Tom Kington

Tom Kington is the Italy correspondent for Defense News.


  • Kuwait, Italy Discuss Eurofighter Buy
    Kuwait, Italy Discuss Eurofighter Buy

    Kuwait has started discussions to buy up to 28 Eurofighters, a source knowledgeable of the talks told Defense News

  • Italian Budget Protects JSF Buy
    Italian Budget Protects JSF Buy

    Italy appears set to push ahead with its order of 90 joint strike fighters, and has said it will buy 38 by 2020, despite simmering pressure from politicians to trim the program.

  • Italy Releases 2015 Defense Budget
    Italy Releases 2015 Defense Budget

    Italy has released its final defense ministry budget for 2015, showing that spending continues to decline, although once again procurement gets a hefty top-up from the coffers of Italy’s industry ministry.

  • New Effort at European UAV Raises Hopes
    New Effort at European UAV Raises Hopes

    Operational needs of the French, German and Italian air forces and national sovereignty are key factors as the three governments gave a green light for a definition study for a future European medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV.

  • Details Murky on Action Vs Libyan Traffickers
    Details Murky on Action Vs Libyan Traffickers

    As the European Union edges closer to mounting a military mission against human traffickers in Libya, and as impressive naval firepower arrives in the Mediterranean for the task, the rules of engagement appear to be getting increasingly vague.

  • European Ministers To Study MALE UAV Program
    European Ministers To Study MALE UAV Program

    European defense ministers signed up on Monday to carry out a definition study for a European MALE UAV program, hailing it as a step toward ending Europe’s reliance on Israeli and US drones.

  • Naval Work Booming at Fincantieri
    Naval Work Booming at Fincantieri

    This marks Giuseppe Bono’s 13th year as head of Italian shipyard Fincantieri, following a spell as head of Italian defense giant Finmeccanica.

  • Study To Be Signed on European MALE UAV
    Study To Be Signed on European MALE UAV

    A plan by companies in France, Germany and Italy to launch a European medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV program will get a boost Monday when defense ministers sign a Declaration of Intent for a two-year definition study.

  • Deal Will Bring Selex Infrared Tech to US
    Deal Will Bring Selex Infrared Tech to US

    As the market grows for infrared search and track (IRST) sensors that can function like radars on fighters, one American firm has signed a deal with a European counterpart that will bring to the US infrared technologies already honed on the Eurofighter.

  • Dutch F-35 Pilots To Train on Italian M-346
    Dutch F-35 Pilots To Train on Italian M-346

    The Netherlands Air Force has struck a deal with Italy to send F-35 pilots to train in Italy on the AleniaAermacchi M-346 jet trainer, officials said on Monday.

  • Kuwait, Italy Discuss Eurofighter Buy
    Kuwait, Italy Discuss Eurofighter Buy

    Kuwait has started discussions to buy up to 28 Eurofighters, a source knowledgeable of the talks told Defense News

  • Italian Budget Protects JSF Buy
    Italian Budget Protects JSF Buy

    Italy appears set to push ahead with its order of 90 joint strike fighters, and has said it will buy 38 by 2020, despite simmering pressure from politicians to trim the program.

  • Italy Releases 2015 Defense Budget
    Italy Releases 2015 Defense Budget

    Italy has released its final defense ministry budget for 2015, showing that spending continues to decline, although once again procurement gets a hefty top-up from the coffers of Italy’s industry ministry.

  • New Effort at European UAV Raises Hopes
    New Effort at European UAV Raises Hopes

    Operational needs of the French, German and Italian air forces and national sovereignty are key factors as the three governments gave a green light for a definition study for a future European medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV.

  • Details Murky on Action Vs Libyan Traffickers
    Details Murky on Action Vs Libyan Traffickers

    As the European Union edges closer to mounting a military mission against human traffickers in Libya, and as impressive naval firepower arrives in the Mediterranean for the task, the rules of engagement appear to be getting increasingly vague.

  • European Ministers To Study MALE UAV Program
    European Ministers To Study MALE UAV Program

    European defense ministers signed up on Monday to carry out a definition study for a European MALE UAV program, hailing it as a step toward ending Europe’s reliance on Israeli and US drones.

  • Naval Work Booming at Fincantieri
    Naval Work Booming at Fincantieri

    This marks Giuseppe Bono’s 13th year as head of Italian shipyard Fincantieri, following a spell as head of Italian defense giant Finmeccanica.

  • Study To Be Signed on European MALE UAV
    Study To Be Signed on European MALE UAV

    A plan by companies in France, Germany and Italy to launch a European medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV program will get a boost Monday when defense ministers sign a Declaration of Intent for a two-year definition study.

  • Deal Will Bring Selex Infrared Tech to US
    Deal Will Bring Selex Infrared Tech to US

    As the market grows for infrared search and track (IRST) sensors that can function like radars on fighters, one American firm has signed a deal with a European counterpart that will bring to the US infrared technologies already honed on the Eurofighter.

  • Dutch F-35 Pilots To Train on Italian M-346
    Dutch F-35 Pilots To Train on Italian M-346

    The Netherlands Air Force has struck a deal with Italy to send F-35 pilots to train in Italy on the AleniaAermacchi M-346 jet trainer, officials said on Monday.

  • Kuwait, Italy Discuss Eurofighter Buy
    Kuwait, Italy Discuss Eurofighter Buy

    Kuwait has started discussions to buy up to 28 Eurofighters, a source knowledgeable of the talks told Defense News

  • Italian Budget Protects JSF Buy
    Italian Budget Protects JSF Buy

    Italy appears set to push ahead with its order of 90 joint strike fighters, and has said it will buy 38 by 2020, despite simmering pressure from politicians to trim the program.

  • Italy Releases 2015 Defense Budget
    Italy Releases 2015 Defense Budget

    Italy has released its final defense ministry budget for 2015, showing that spending continues to decline, although once again procurement gets a hefty top-up from the coffers of Italy’s industry ministry.

  • New Effort at European UAV Raises Hopes
    New Effort at European UAV Raises Hopes

    Operational needs of the French, German and Italian air forces and national sovereignty are key factors as the three governments gave a green light for a definition study for a future European medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV.

  • Details Murky on Action Vs Libyan Traffickers
    Details Murky on Action Vs Libyan Traffickers

    As the European Union edges closer to mounting a military mission against human traffickers in Libya, and as impressive naval firepower arrives in the Mediterranean for the task, the rules of engagement appear to be getting increasingly vague.

  • European Ministers To Study MALE UAV Program
    European Ministers To Study MALE UAV Program

    European defense ministers signed up on Monday to carry out a definition study for a European MALE UAV program, hailing it as a step toward ending Europe’s reliance on Israeli and US drones.

  • Naval Work Booming at Fincantieri
    Naval Work Booming at Fincantieri

    This marks Giuseppe Bono’s 13th year as head of Italian shipyard Fincantieri, following a spell as head of Italian defense giant Finmeccanica.

  • Study To Be Signed on European MALE UAV
    Study To Be Signed on European MALE UAV

    A plan by companies in France, Germany and Italy to launch a European medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV program will get a boost Monday when defense ministers sign a Declaration of Intent for a two-year definition study.

  • Deal Will Bring Selex Infrared Tech to US
    Deal Will Bring Selex Infrared Tech to US

    As the market grows for infrared search and track (IRST) sensors that can function like radars on fighters, one American firm has signed a deal with a European counterpart that will bring to the US infrared technologies already honed on the Eurofighter.

  • Dutch F-35 Pilots To Train on Italian M-346
    Dutch F-35 Pilots To Train on Italian M-346

    The Netherlands Air Force has struck a deal with Italy to send F-35 pilots to train in Italy on the AleniaAermacchi M-346 jet trainer, officials said on Monday.