Valerie Insinna

Washington, D.C., United States

Senior Reporter, Congress and Defense Industry at Breaking Defense

Covering Congress and the defense industry for @breakingdefense . Military plane meme aficionado. Mother of @ImpalerCat. She/her

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Articles

EXCLUSIVE: Eyeing risk of radar ‘delays,’ Lockheed proposes new F-35 fuselage design

3 days ago | breakingdefense.com | Michael Marrow |Valerie Insinna

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has maintained that a new radar for the F-35 would be ready for the plane’s Lot 17 airframes, which began production this year. But the CEO of F-35 prime contractor Lockheed Martin has quietly warned the Air Force of “risks” in the radar’s delivery schedule, leading the defense giant to craft workarounds that currently center on Lot 20, according to a letter obtained by Breaking Defense.
Senate Unveils Its Version of $150B Defense Reconciliation Package

3 days ago | realcleardefense.com | Valerie Insinna

Shipbuilding projects — the largest single bucket in both bills — lost about $5 billion in funds in the SASC version
Less ships, more bombs: Senate unveils its version of $150B defense reconciliation package

3 days ago | breakingdefense.com | Valerie Insinna

WASHINGTON — The Senate Armed Services Committee version of the $150 billion defense reconciliation bill roughly mirrors the House version, but makes spending adjustments to key areas like shipbuilding, nuclear modernization and munitions.
Confusion, concern about Air Guard plans follow Trump's Selfridge shift

4 days ago | breakingdefense.com | Valerie Insinna

WASHINGTON — In late April President Donald Trump stood before members of the Michigan National Guard and proclaimed that he would replace the A-10 Warthogs currently operated by Selfridge Air National Guard Base’s 107th Fighter Squadron with new Boeing-made F-15EXs set to begin arriving in fiscal 2028. “In recent years, many in Michigan have feared for the future of the base,” Trump said. “They’ve been calling everybody, but the only one that mattered was Trump.
Michael Duffey confirmed as Pentagon’s chief weapons buyer

4 days ago | breakingdefense.com | Valerie Insinna

WASHINGTON — The Senate today confirmed Michael Duffey to be the Pentagon’s next acquisition czar, installing a previous Defense Department official as its leader responsible for overseeing weapons programs. Duffey, confirmed in a 51-46 vote, was nominated in December. Duffey previously worked as the associate director at the Office of Management and Budget during Trump’s first term, and has held multiple jobs at the Pentagon over 14 years of service.
Lockheed has path to pilot-optional F-35, CEO says

1 week ago | breakingdefense.com | Valerie Insinna

WASHINGTON — An upgraded “fifth-generation plus” version of the F-35 could include new stealth coatings, adjustments to the aircraft’s shape, and even a path toward making the jet optionally manned, Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet said today. “We could make the F-35 pilot optional over a relatively modest time frame based on a lot of the development we’ve done” for sixth-generation fighter competitions, Taiclet said at Bernstein’s Strategic Decisions Conference.
Strike ends at Pratt & Whitney, but some financial impact expected: RTX CEO

1 week ago | breakingdefense.com | Valerie Insinna

WASHINGTON—RTX’s Pratt & Whitney engine subsidiary has reached a contract deal with its union workforce, but the strike will make a dent on the company’s second quarter earnings, its CEO said today. About 3,000 union workers for Pratt & Whitney facilities in Connecticut on Tuesday approved a four year contract, putting an end to a strike that had shaken up production of engines for military aircraft, including the F135 that powers Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
What a historic absence of its top officer means for the Navy

2 weeks ago | breakingdefense.com | Justin Katz |Valerie Insinna

WASHINGTON — Walking in the Pentagon’s river entrance, a visitor is greeted by a series of photographs on the walls featuring the top uniformed member of the military services. But for the last 91 days, in the spot where a photo of the chief of naval operations should be, has been a black piece of paper — marking the absence of a Senate-confirmed senior Navy officer.
House narrowly passes reconciliation bill with $150B for defense

2 weeks ago | breakingdefense.com | Valerie Insinna

WASHINGTON — The House passed a massive GOP-backed funding package today, paving the way for Congress to add $150 billion in defense spending aimed at boosting major Trump administration priorities like Golden Dome. The so-called “one big, beautiful bill,” approved in a 215-214-1 vote, uses a special process known as “budget reconciliation” to filibuster-proof the legislation, allowing a party that controls both chambers to push funding through without needing to win over the minority.
Integration on Virginia-class subs the 'greatest risk' for nuclear sea-launched cruise missile: Navy official

2 weeks ago | breakingdefense.com | Valerie Insinna

WASHINGTON — The “greatest risk” for the Navy’s planned fiscal 2034 delivery of the nuclear Sea-Launched Cruise Missile Nuclear (SLCM-N) is integrating it onboard Virginia-class submarines that were never designed to carry a nuclear weapon, one of the Navy’s top officers in charge of overseeing nuclear weapons programs said.