Valerie Insinna

Valerie Insinna is Defense News' air warfare reporter. She previously worked the Navy/congressional beats for Defense Daily, which followed almost three years as a staff writer for National Defense Magazine. Prior to that, she worked as an editorial assistant for the Tokyo Shimbun’s Washington bureau.

All Stories By Valerie

Air Force’s top civilian hints at changes to hypersonic weapons programs

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall isn't sure the Air Force is developing the right hypersonic missiles.

4 weeks ago

A B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base, N.D., taxis on the flight line April 23, 2021, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. The B-52 aircraft are deployed to Al Udeid AB to protect U.S. and coalition forces as they conduct drawdown operations from Afghanistan. (Air Force/Staff Sgt. Greg Erwin)

US Air Force to declare winner of B-52 engine replacement competition as soon as this month

Three companies are in the running to win a contract to produce about 600 modified commercial engines.

4 weeks ago

Northrop Grumman now has five B-21 stealth bombers in production

The program is making good progress, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said Monday.

SecAF to Congress: Let us retire aircraft or we can’t beat China

"We will not succeed against a well-resourced and strategic competitor if we insist on keeping every legacy system we have,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said Monday.

As the US Air Force looks to the future of special operations, vertical lift takes center stage

What comes after the MC-130 and CV-22s operated today by Air Force Special Operations Command?

Lockheed reveals new LMXT refueling tanker, firing the opening salvo in US Air Force competition

Improvements include more range and better fuel-offloading capabilities compared to the baseline version of Airbus's A330 tanker.

To get F-35 performance-based logistics contract, Lockheed will have to give up tech data

Lockheed has been angling for an F-35 performance-based logistics contract for three years, but it will come with strings attached.

Lockheed nabs F-35 sustainment contract worth up to $6.6B

The cost per flying hour is set to decrease by 8 percent over the contract period, the Pentagon stated.

Former US Air Force acquisition czar could help the UK build its future fighter

Will Roper, who served as the U.S. Air Force's top acquisition official during the Trump administration, will be advising the U.K. Royal Air Force on innovative technologies such as agile software development and digital engineering.

Top US Air Force general supports proposed F-35 cost constraints

The U.S. Air Force’s top general backs proposed legislation that would cap the number of F-35s the Defense Department can buy unless it meets affordability goals for operating and sustaining the jet.

Lockheed, Northrop invest in a startup that wants to refuel satellites in space

San Francisco-based Orbit Fab secured $10 million in its latest funding round, and defense companies want to be a part of the company's growth.

How many F-35s does the Air Force need?

A new tactical aircraft study underway could make certain what has until now been a suspicion: The U.S. Air Force is unlikely to purchase all of the 1,763 F-35A jets in its program of record.

Army Secretary talks trajectory on modernization and climate | Defense News Weekly

Here are companies are competing to replace the Bradley

GM Defense shows off updated Infantry Squad Vehicle

A future Bradley replacement and a new troop vehicle | Defense News Weekly Full Episode, 10.16.21

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