Defense Business Briefing -- Nov. 12, 2024

Welcome to today's Defense Business Briefing, your weekly roundup of the latest defense industry news.

This week’s top story

Companies see opportunities for collaboration at Navy's Silent Swarm exercise

Participants in the Navy's 2024 Silent Swarm demonstration say the event, which grew to its largest size ever this summer, highlights the need for hardware and software vendors to collaborate on the delivery of electromagnetic warfare capabilities in contested maritime environments.

News & notes

Missile defense enterprise could see massive expansion under next Trump administration

The Pentagon's missile defense enterprise could be poised for a major expansion under the next Trump administration, including tripling the planned buy of Next Generation Interceptors, accelerating the Glide Phase Interceptor development and defending the nation against not just North Korean threats, but also Russian and Chinese ICBMs.

DOD looks to move billions in weapons to Ukraine before Trump is sworn in

The Defense Department is committed to providing Ukraine with about $6 billion in military assistance before the end of President Biden's term on Jan. 20, when former President Trump, who has criticized U.S. support of Ukraine in its fight against Russia, returns to office.

Appointments & promotions

Wilkinson to lead Newport News Shipbuilding

HII announced today that its board of directors has elected Kari Wilkinson to serve as president of the company's Newport News Shipbuilding division, effective Jan. 1, 2025.

What's happening

The week ahead

Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several events around Washington this week.

For Inside Defense subscribers

Defense committee leadership re-shuffled after Dem losses and GOP wins

The 2024 election, which saw the return to power of former President Trump, has shifted the GOP into the Senate majority, while control of the House remains up for grabs.

Columbia submarine program price tag climbs 10%; total cost estimate now $139 billion

The Columbia-class submarine program -- the Navy's once-every-two-generations modernization project that commands an outsized portion of the service's investment resources -- is now estimated to cost $139 billion, $12 billion more than the Pentagon originally estimated.