Today In Defense
Last Updated: Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, 3:29 AM PST
2025-12-05T03:29:42.958047-08:00 2025-12-05T03:29:42.958047-08:00 (2025-12-05T03:29:42.958047-08:00)
Wall Street Journal
• Heather Somerville
Startups Raise $350M as U.S. Scrambles to Close Hypersonic Missile Gap with Russia and China
By Wall Street Journal: With $350 million in new funding, Castelion is among the companies racing to make the U.S. competitive with Russia and China in Mach 5 warfare.
Reuters
• Tim Hepher
Exclusive: Saab and Airbus co-operate on unmanned fighter technology
By Reuters: Saab and Airbus are discussing co-operation on unmanned warplane technology, senior executives of the companies told Reuters, a move highlighting surging interest in drones and evolving alliances in Europe's fractured defence industry.
FlightGlobal
• Dominic Perry
UK MoD eyes hundreds of millions to fund two Proteus uncrewed demonstrators for Royal Navy 700X squadron
By FlightGlobal: UK defence procurement officials are considering investing hundreds of millions of pounds to fund the development of two Proteus uncrewed concept demonstrators for the Royal Navy's 700X Naval Air Squadron.
leonardo.com
Leonardo wins multi-year logistics support contract for Italian Air Force C-27J fleet and Pisa simulator
By leonardo.com: Rome, 05 December 2025 08:58 Leonardo and the Italian National Armaments Directorate have signed a multi-year contract to provide Logistics Support for the Italian Air Force’s fleet of C-27J "Spartan" tactical transport aircraft and for the Full Motion Simulator of the International Training Centre (ITC) at the Air Base in Pisa, headquarters of the 46th Air Brigade.
FlightGlobal
• Greg Waldron
US clears Canada for $2.7bn bomb purchase
By FlightGlobal: The US government has approved a potential $2.7 billion sale of bombs and guidance kits to Canada, covering thousands of munitions including 907kg (2,000lb) BLU-117 bombs and Small Diameter Bombs.
FlightGlobal
• Greg Waldron
South Korea funds KF-21 short-range air-to-air missile development (KRW436bn) and awards KRW225bn Cheongnam production contract
By FlightGlobal: South Korea has formally launched development of a short-range air-to-air missile for its KF-21 fighter under a KRW436 billion programme, while separately awarding a KRW225 billion production contract for Cheongnam anti-tank missiles.
Aviation Week
South Korea Launches Development of Indigenous SRAAM-II Short‑Range Air‑to‑Air Missile
defensemirror.com
Hanwha, LIG Nex1 to Develop Air-to-Air Missiles for KF-21 Fighter Jet
Payload
• Laurence Russell
ESA Extends Subscription Window to 2026 after Securing €1.2B of €1.35B Defence Fund
By Payload: ESA will keep subscriptions for a new defense initiative open into 2026. The initiative has so far secured €1.2B of the €1.35B sought by ESA.
