Tom Kington
Tom Kington is the Italy correspondent for Defense News.
All Stories By Tom
Thales to buy French underwater-drone maker Exail in $4.5 billion deal
Industry champions in France and Italy move to consolidate their positions in a growing market for unmanned underwater naval equipment.
Multibillion-dollar contract secures ‘major step forward’ for GCAP fighter jet
Japan, Italy and the U.K. have handed a £4.6 billion ($6.1 billion) development contract to their national champions building the GCAP jet.
UK defense plan to unlock fresh GCAP contract before Farnborough Airshow
The British government came up with essential funding on the day that cash flow for the jet was due to run out.
Leonardo, Baykar tout in-flight control of Kizilelma drone from a M-346 jet trainer
Following an autonomous taxi and take-off, the Kizilelma autonomously linked to the M-346 using “an advanced radio frequency data exchange system."
Italy rejects aid scheme that buys US weapons for Ukraine’s defense
NATO has said the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism has helped fund the purchase of air-defense systems, in particular.
UK defense secretary resigns in protest of government spending plan
In his resignation letter to Starmer, Healey said he had now seen the defense funding plan, and it “falls well short of what is required."
Germany welcome in GCAP, but new Leonardo boss warns about timing
CEO Lorenzo Mariani said that the advantages of a new partner were extra cash and know-how.
Huge fascist-era underground cisterns draw Western special forces to Italy for tunnel training
After resisting 150 bombing runs by the Allies in the Second World War, the cisterns continued to be used by the Italian Air Force to hold aviation fuel.
