Jonathan Lehrfeld
Early Bird Brief Editor, Military Times
Jonathan is a staff writer and editor of the Early Bird Brief newsletter for Military Times. Follow him on Twitter @lehrfeld_media
All Stories By Jonathan
US Air Force plans to bed down 25 F-35s in FY26, report says
The report also outlines the service’s procurement schedule to reach a fleet of nearly 1,800 of the aircraft by 2049.
German defense minister sees smooth sailing in parliament for his record defense budget
Pistorius is asking lawmakers to approve nearly €140 billion ($160 billion) for defense next year, a record sum.
Europe’s push to reduce US reliance is reshaping the defense space market
Spooked by U.S. restrictions on satellite data access during recent crises, European countries are scrambling to catch up on sovereign capabilities.
Germany wants to manufacture American PAC-3 interceptors to help meet global demand
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has lobbied U.S. defense leaders to allow the production of PAC-3 MSE interceptor missiles in Germany.
Airmen design AI-powered shotgun for last-ditch drone defense
Taking up a challenge to defeat cheap drones with a low-cost solution, a team of young airmen designed the Mantis for point defense.
US Navy destroyers tested in Middle East as demands mount
The concentration of Navy destroyers in the Middle East raises questions about meeting sustained operational demand.
Royal Navy successfully launches US Mk 48 torpedo from uncrewed submersible
Last week, the Royal Navy successfully launched a U.S.-made Mk 48 Heavyweight Torpedo from a British Excalibur uncrewed underwater vehicle.
Italian Navy plots race of two local machines: an F-35B against a Ferrari
The Italian Navy wants to find out if one of its F-35B fighter jets can outrace a Ferrari SF90 on the ground.
CENTCOM has become a battle lab for unmanned systems
Unmanned systems have moved quickly from experimentation and exercises into the demands of an active war.
F-16 fighter jet crashes at US air base in western Germany
An F-16 fighter jet assigned to the US air base Spangdahlem in western Germany crashed on Tuesday, according to U.S. officials.
