Benjamin Tallis
Thought Leadership for Helsing - AI to Protect Our Democracies | Chair @DSI_Strategy |🇺🇦🇪🇺🇩🇪🇨🇿🇬🇧 | #NeoIdealism | Post=personal, Repost ≠ endorse. Views mine
- ICYMI! Great piece from @glandsbergis.bsky.social from before xmas on why Europe needs a new, two-track approach to deterrence - & fast! Europe’s security situation is changing fast— pretending otherwise is becoming dangerous & GL’s piece is even more pertinent now 🧵 table.media/en/security/...
- Key elements of @glandsbergis.bsky.social’s argument 🇺🇸 US shift & a weakening deterrent in the emerging new world order. Washington no longer treats European defence as a core interest [to put it mildly]. Commitments feel conditional, & deterrence—fundamentally psychological—is eroding.🧵
- 🇷🇺Russia is testing our limits Moscow senses the shift, & the weakening of our deterrence, probing NATO airspace, infrastructure, and borders through persistent hybrid attacks without facing serious consequences. 🧵
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View full threadBottom line Europe needs *both* a Berlin-centred shield & a distributed national deterrent asap. Failure to build credible deterrence risks being forced to fight on Russia’s terms - or being coerced & risking our democracies & our freedom. @glandsbergis.bsky.social table.media/en/security/...
- Great interview @shashj.bsky.social - & a super way to get a clearer understanding of Helsing’s vision, how we’re supplying Ukraine with advanced strike drones & building the capabilities that Europe needs for effective deterrence. Europe has the tools to take our future in our hands.
- For Inside Defence, I interviewed Torsten Reil, the co-founder of the defence-tech firm Helsing. We talked about competing visions of the future of war, ethical dilemmas around autonomy & AI & whether Europe's defence industry needs US-free supply chains. www.economist.com/insider/insi...
- New Tech ≠ Military Transformation - or advantage. A powerful reminder from fmr UK CDS Nick Carter in his new @WarOnTheRocks article Learning from #Ukraine & military history, real change needs integration, vision & realistic experimentation at scale warontherocks.com/2026/01/a-ne...
- My top 20 reads of 2025 (incl a few evergreen re-reads) These books materially shaped how I think and work — and several translated directly into real professional impact. I’ve got a strong list for 2026, but I’m keen to sharpen it: - what should I be reading next?
- Reposted by Benjamin TallisVery pleased to make this list. Thanks for including me @bctallis.bsky.social
- Military need & geopolitical reality not bureaucratic timelines or fiscal shortsightedness must drive Europe’s rearmament. We need to align pol, Econ & mil timelines to transform our forces, fast. Delayed deterrence is failed deterrence - & failed deterrence costs so much more.
- Reposted by Benjamin Tallis👇
- Honoured to be at @rusi.bsky.social for CDS lecture in London. A broad ‘whole of society’ vision & strong words on lethality, but as the questions showed, UK need to dispel a perceived ‘say-do gap’. Building on Atlantic Bastion model to get new capability at speed & scale would do just that.
- Honoured to be at @rusi.bsky.social for CDS lecture in London. A broad ‘whole of society’ vision & strong words on lethality, but as the questions showed, UK need to dispel a perceived ‘say-do gap’. Building on Atlantic Bastion model to get new capability at speed & scale would do just that.
- Next leg of the Winterreise. After a brief festive pit stop in beautiful #Prague, I’m now back on the road, heading to #London for meetings with experts & a special event. We have so much to protect - & much to do to protect it, but wherever I’ve been so far we’re stepping up.
- Baby, it’s cold outside! Wonderful, short but intense wintry trip to #Ottawa. Great to check in with experts, policy shapers & industry players & feel the energy for defence transformation & building military capability using AI. Geopolitical winter is coming but we need to be #preparednotscared
- Political will meets cutting edge expertise & industrial dynamism. ⏩🇩🇪🇨🇦🦾 It was an honour to co-lead the session on rising to new security challenges at the excellent German-Canadian AI Symposium in Montreal in the company of political, industry & AI leaders. Now we all need to deliver.
- Munich was looking wonderfully festive, & it was a wrench to leave after such a flying visit - though we crammed a lot of work in with a high-intensity engagement with military leaders. But, it’s already ‘giddy up Jingle Horse’, and on to Montreal via, a lovely dawn, for the AI symposium.
- It was an honour to engage with the Bundeswehr Führungsakademie Transatlantic Seminar at Helsing Munich on a crucial topic: - We need to master current & future shifts or face being mastered by our enemies.
- Reposted by Benjamin TallisEurope must act now. We should use Russia’s frozen assets to provide a reparations loan that strengthens Ukraine’s ability to defend itself. This is fair, feasible and urgent. Leaders of 🇫🇮🇪🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹🇸🇪🇵🇱🇮🇪 to 🇪🇺 in the name of 🇺🇦
- Our future is in our hands. I’m proud to be able to show what Helsing can do to help us all ensure that there’s plenty to cheer in festive seasons to come.
- Let’s go! Last trip of the year - and it’s a bumper tour of key spots for securing the future of our free societies. 🇩🇪Munich 🇨🇦Montreal 🇨🇦Ottawa 🇨🇿Prague 🇬🇧London 🇧🇪Brussels🇪🇺 Driving forward the defence of our democracies together with military, political & industry leaders.
- ⭐️Europe has the tools, we just need to embrace our strength.⭐️ “the US National Security Strategy leaves no ambiguity: Europe must generate its own deterrent mass in the North Atlantic and its surrounding seas” 1/3 www.futurenavy.com/p/atlantic-b...
- Key Takeaways 🤖AI & Autonomy are key to future naval warfare and maritime deterrence 🚢Europe must step up for defence of the North Atlantic, the sea lanes and critical infrastructure we depend on. ⚓️No way crewed vessels alone can provide the coverage needed www.futurenavy.com/p/atlantic-b...
- ⏩ Autonomous mass & AI enhanced sensing are crucial to anti-submarine warfare & critical infrastructure protection. Europe needs to field these capabilities at scale. 💡Exactly why Helsing developed SG-1 long-endurance UUV gliders with AI processing on the edge & our Lura software helsing.ai/lura
- Europe must become strong - & we can. Very clear discussions in London on: - Strategic Picture & Urgent Timelines - Concept-Driven Military Change - Embrace of New Technologies - European Way of War - Leveraging Our Strengths in Innovation & Industry - Societal Readiness
- What can AI do for AirPower? How do we learn the right lessons from #Ukraine? How can we master technological change to deliver military advantage. Great to be on The High Ground podcast to get into all of this with @gregbagwell.bsky.social & @Sean Bell Listen in👇 open.spotify.com/episode/7r82...
- For a strong Europe. Already on the road for an early start with @rusi.bsky.social in London tmrw on equipping the European Pillar of NATO, before heading back to to Berlin for Defence Königswinter to accelerate & deepen German & UK leadership on European defence.
- From Europe. For Europe. Helsing’s CA-1 Uncrewed Combat Air Vehicle. Proud to be part of the team giving Europe the sovereign capabilities it needs for air superiority & deep strike.
- “The task is to make technology intuitive, like the STEN gun or Panzerfaust — which were simplified for widespread use.“ Clear message that we need simple, agile, effective mass - easy to produce, field, employ, maintain & replace, fast & at scale. warontherocks.com/2025/10/is-e...
- And NO, Europe isn’t too Soft to fight. But we do have to train our strength - & we can. Mobilising our societies & economies is in our gift - but our elites have to want it. Excellent, insightful piece from Roderick Parkes & @florencegaub.bsky.social warontherocks.com/2025/10/is-e...
- Reposted by Benjamin Tallist.me/United24medi... ❤️🔥 A #Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 heads into combat to defend our skies. Deep gratitude to those who protect #Ukraine from above!
- Reposted by Benjamin TallisPolish FM Radosław Sikorski voiced support for Trump's stance, writing: "I agree with President Trump that without striking enemy territory, you can’t win a war. That’s why Tomahawks must be delivered to Ukraine." He made the statement from London, where he brought a captured Russian Shahed drone.
- Great to be back in London, and back on Whitehall for the RUSI Military Technology Conference 2025. Our ability to master military change at a time of disruptive technological shift will define the security of our democracies - and our free future. @rusi.bsky.social
- Reposted by Benjamin Tallis“I must disappoint those who believe that our neutrality would protect Austria from Russian attacks. It is highly likely that we have long been in the crosshairs of Russian ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, electronic warfare operations, and cyberattacks.” - @hoanssolo.bsky.social
- AI can deliver the asymmetric military advantage that Europe needs - playing to our strengths & offsetting Russia’s Together, Helsing & Blue Ocean are accelerating the development of autonomous mass precision sensors that will transform underwater surveillance. helsing.ai/newsroom/hel...
- Czechia’s standing & influence have been strongest when it has been strongest in its embodiment of & support for freedom & democratic values.
- Reposted by Benjamin TallisSITREP 🇺🇦 DAY 1317 1. Next Ramstein meeting to be held at NATO HQ under 🇬🇧 🇩🇪 not US auspices 2. Zelensky at EU Council in Copenhagen 3. 🇷🇺 Mi-8 down 4. 28 Shahed leakers out of 86
- Mastering Military Change & the Defence Industrial Revolution Europe needs … Both featured in my talk at the @WarsawForum this week. Watch here (from 18:22) www.youtube.com/live/Y4XUcxq...
- Using AI to protect our democracies. Delivering autonomous mass for a strong Europe. Video of my WSF speech (from 18:22👇 It was an honour to speak on behalf of @HelsingAI at @warsawforum.bsky.social this week www.youtube.com/live/Y4XUcxq...
- It was great to engage with the impressive array of experts, policymakers & leaders from the military, industry, politics & civil society - & catch up with friends & allies in the mission to ensure our free societies not only survive, but thrive in an increasingly hostile and competitive world.
- It was also energising to hear so many European participants focusing on how we strengthen our defence, our economies & gain technological leadership - rather than wallowing in our dependencies. Thanks & kudos to @kpisarska.bsky.social, @pisarski.bsky.social & team for a successful #WSF2025
- Reposted by Benjamin Tallis"The EU’s age-old problem of choosing to talk about a crisis instead of resolving it came back to haunt it on Wednesday. Even with Europe assailed by drones, warplanes and hybrid attacks, a summit descended into familiar stalemate." @politico.eu www.politico.eu/article/eu-s...
- Really looking forward to presenting Helsing & our mission at a crucial time for European security today at the Warsaw Security Forum - if you’re here come and join us in the Chicago Room from 1130-1200 (I’ll be on at about 1145/1150 @warsawforum.bsky.social #WSF2025
- We must not only spend more, but better. Europe needs real new capabilities. Strong start to the Defence Track at the #WarsawSecurityForum - interesting also to hear mention of the ‘Drone Wall’ already in the intro …
- Reposted by Benjamin TallisTrying hard to moderate my Maia Sandu fangirling right now, but I gotta stress she's accomplished something no EEuropean reformist ever has: brought a fugitive oligarch back to face justice AND fended off massive Ru interference to win a referendum and two re-elections (parliamentary+presidential)!
- The future’s here, it’s just asymmetrically advantaged. Great report on Helsing’s CA-1 UCAV from @olivermoody.bsky.social in @thetimes.com www.thetimes.com/world/europe...
- Reposted by Benjamin TallisEuropean defense manufacturer Helsing presented the CA-1 Europa, a UCAV reportedly capable of performing a range of missions, including deep precision strike. First test flight expected in 2027.
- So proud of this. Giving Europe its spine back. Today we unveiled CA-1 Europa - Helsing’s upcoming autonomous combat aircraft built around the Centaur AI pilot. We’re building CA-1 to protect our continent, our freedom, & our values. AI to protect our democracies.
- Off to Munich for a Thought Leadership session this evening & an exciting Helsing event tomorrow. We’ve no time to waste in boosting European deterrence & need to work out how to best use autonomy & affordable mass systems to do so -& how that impacts our doctrine, missions & roles. Let’s go!
- “Russia is learning, adapting & becoming more lethal in Ukraine. “We must move from a peacetime mindset to wartime readiness. We must reward the bold & the innovative. We need mass production of new technologies.” Storming speech from🇸🇪 Defence Minister Pål Jonson in Berlin
