Valerie Insinna

Valerie Insinna

Senior Reporter, Congress and Defense Industry, Breaking Defense

Valerie covers the congressional and defense industry beat for Breaking Defense. Valerie has extensive national security reporting expertise, having served as the air warfare beat reporter for Defense News for five years. During that time her work was recognized by numerous awards, including the prestigious National Press Club Michael A. Dornheim Award for defense journalism. Valerie most recently covered commercial aerospace for Reuters. She also previously worked at Defense Daily and National Defense Magazine.

Stories by Valerie Insinna

Hermeus rolls out new uncrewed aircraft as company edges toward goal of hypersonic flight

Hermeus rolls out new uncrewed aircraft as company edges toward goal of hypersonic flight
Hermeus rolls out new uncrewed aircraft as company edges toward goal of hypersonic flight

The Atlanta-based startup intends to pitch the next, supersonic iteration of the Quarterhorse, set to roll out in 2025, to the Pentagon as its first product.

Air Force wishlist seeks additional $3.5B for spares, construction and Pacific maneuvers

Air Force wishlist seeks additional $3.5B for spares, construction and Pacific maneuvers
Air Force wishlist seeks additional $3.5B for spares, construction and Pacific maneuvers

No aircraft were featured on the Air Force’s unfunded priorities list submitted to lawmakers today despite a decision to cut back on fighter procurement in FY25.

Topping Navy’s $2.2B unfunded list: Sub industrial base, Guam infrastructure repairs

Topping Navy’s $2.2B unfunded list: Sub industrial base, Guam infrastructure repairs
Topping Navy’s $2.2B unfunded list: Sub industrial base, Guam infrastructure repairs

Like in its formal budget, the submarine industrial base is the top item in the Navy’s annual unfunded wishlist, which also aims to replace missiles used recently in the Red Sea.

Classified tech, LongShot drone lead R&E unfunded list

Classified tech, LongShot drone lead R&E unfunded list
Classified tech, LongShot drone lead R&E unfunded list

The biggest pot of money sought is for a program whose details are listed as “Description withheld. Classified topic. Materials available at higher level.”

Space Force’s unfunded wishlist comes to $1.15B, including several classified programs

Space Force’s unfunded wishlist comes to $1.15B, including several classified programs
Space Force’s unfunded wishlist comes to $1.15B, including several classified programs

Among the unclassified programs listed, the Space Force could use an additional $160 million to establish a “working capital fund” to be used for purchasing commercial satellite communications.

Boeing CEO Calhoun exiting at end of year

Boeing CEO Calhoun exiting at end of year
Boeing CEO Calhoun exiting at end of year

Dave Calhoun had been under fire for some time, in large part due to public failures on the commercial side of the company.

Congress passes $825 billion defense spending bill amid political battles, government shutdown threat

Congress passes $825 billion defense spending bill amid political battles, government shutdown threat
Congress passes $825 billion defense spending bill amid political battles, government shutdown threat

For the Pentagon, the bill’s passage signifies some return to normal order after having operated the first six months of the fiscal year under a continuing resolution.

SPACECOM wants $1.2B in FY25 for ‘unfunded priorities,’ most classified

SPACECOM wants $1.2B in FY25 for ‘unfunded priorities,’ most classified
SPACECOM wants $1.2B in FY25 for ‘unfunded priorities,’ most classified

The SPACECOM list includes almost $704 million for three unnamed classified programs, as well as $90 million to fund a trio of classified Navy electronic warfare-based “counterspace” capabilities.

Army, CENTCOM ask Congress for spending jump for counter-drone mission

Army, CENTCOM ask Congress for spending jump for counter-drone mission
Army, CENTCOM ask Congress for spending jump for counter-drone mission

The Army has sent lawmakers a $2.2 billion unfunded priority list for FY25, while US Central Command says it would happily funnel an additional $450 million towards regional security.

Replicator, planes and multi-year deals: What’s in the new FY24 defense spending bill

Replicator, planes and multi-year deals: What’s in the new FY24 defense spending bill
Replicator, planes and multi-year deals: What’s in the new FY24 defense spending bill

The bipartisan spending package, released early this morning, increases defense funding by $27 billion over the previous year’s enacted budget and includes a number of key provisions the department had requested.

In $323M wishlist, SOUTHCOM wants money to counter Chinese influence, drugs in South America

In $323M wishlist, SOUTHCOM wants money to counter Chinese influence, drugs in South America
In $323M wishlist, SOUTHCOM wants money to counter Chinese influence, drugs in South America

US Southern Command laid out 20 different unfunded budget priorities for fiscal year 2025 in a 28-page list sent to Congress and obtained by Breaking Defense.

Boeing’s defense arm weighs sale of small surveillance business

Boeing’s defense arm weighs sale of small surveillance business
Boeing’s defense arm weighs sale of small surveillance business

Boeing acquired Germantown, Md.-based Digital Receiver Technology Inc. in 2008, when the aerospace giant was seeking to expand its presence in the intelligence sector.

Marine Corps hands lawmakers $2.4 billion service ‘wishlist’ for next year

Marine Corps hands lawmakers $2.4 billion service ‘wishlist’ for next year
Marine Corps hands lawmakers $2.4 billion service ‘wishlist’ for next year

If lawmakers could free up $250 million in the FY25 budget, the service could use that to purchase two additional CH-53K helicopters, or $341 million could be used for the Amphibious Combat Vehicle 30mm Cannon (ACV-30) line.

Guam defense tops INDOPACOM’s unfunded priorities, NORTHCOM wants more IT

Guam defense tops INDOPACOM’s unfunded priorities, NORTHCOM wants more IT
Guam defense tops INDOPACOM’s unfunded priorities, NORTHCOM wants more IT

US Indo-Pacific Command’s $11 billion unfunded priority list includes 44 programs, from missiles to maritime mines.

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