Giovanni de Briganti, Author at DEFENSE-AEROSPACE

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Apollo Wilson

UK Royal Navy to rebuild fleet with autonomous ships and carrier-based drones by 2030

First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins told industry and allies at DSEI in London that the Royal Navy will follow a clear rule from now on: “uncrewed wherever possible; crewed only where necessary.” He set a four-year target to restore war-fighting

September 10, 2025

Cybersecurity & Electronic Warfare

MIVD and AIVD confirm router access by China-linked Salt Typhoon at Dutch internet service and hosting providers

Dutch military and domestic intelligence services report that a China-linked espionage group known as Salt Typhoon struck targets in the Netherlands and touched national critical infrastructure. The services identified activity against smaller internet service and hosting providers.

September 9, 2025

Defense Budgets / Policy

NOAA budget cuts threaten DoD weather data and Indo-Pacific forecasting capabilities

The Defense Department leans on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for weather data across the force, from ship routing to flight safety. Planned reductions to NOAA’s next-generation satellite portfolio now put that pipeline at risk, with direct knock-on effects to the

September 8, 2025

Joint Exercises / Special Ops Training

More Than 100 Stratospheric Balloons Scheduled for 2026 Indo-Pacific Exercise to Validate Autonomous Swarming

The US Army has drawn up a 2026 field event that sends well over one hundred high-altitude balloons across open water in the Indo-Pacific to test massed stratospheric operations.

September 8, 2025

Defense Budgets / Policy

Tokyo’s FY2026 Defence Budget Request Prioritises SHIELD Littoral Drone Network, F-35A/B Procurement and KC-46 Tankers

Japan's defense ministry handed the finance ministry its fiscal-2026 request on 29 August, asking for a record ¥8.8 trillion (about $59.9 billion). If lawmakers sign off later this year, spending will climb roughly eight percent over the current budget and push Tokyo

September 6, 2025

Defense Infrastructure & Manufacturing

USAF moves to hundreds of new Sentinel ICBM silos as B-21 second test aircraft approaches maiden flight

The U.S. Air Force is preparing to break ground on hundreds of new silos for its LGM-35A Sentinel program while pressing toward the next major test event for the B-21 Raider. Senior leaders point to time and cost gains from building fresh

September 6, 2025

Aircraft

Lockheed and WZL-2 to Oversee In-Country F-16V Upgrades with L3Harris, RTX and Elbit Systems

Poland has locked in the electronics lineup for its F-16 Viper upgrade, a $3.8 billion program that will refit all 48 F-16C/D Block 52+ jets and keep the fleet viable through the 2030s.

September 6, 2025

Air & Missile Defense Systems

Aselsan’s Ogulbey hub expands Steel Dome capacity and assembles Europe’s largest integrated air-defense complex

ANKARA - Turkey has launched a $1.5 billion expansion centered on Aselsan's new Oğulbey Technology Base, an integrated campus officials describe as the largest single defense industry investment in the country and Europe's biggest air-defense complex. The project is tied directly to

September 6, 2025

Cybersecurity & Electronic Warfare

Defense memo orders JIATF 401 under Army leadership to fast-track acquisition and fielding of counter-small UAS

The Pentagon has ordered the Army to stand up Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and shut down the Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office once the new team is in place.

September 5, 2025

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Hannah Bench

Defense Budgets / Policy

UK to Restore Airborne Nuclear Deterrent with 12 F-35A and RAF Marham Basing

Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth used his first major public address as Chief of the Air Staff to put the return of an airborne nuclear role on the Royal Air Force agenda. He told the DSEI audience in London on 11 September

September 5, 2025

Giovanni de Briganti

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