LOCATIONS
LAND
30 Oct 25. KBR (NYSE: KBR) today announced the opening of a new office in Rosslyn, Virginia, in The Towers at 1100 Wilson Boulevard. The office, five minutes from the Pentagon, 10 minutes from the White House and 15 minutes from the U.S. Capitol building, will allow the company to engage further with congressional and executive stakeholders, in addition to proximity for government customers, including the Department of War and intelligence community, among many others. The new office marks a critical step for KBR as it increases its commitment to the nation’s capital. The company currently has 37,000 global employees, with approximately 900 employees working across four offices in the Washington, D.C. area, located in Fairfax and Chantilly, Virginia, and Fulton and Lexington Park, Maryland. KBR will have key executive leaders working out of the new Rosslyn office.
MARITIME
27 Oct 25. HII Successfully Completes 2nd Builder’s Sea Trials for Destroyer Ted Stevens (DDG 128). HII’s (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division successfully completed the second builder’s sea trials for guided missile destroyer Ted Stevens (DDG 128), building on the success of the initial trials conducted at the end of September. The Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) destroyer spent multiple days in the Gulf of America testing the ship’s main propulsion, combat systems and other critical systems in preparation for the future acceptance trials.
“The Ingalls and Navy team demonstrated tremendous teamwork during this trial and are fully committed to delivering DDG 128 to the fleet,” Ingalls Shipbuilding DDG Program Manager Ben Barnett said. “As we move forward, our focus remains on ensuring that every system is thoroughly tested and fully operational as we progress toward readiness for acceptance trials. I extend my gratitude to our test and trials team for their contributions to the ongoing success of the destroyer program.”
During the second builder’s trials, the Ingalls and Navy team completed additional hull, mechanical, electrical and combat systems tests. This included testing the second-in-class Flight III AN/SPY-6 (V)1 radar system and the Aegis Baseline 10 combat system. These tests are designed to validate critical system performance and ensure the ship meets or exceeds Navy requirements. Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers represent the next generation of surface combatants for the U.S. Navy and incorporate a number of design modifications that collectively provide significantly enhanced capability. To date, Ingalls has delivered 35 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the U.S. Navy, including the first Flight III, USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) and currently has five more Flight III destroyers under construction: Ted Stevens (DDG 128), Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129), George M. Neal (DDG 131), Sam Nunn (DDG 133), and Thad Cochran (DDG 135), which authenticated the ship’s keel on Oct. 23. As the largest manufacturing employer in Mississippi, Ingalls Shipbuilding has been designing, building, and maintaining destroyers for the U.S. Navy for over 86 years. (Source: ASD Network)
24 Oct 25. HMS Stirling Castle leaves Birkenhead for sea trials. The vessel will undergo operational sea training later this year, to prepare for front-line duties. HMS Stirling Castle, a specialist mine-hunting vessel, made its maiden voyage as a Royal Navy ship, leaving the Merseyside’s West Float, Birkenhead for sea trials and training. The vessel was officially commissioned into the Royal Navy in July, after being under Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) control since 2023. Since then, the ship’s 55-strong crew, alongside RFA personnel, have been conducting essential maintenance, safety checks and training, to ensure its readiness for operations.
Commanding officer, Commander Phillip Harper said: “Taking Stirling Castle out of lay-up and getting her back into service in just four months has demanded extraordinary things from my team. Fortunately, the Royal Navy is blessed with incredible people at every level, and it is their dedication, work ethic and comradeship that has got us to this point and allows Stirling Castle to join the Fleet under the White Ensign.”
HMS Stirling Castle, operating out of His Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth, is the first mine countermeasures mother ship procured to serve as a mobile platform for autonomous technology, replacing traditional mine-hunting methods. The vessel can store, prepare, deploy, and recover autonomous boats and underwater systems essential for mine warfare. Later in 2025, the vessel will undergo operational sea training in anticipation of front-line duties. These duties primarily involve carrying advanced technology equipment for specialist mine-hunting operations, mainly within UK waters. HMS Stirling Castle will operate as a ‘mother ship’ for multiple remote and autonomous systems that are designed to locate underwater mines. (Source: naval-technology.com)
PLANT CLOSURES, STRIKES AND JOB LOSSES
25 Oct 25. Leonardo facing staff walkouts in row over pay. Thousands of workers at a British Army helicopter supplier will strike next month in a row over pay. Staff at Leonardo, which is one of the largest suppliers of equipment to the Ministry of Defence, have voted to walk out in protest after snubbing a pay offer from bosses. The strike will involve around 3,000 members of the Unite union in Yeovil, Luton, Basildon, Edinburgh and Newcastle, who will stop work for 11 days in early and mid-November. Leonardo is part-owned by the Italian government and makes the Wildcat helicopters used by the British Army, as well as the submarine-hunting Merlin helicopters used by the Royal Navy.
Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, blamed Leonardo’s management for offering staff below-inflation pay increases of 3.2pc for the industrial action.
“Our members are highly skilled and work on critical defence and aerospace systems, yet are being short-changed by a company making bns,” she said. “Leonardo has had ample opportunity to do the right thing and make a decent offer that our members could have accepted. Instead, they have refused and will now see the anger of our members on the picket line outside their factories. This is a dispute entirely of their making and our members will have the full support of Unite in their fight for decent pay.”
Leonardo’s UK division was formed through a merger of several British companies, including Marconi and Westland Aircraft. The group is headquartered in Italy and is one of Europe’s major defence suppliers alongside BAE Systems and Dassault. Rhys McCarthy, Unite national officer for aerospace, said: “Leonardo makes literally bns in profits but are trying to short-change our members whose skills and expertise they rely on.
“This simply isn’t acceptable and they will be making their voices heard next month when taking strike action that will see Leonardo’s factories grind to a halt. They need to come back to the negotiating table with an improved offer.”
The dispute comes as British workers face up to stubbornly high rates of inflation eroding their earnings, with the rate hitting 4.1pc in the year to September. The UK is expected to have the highest inflation in the G7 this year and next. (Source: News Now/https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/)
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
31 Oct 25. The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has appointed Jeremy Pocklington as the new Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence. Jeremy is currently Permanent Secretary at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Jeremy will replace David Williams who is leaving the Civil Service. More details on the process to replace the Permanent Secretary for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will be announced shortly.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
30 Oct 25. The US Senate today confirmed Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach as the next Air Force chief of staff, paving the way for the fighter pilot to take the reins of his service following the abrupt retirement of Gen. David Allvin. After a relatively uncontroversial hearing for Wilsbach before the Senate Armed Services Committee — though one where he would not commit to upholding congressional intent for billions of dollars in reconciliation spending — the general’s nomination cleared the upper chamber by unanimous consent alongside several other nominees. (Source: Breaking Defense.com)
INDUSTRY
INDUSTRY TEAMINGS
28 Oct 25. Kratos Forms Strategic Partnership with Korean Industry Leader to Advance Manned-Unmanned Teaming. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a leading technology company in the defense, national security, and global markets, today announced the formation of a strategic partnership with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), a major Korean defense organization to advance Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) technologies and capabilities. The collaboration builds on Kratos’ deep experience in affordable, high-performance tactical unmanned aerial systems—including the XQ-58A Valkyrie, Mako, and Tactical Firejet—and KAI’s aerospace technologies. Together, the organizations will work to integrate complementary systems and expertise to accelerate the development of interoperable, next-generation MUM-T solutions that enhance joint force readiness and operational flexibility.
“This partnership represents the next step in evolving how crewed and uncrewed aircraft operate together in contested environments,” said Steve Fendley, President of Kratos’ Unmanned Systems Division. “By combining Kratos’ proven autonomous jet systems with KAI’s advanced technologies, we are expanding the boundaries of affordable mass and collaborative combat capability for U.S. and allied forces.”
“Kratos has long believed that strategic international partnerships are key to ensuring readiness and deterrence through innovation,” said Eric DeMarco, President and CEO of Kratos. “Our collaboration with KAI, a world-class Korean organization, underscores our shared commitment to developing advanced, interoperable defense technologies that strengthen allied capability, resilience, and industrial cooperation.”
The strategic partnership will focus on joint research, system integration, and evolution of scalable MUM-T applications, including autonomous loyal wingmen, distributed sensing, and collaborative strike missions, all focused on affordable mass. Kratos and KAI will also evaluate opportunities for technology co-development, production, and export in alignment with U.S. and allied defense requirements. (Source: ASD Network)
27 Oct 25. NGC Strengthens Industrial Cooperation in the Republic of Korea. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and Huneed Technologies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) during the Seoul ADEX International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition.
- The MOU establishes a framework to explore opportunities to enhance the Republic of Korea’s national defense through closer industry collaboration.
- In 2023, Northrop Grumman was awarded a contract by Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd. to provide Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) solutions and technical support for the Korean Mine Countermeasures Helicopter program’s engineering, manufacturing and design phase.
- The agreement creates a pathway to expand future collaboration, focusing on enhancing the Republic of Korea’s sovereign defense through workforce development, knowledge sharing, and opportunities to improve long-term readiness.
Kwan Lee, country executive for the Republic of Korea, Northrop Grumman: “Partnerships like this are essential for rapidly advancing defense capabilities. Working with Huneed strengthens the Republic of Korea’s ability to develop sovereign defense systems and respond to evolving threats.”
BK Kim, chief overseas officer, Huneed Technologies: “This partnership with Northrop Grumman underscores Huneed’s unique role in the Republic of Korea’s defense industry – working hand-in-hand with global leaders to bring next-generation capabilities to the Republic of Korea. By advancing technologies such as Additive Manufacturing, Huneed is committed to shaping the future of aerospace defense and strengthening the Republic of Korea’s position in the global defense value chain.”
As global supply chain challenges persist, advancements in design and manufacturing are enabling faster and more affordable delivery of complex systems. Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is revolutionizing production by building objects layer by layer. This process allows for the creation of previously impossible designs, unlocking new levels of flexibility, efficiency and creativity. Northrop Grumman has been a leader in adopting this compelling design and build method. AM delivers agility, consolidation and savings on lead-times, costs and resources. This innovation has transformed production across several platforms, ranging from radio frequency sensors, engines, hypersonic weapons and aerospace structures. (Source: ASD Network)
PERSONNEL
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
29 Oct 25. Frontier Technology Inc. (FTI) today announced the appointment of David J. Dacquino, to its Board of Directors as the company continues to innovate and expand its footprint across the DoD, leveraging its proprietary end-to-end digital data platform that integrates analytics, modeling and simulation and defensive cyber with AI/ML capabilities embedded throughout that deliver efficient, effective, and affordable solutions at scale for our customer. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
29 Oct 25. Leonardo DRS, Inc. (Nasdaq: DRS) announced today that William J. (Bill) Lynn will retire as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer after fourteen years of leading the company. The Board of Directors has unanimously named John Baylouny as President & Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board. Additionally, the Board of Directors has unanimously elected Frances (Fran) Fragos Townsend as Board Chair. All changes are effective January 1, 2026. Bill Lynn was named CEO of Leonardo DRS in 2012 and during his tenure transformed the company into a modern, technology-driven organization. Under his leadership, the company followed a strategy focused on building differentiated positions across four core markets: advanced sensing, network computing, force protection and electric power and propulsion technologies. That strategic focus led to marquee wins in all four markets, including the propulsion content on the Columbia Class submarine and premier counter-UAS and short-range air defense positions, as well as numerous other contract awards that have enabled durable growth. He also led the acquisition of RADA, a move that added market-leading tactical radars to the company’s portfolio and returned Leonardo DRS to the public markets in 2022. Since the company’s return to the public markets, Leonardo DRS has consistently delivered growing backlog, revenue and profit.
29 Oct 25. Peraton has appointed David M. Cattler, former Director of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), to the company’s board of advisors. Cattler brings more than 35 years of leadership experience across the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, and NATO, where he led transformational change, integration, and mission modernization at the enterprise level. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
28 Oct 25. Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) today announced that Danny Maldonado has been named president & CEO of the Bell segment, effective January 4, 2026. Maldonado, currently Bell’s chief commercial officer (CCO), will succeed Lisa Atherton, who was recently appointed as president & CEO of Textron Inc., effective January 4, 2026. As CCO, Maldonado is responsible for Bell’s global commercial aircraft sales, aftermarket solutions, the Bell Training Academy and new product development. Prior to his role as CCO, Maldonado led Textron Financial Corp. as president & CEO for nine years and, prior to that, served as Bell’s executive vice president of sales and marketing. He joined Textron in 1990 and has held leadership roles encompassing sales, business development, customer support and finance at Textron.
29 Oct 25. XTI Aerospace, Inc. (NASDAQ: XTIA) (“XTI” or the “Company”), a leader in the emerging Vertical Economy, today announced the appointment of Alex Williams, PhD as the Company’s Executive Vice President of Technology. In this leadership role, Dr. Williams will oversee the Company’s growing collaboration with Valkyrie AI, with an initial focus on integrating mesh autonomous networking and advanced artificial intelligence technologies into the TriFan family of aircraft. With expertise spanning aerospace engineering, new technology development, next-generation materials, applied artificial intelligence, and large-scale manufacturing, Dr. Williams brings a powerful combination of technical vision and real-world execution capability. He has served as a strategic advisor to XTI since June 2025, consistently demonstrating his ability to turn emerging technology opportunities into operational advantage. (Source: PR Newswire)