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 Navy is seeking firms capable of providing vessel construction management services for the Landing Ship Medium Block I -- a solicitation that follows a congressional provision directing the Navy secretary to use this model to contract eight follow-on LSMs.
The Navy today announced it is seeking innovative and deployable energy solutions to power military installations and ensure zero interruptions, according to a news release.
NORFOLK, VA -- This year's Large Scale Exercise 2025 is living up to its name, taking place across 22 time zones with seven U.S. numbered fleets, six component commands, 880 sailors and new involvement from allies and partners -- all in little over a week.
A bipartisan group of senators formally introduced a new bill today that would protect the workforce at America’s four public shipyards from hiring freezes and mass layoffs -- a move that follows workforce reductions at-large across the Defense Department and other sectors.
The Defense Department is asking Congress to consider a new legislative proposal that would allow the Navy secretary to enter into a contract for up to five Columbia-class submarines beginning in fiscal year 2026, with a goal of improving industrial base stability and reducing schedule slippage.
As the Navy explores the possibility of increased competition in submarine construction, shipbuilder HII's CEO expressed optimism today in the current arrangement between HII and General Dynamics Electric Boat but added that alternatives could be explored.
The Navy is seeking several solutions for a new medium unmanned surface vessel, following months of discussions within the service for a planned merger of MUSV and large unmanned surface vessel efforts.
Officials declined to provide specifics today on the future of the Navy's sixth-generation tactical aircraft program, after a lawmaker raised questions and concerns about the Defense Department's lack of prioritization for F/A-XX.
Senate authorizers are signaling support for the Navy's sixth-generation tactical aircraft program, despite concerns from the White House Office of Management and Budget and a lack of funding prioritization from the Pentagon.
Senate authorizers are signaling concern with the Navy's plan to combine medium and large unmanned surface vessel efforts into one program -- the Modular Attack Surface Craft.
As urgency surrounding U.S. shipbuilding increases, a new chief executive officer enters the fray, with hopes to work with national leaders to reach a timely solution as China continues to build up its navy -- igniting worries of a potential Taiwanese invasion by 2027.
An amendment adopted by the House Armed Services Committee in its mark-up of the fiscal year 2026 defense policy bill would enact a pilot program to study how small modular reactors can aid the Navy in meeting coastal installation energy needs -- an action that follows naval efforts to expand clean energy generation on underutilized military land.
An amendment adopted during Tuesday night's House Armed Services Committee mark-up of the fiscal year 2026 defense policy bill would provide an additional $1 billion for the Navy's Virginia-class submarine program -- a huge boost that follows concerns from lawmakers on dwindling shipbuilding spending.
A solution to GPS denial may lie in quantum sensing, a technique recently used by the Royal Australian Navy in trials with Q-CTRL, an Australian quantum technology company.
The Navy is planning to initiate a low-cost, new-start hypersonic weapon program in fiscal year 2026, outlining details in budget justification books released weeks ago -- a move that follows a request for information made to industry members earlier this year.
With a topline of nearly $925 billion, the Senate Armed Services Committee unveiled its draft fiscal year 2026 defense authorization bill that would prioritize Navy advancement in several areas, including unmanned technology.
The Navy has broken ground on a new subsea and seabed warfare facility to encourage further research, development, testing and evaluation of autonomous unmanned systems -- a move that follows increased focus from the service on unmanned technology in general.
House authorizers are seeking to rapidly diversify the pool of alternative manufacturers of Standard Missile-6 components -- including Mk-72 and Mk-104 rocket motors -- and are asking the Navy to expand efforts in missile production and sustainment.
The House Armed Services Committee's draft fiscal year 2026 defense authorization bill would implement restrictions on the construction of the Navy's new Modular Attack Surface Craft, as the program emerges as a joint solution between medium and large unmanned surface vessels.
The delivery of the T-AGOS 25 anti-submarine warfare ship has been delayed by four years, according to the Navy's fiscal year 2026 budget request, which outlines various design challenges for the program.