Tom Kington

Tom Kington is the Italy correspondent for Defense News.

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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.

10 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

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.

Italian intelligence watchdog flags small, sneaky foreign takeovers in defense

Italy’s intelligence watchdog has called for tighter, U.S.-style monitoring of corporate acquisitions after allegations that China quietly purchased an Italian military drone maker that supplied Italy’s special forces.

Leonardo confirms Qatar as latest M-346 jet trainer client

A spokesman for the firm confirmed the long-rumored acquisition after three of the jets were photographed at a military parade in Qatar.

Leonardo stake in Hensoldt could boost FCAS, Tempest commonalities

A corporate tie-up between Italy’s Leonardo and Germany’s Hensoldt could make Europe’s two future fighters, the Tempest and the Future Combat Air System, more interoperable, a Leonardo official has claimed.

Deal with Hensoldt expands Leonardo’s stake in Eurofighter radar business

Leonardo has won 260 million euros ($296 million) in Eurofighter radar work from Germany’s Hensoldt, meaning the Italian firm now has a major role in all three of the new e-scan radars being built for Typhoon customers.

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Tom Kington

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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.

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.

Italy’s intelligence watchdog has called for tighter, U.S.-style monitoring of corporate acquisitions after allegations that China quietly purchased an Italian military drone maker that supplied Italy’s special forces.

A spokesman for the firm confirmed the long-rumored acquisition after three of the jets were photographed at a military parade in Qatar.

A corporate tie-up between Italy’s Leonardo and Germany’s Hensoldt could make Europe’s two future fighters, the Tempest and the Future Combat Air System, more interoperable, a Leonardo official has claimed.

Leonardo has won 260 million euros ($296 million) in Eurofighter radar work from Germany’s Hensoldt, meaning the Italian firm now has a major role in all three of the new e-scan radars being built for Typhoon customers.

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