🇵 INTEL services are investigating what officials describe as a potential attempt at hostile foreign interference after a sophisticated spying device was discovered aboard a passenger ferry in the Mediterranean
united24media.com/latest-news/...
🇨🇵 INTEL services are investigating what officials describe as a potential attempt at hostile foreign interference after a sophisticated spying device was discovered aboard a passenger ferry in the Mediterranean
united24media.com/latest-news/...
Reposted by Matt Bennett-Blacklock
Sad but inevitable news of Russia jailing another British fighter who signed a contract with Ukraine's army (pic2)
Hayden Davies, from Southampton, was sentenced to 13 years by a court in occupied Donetsk. He was captured a year ago and paraded on camera (Pic1)
#StopRussia
Hayden Davies, from Southampton, was sentenced to 13 years by a court in occupied Donetsk. He was captured a year ago and paraded on camera (Pic1)
#StopRussia
December 18, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Sad but inevitable news of Russia jailing another British fighter who signed a contract with Ukraine's army (pic2)
Hayden Davies, from Southampton, was sentenced to 13 years by a court in occupied Donetsk. He was captured a year ago and paraded on camera (Pic1)
#StopRussia
Hayden Davies, from Southampton, was sentenced to 13 years by a court in occupied Donetsk. He was captured a year ago and paraded on camera (Pic1)
#StopRussia
Reposted by Matt Bennett-Blacklock
Anti-drone nets on the streets of Izium in Kharkiv region.
They are being actively installed to protect the city from Russian FPV drones.
They are being actively installed to protect the city from Russian FPV drones.
December 18, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Anti-drone nets on the streets of Izium in Kharkiv region.
They are being actively installed to protect the city from Russian FPV drones.
They are being actively installed to protect the city from Russian FPV drones.