Tom Kington

Tom Kington is the Italy correspondent for Defense News.

All Stories By

U.S. Air Force and Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft, conduct a bilateral air-to-air training exercise over the Netherlands, Feb. 22, 2022. The U.S. and its allies are bound by shared principles of democracy, national sovereignty and commitment to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, vital to ensuring a strong and free Europe. (Tech. Sgt. Rachel Maxwell/Air Force)

New F-35A base in Italy to open by end of year

The Italian Air Force is to get a second air base ready to host the F-35A by the end of this year as deliveries of the aircraft ramp up, according to officials.

8 days ago

Poland reveals plan to buy AW149 helos in deal potentially worth over $1B

A medium-lift, multirole helicopter launched in 2006, AW149 customers include Thailand and Egypt. Leonardo is currently marketing the type to the United Kingdom.

2 weeks ago

Lessons from Ukraine could help shape Europe’s new tank — if there is one

After weeks of watching videos of burned-out Russian tanks in Ukraine, the world is once again writing an obituary for the vehicle type.

Italy nurses EU plans for a common armored fighting vehicle

“The end of this decade is an ambitious yet achievable timeline,” says Lt. Col. Roberto Forlani, an official at the Italian Army’s planning and policy division.

After Rheinmetall bid for Oto Melara, Italian government awaits Fincantieri’s move

“We will wait for September for a Fincantieri offer, we want to have the entire picture,” a government source in Rome said.

Rheinmetall readies Oto Melara buy-in, with its Lynx fighting vehicle in mind

If accepted, the deal would see off reported interest in Oto Melara from KNDS – the alliance of Germany’s Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and France’s Nexter which sounded out Oto Melara’s owner, Italian state controlled Leonardo, about a sale last year.

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.

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.

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.

Rheinmetall unveils Panther main battle tank

China's new carrier, and a wayward path for Marines? | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 6.25.22

Retired Generals push back on plan to redesign how Marines fight

The Army's plan to increase its power | MilTech

Trending Now

Slovakia picks CV90 in infantry fighting vehicle tender

Rheinmetall unveils Panther main battle tank

General Dynamics unit wins contract to build new light tank for infantry

History's Mythstories - The D-Day Invasion

China's new carrier, and a wayward path for Marines? | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 6.25.22

Tom Kington

All Stories By

The Italian Air Force is to get a second air base ready to host the F-35A by the end of this year as deliveries of the aircraft ramp up, according to officials.

A medium-lift, multirole helicopter launched in 2006, AW149 customers include Thailand and Egypt. Leonardo is currently marketing the type to the United Kingdom.

After weeks of watching videos of burned-out Russian tanks in Ukraine, the world is once again writing an obituary for the vehicle type.

“The end of this decade is an ambitious yet achievable timeline,” says Lt. Col. Roberto Forlani, an official at the Italian Army’s planning and policy division.

“We will wait for September for a Fincantieri offer, we want to have the entire picture,” a government source in Rome said.

If accepted, the deal would see off reported interest in Oto Melara from KNDS – the alliance of Germany’s Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and France’s Nexter which sounded out Oto Melara’s owner, Italian state controlled Leonardo, about a sale last year.

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.

Featured Video

Trending Now