DefenseNews

Navy League urges rapid expansion of battle fleet for future wars

February 10, 2025
The Navy League of the United States urged Congress on Thursday to invest in a buildup of the military’s battle force fleet. Here, a welder with Newport News Shipbuilding works on a steel panel. (Ashley Cowan/HII) U.S. leaders should invest at least $40 billion every year to grow and maintain the country’s fleet of battle force ships in preparation for long-term and large-scale wars…
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DefenseNews

US Navy hits drone with HELIOS laser in successful test

February 5, 2025
The U.S. Navy successfully tested its High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance, or HELIOS, system on one of its warships in fiscal 2024, according to a recently released report. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Preble fired its HELIOS system to zap…
DefenseNews

Amid tense presidential transition, Army chief focused on warfighting

February 4, 2025
In response to multiple audience questions about recent presidential executive orders involving the military, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George told a crowd of nearly 200 on Wednesday that he remains focused on preparing the service for future conflict. At a previously scheduled talk at the Association of the U.S. Army, the leading nonprofit support organization for the service, George spent…
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DefenseNews

Cummings Aerospace releases its Hellhound for Army competition

January 31, 2025
Huntsville, Alabama-based Cummings Aerospace is readying its Hellhound for submission to the U.S. Army’s loitering munition competition set to kick off later this year, having recently wrapped up flight tests of its turbo-jet powered, 3D-printed kamikaze drone. The company…
DefenseNews

Poland buys radar-homing missiles for its future F-35 fleet

January 30, 2025
WARSAW, Poland — The Polish Ministry of National Defence has signed a deal to buy more than 200 AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles-Extended Range (AARGM-ER) from the United States, becoming the region’s first ally to secure an advanced capability to destroy enemy radar emitters associated with air defense systems. The contract to purchase the missiles, made by Northrop Grumman…
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DefenseNews

BAE awarded $70 million Navy contract to overhaul Mk 45 guns

January 30, 2025
The U.S. Navy expanded a contract with BAE Systems, awarding the company more money to upgrade and overhaul the service’s Mk 45 naval gun systems in an effort to improve their long-range strike and air defense capabilities, the company announced Monday. BAE will receive an…
DefenseNews

KNDS, Rheinmetall, Thales move ahead on next-generation tank project

January 27, 2025
PARIS — Armored-vehicle makers KNDS and Rheinmetall and defense-electronics firm Thales signed the shareholder agreement for the project company that will develop a future main battle tank for Germany and France, moving a step closer to starting actual work on a program held up for years by wrangling between various partners. KNDS Deutschland, KNDS France, Rheinmetall and Thales will each hold…
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