Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Abby Shepherd is a Navy reporter. Before joining Inside Defense in November 2023, she was an intern with Politico's E&E News and a city government reporter with the Eudora Times in Kansas. She graduated from the University of Kansas in May 2023, with degrees in journalism and political science.
The Office of Naval Research is seeking information on technology related to counter-unmanned systems swarm, containerized payloads for unmanned surface vehicles and decision superiority for maritime operations centers in preparation for a Technology Operational Experimentation Event '26 campaign in the next year.
Anduril Industries' recently announced partnership with South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is part of a pattern for the defense startup, a company executive said this week.
SAIC and HavocAI will partner to integrate multidomain communication and the ability to deploy and manage autonomous systems, the companies announced today.
The annual defense authorization bill should reach the floor for a vote by the beginning of the second week in December, House Armed Services Committee Vice Chairman Rob Wittman (R-VA) said today.
The Navy plans to conduct submarine training and testing activities in the Arctic as part of its biennial Ice Exercise 2026, or ICEX26, according to a recent notice.
The Pentagon's new plan to overhaul its defense acquisition system could help the Navy with the rapid buildup of a hybrid fleet by placing an increased focus on modularity among platforms, according to experts.
The Marine Corps has selected AI company Virtualitics to improve predictive maintenance for its MV-22 Osprey squadron, according to a company announcement today.
Integrating more competition “into the arena” of shipbuilding is essential, Navy Secretary John Phelan said today, highlighting some of his frustrations with defense primes -- contractors he says should invest more of their own capital in the shipbuilding process.
The Navy has awarded shipbuilder General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. a $1.7 billion contract for the construction of John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oilers T-AO-215 and T-AO-216, the company announced Monday.
The annual defense authorization bill is moving forward, with House and Senate staff working to reconcile their respective legislation since late August, according to House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA).
After a three-day test event, shipbuilder HII and defense company Shield AI successfully completed the first major test of an integrated autonomy solution for HII’s ROMULUS unmanned surface vessel, the companies announced Monday.
The ongoing government shutdown and subsequent federal worker furloughs have not impacted negotiations for impending block VI Virginia-class submarines and Columbia-class contracts, HII CEO Chris Kastner told investors today.
Senators expressed bipartisan support today for a rebuild of the domestic commercial shipbuilding industry -- a goal that could be supported by the SHIPS Act, currently working its way through the Senate Commerce Committee.
A request for information on the development of software solutions for the Navy’s Collaborative Integrated Air and Missile Defense is now on hold due to the ongoing government shutdown, according to a notice Thursday.
SHIPS Act co-sponsor Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) expects movement on the shipbuilding legislation soon but acknowledged on Wednesday there are difficulties facing the bill due to the ongoing government shutdown.
Yet another Navy industry day has been postponed due to the ongoing government shutdown -- now the second-longest in U.S. history.
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) today advocated for the nominee to head the Maritime Administration -- Stephen Carmel, a sailor with experience in the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and several executive positions at shipping company Maersk Line, Limited.
The Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a $233 million contract for the delivery of Infrared Search and Track Block II systems, the company announced today.
The Navy has awarded a contract to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for the design of a collaborative combat aircraft, according to a company announcement today.
The Navy has postponed its upcoming industry day for a new missile program due to the ongoing government shutdown.