Tom Kington

Tom Kington is the Italy correspondent for Defense News.

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Longtime Fincantieri CEO Bono to step down

Speaking to Italian publication L’Espresso, Giuseppe Bono said his mandate was not being renewed by the Italian government due to his age, adding that he “respected” the decision.

4 weeks ago

Leonardo CEO is bullish on Europe’s defense market

“It’s a process, it won’t happen immediately, but there is a deep willingness by political and defense players for big opportunities of this kind in Europe,” Alessandro Profumo told reporters in Rome.

6 weeks ago

Italian debate over future of cannon maker rumbles on

Politicians, unionists and industrialists have all joined a sometimes heated discussion about Oto Melara ever since state-controlled Leonardo said last year it wanted to sell a stake in the firm to focus on other activities.

Italy aims to reach NATO defense-spending target by 2028, four years late

By confirming the date had been pushed back, Prime Minister Mario Draghi appeared to solve a row with a member of his ruling coalition, the Five Star party.

Budget hikes test shared European Union spending goals

More cash may mean less, not more, Europe — or as one analyst put it: “European defense might be about to die of indigestion.”

US-owned Avio Aero wins race to make ‘Eurodrone’ engines

Prime contractor Airbus announced it had selected the Catalyst, an engine developed by GE Avation-owned Avio Aero, to power the flagship drone, due to be procured by Italy, France, Germany and Spain.

Leonardo jet trainer aircraft crashes in Italian Alps, killing one

The aircraft crashed into Mount Legnone near Lake Como on Wednesday, prompting rescue services to search for the ejected pilots on the slopes of the mountain.

Expired arms, tepid fighters: Russian ally Transnistria may have little to offer for Putin’s war

Speculation has grown that Russian troops will advance to Transnistria and use it as a launch pad for further operations in Ukraine or even an invasion of Moldova.

Italy’s defense chief of staff urges better protection of satellites

Adm. Giuseppe Cavo Dragone was speaking at a seminar marking the launch of a new think tank report, which urged the Italian government to beef up space defense and keep orbital paths clear of debris.

Stunned by Putin’s war, nations rewrite their playbooks on defense

With no end game in sight for the conflict, governments on both sides of the Atlantic are beginning to settle in for the long haul.

Italy joins growing list of weapon donors to help Ukraine’s defense

The Italian cabinet signed off on a measure authorizing the dispatch of Stinger surface-to-air missiles, mortars and Milan, or Panzerfaust, anti-tank weapons.

Italian lawmakers tee up military shopping spree for destroyers, armored vehicles

Top of the list are two 10,000 tonne DDX destroyers with a total price tag of 2.7 billion euros ($3bn), followed by 64 new amphibious vehicles and 347 VTMM 2 armored vehicles for the army.

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Tom Kington

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Speaking to Italian publication L’Espresso, Giuseppe Bono said his mandate was not being renewed by the Italian government due to his age, adding that he “respected” the decision.

“It’s a process, it won’t happen immediately, but there is a deep willingness by political and defense players for big opportunities of this kind in Europe,” Alessandro Profumo told reporters in Rome.

Politicians, unionists and industrialists have all joined a sometimes heated discussion about Oto Melara ever since state-controlled Leonardo said last year it wanted to sell a stake in the firm to focus on other activities.

By confirming the date had been pushed back, Prime Minister Mario Draghi appeared to solve a row with a member of his ruling coalition, the Five Star party.

More cash may mean less, not more, Europe — or as one analyst put it: “European defense might be about to die of indigestion.”

Prime contractor Airbus announced it had selected the Catalyst, an engine developed by GE Avation-owned Avio Aero, to power the flagship drone, due to be procured by Italy, France, Germany and Spain.

The aircraft crashed into Mount Legnone near Lake Como on Wednesday, prompting rescue services to search for the ejected pilots on the slopes of the mountain.

Speculation has grown that Russian troops will advance to Transnistria and use it as a launch pad for further operations in Ukraine or even an invasion of Moldova.

Adm. Giuseppe Cavo Dragone was speaking at a seminar marking the launch of a new think tank report, which urged the Italian government to beef up space defense and keep orbital paths clear of debris.

With no end game in sight for the conflict, governments on both sides of the Atlantic are beginning to settle in for the long haul.

The Italian cabinet signed off on a measure authorizing the dispatch of Stinger surface-to-air missiles, mortars and Milan, or Panzerfaust, anti-tank weapons.

Top of the list are two 10,000 tonne DDX destroyers with a total price tag of 2.7 billion euros ($3bn), followed by 64 new amphibious vehicles and 347 VTMM 2 armored vehicles for the army.

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