DefenseNews

‘Fat Leonard,’ Navy scandal mastermind, sentenced to 15 years

November 7, 2024
SAN DIEGO — Former military defense contractor Leonard “Fat Leonard” Francis was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison for masterminding a decade-long bribery scheme that swept up dozens of U.S. Navy officers, federal prosecutors said. U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino also ordered Francis to pay $20 million in restitution to the Navy and a $150,000 fine, according to a statement…
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DefenseNews

Why the Defense Department needs a chief economist

November 5, 2024
The Department of Defense budget is growing, and the DOD is spending more money in novel industries and nontraditional areas than ever before. To ensure the DOD spends smartly in this new environment, Congress should authorize a chief economist to keep the DOD thinking about…
DefenseNews

Air Force to send bomber task force to Europe

November 5, 2024
The Air Force plans to soon send its latest task force of strategic bombers to Europe to train with NATO allies. U.S. Air Forces Europe-Air Forces Africa said on Friday that the bomber task force deployment will begin “in the coming days,” and would last several weeks. But details about the deployment are scant, and USAFE declined to say what type of and how many bombers would make up the task…
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DefenseNews

Italian Navy tasks Fincantieri to design drone-laden warships

November 4, 2024
ROME — The Italian Navy’s is planning for a future in which swarms of airborne, surface and undersea drones will deploy from its ships and has challenged shipyard Fincantieri to build and adapt vessels which are ready for the task. “We expect new navy vessels in…
DefenseNews

Air Force open to greater B-21 stealth bomber role in strategy revamp

November 4, 2024
The upcoming B-21 Raider stealth bomber could end up having a larger role in the Air Force’s plans for future air dominance, as the service rethinks its plans for an advanced sixth-generation fighter. “We have not taken that off the table,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin said at the Military Reporters and Editors conference Friday when asked if the service’s review of its…
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DefenseNews

Norway to develop new NASAMS radar with Raytheon and Kongsberg

October 24, 2024
The Norwegian Army fires a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System in the country against a simulated threat during exercise Formidable Shield in 2023. (Courtesy of the Royal Norwegian Navy). MILAN — The Norwegian Ministry of Defense will co-develop a new radar in…
DefenseNews

The Army’s black and gold PT uniform are here to stay

October 24, 2024
Soldiers might get more options for their PT gear, but the black and gold color scheme isn’t going anywhere, enlisted leaders said Monday. (Staff Sgt. Brittany Primavera/U.S. Army). Rumors of the demise of the Army’s black and gold PT gear were greatly exaggerated, and a redesign is not in the works, despite recent leadership comments suggesting otherwise. The Army on Monday clarified…
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