Jonathan Lehrfeld
Early Bird Brief Editor, Military Times
Jonathan is a staff writer and editor of the Early Bird Brief newsletter for Military Times. Follow him on Twitter @lehrfeld_media
All Stories By Jonathan
US Air Force plans to bed down 25 F-35s in FY26, report says
The report also outlines the service’s procurement schedule to reach a fleet of nearly 1,800 of the aircraft by 2049.
The F-15 fighter jet is having a second spring in Asia
South Korea is in line for major upgrades to its fleet, while Indonesia has signaled interest in the warplane type.
US Army fires Precision Strike Missile in salvo shot for first time
The Army and Lockheed Martin head into soldier user testing next month following qualification testing including the double shot from a HIMARS launcher.
Ukraine fires missiles into Russia
Ukraine fires US-made longer-range missiles into Russia for first time
The EU is urged to sharpen its defense-cooperation playbook
The main thrust of a new EU self-assessment is a call to double down on PESCO and make it a stronger force for a defensive Europe.
Pentagon picks programmers to connect its Replicator drone swarms
The announcement comes a week after the Pentagon revealed several of the drones it plans to buy through Replicator.
NATO activates Poland antimissile site, as Warsaw ups ammo production
The Redzikowo facility joins the Aegis Ashore site in Deveselu, Romania, as another component of the alliance’s ballistic missile defense architecture.
Pentagon to send Ukraine anti-personnel mines ‘soon,’ US says
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin wouldn't say whether the mines are part of a new round of military aid announced this week.
European defense firms book double-digit growth amid war in Ukraine
The sector also saw employment swell by 8.9 percent to reach a head count of 581,000, according to the pan-European industry group ASD.
US to send Ukraine $275M in new weapons to bolster Kyiv before Trump
The latest tranche of weapons comes as worries grow about an escalation in the conflict.
