Mike Stone
@michaelstone.bsky.social
Reuters reporter covering the U.S. arms trade. Mainly focused on Ukraine and Golden Dome for now. Read my stories here: https://www.reuters.com/authors/mike-stone/; RP's≠endorsements. Views=own.
Pinned
Mike Stone
@michaelstone.bsky.social
· Nov 16
Overheard in the newsroom: "The word lockup has a new meaning." (This is a joke only Fed reporters will understand.)
January 12, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Overheard in the newsroom: "The word lockup has a new meaning." (This is a joke only Fed reporters will understand.)
File under confusing for everyone: There is a #Baseball Spring Training exhibition game between the Venezuelan National Team and the Washington Nationals on March 4th.
January 7, 2026 at 2:40 PM
File under confusing for everyone: There is a #Baseball Spring Training exhibition game between the Venezuelan National Team and the Washington Nationals on March 4th.
Exclusive: L3Harris nears space propulsion asset stake sale to AE Industrial, sources say $LHX www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Exclusive: L3Harris nears space propulsion asset stake sale to AE Industrial, sources say
L3Harris Technologies is nearing a deal to sell a 60% stake in a portfolio of space and propulsion businesses to private equity firm AE Industrial Partners as the large defense company sheds some NASA...
www.reuters.com
January 4, 2026 at 9:07 PM
Exclusive: L3Harris nears space propulsion asset stake sale to AE Industrial, sources say $LHX www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Pentagon fails audit...again
Auditors identified 26 material weaknesses and 2 significant deficiencies in the Department of Defense's (DoD) internal controls over financial reporting for fiscal 2025.
www.reuters.com/world/us/pen...
Auditors identified 26 material weaknesses and 2 significant deficiencies in the Department of Defense's (DoD) internal controls over financial reporting for fiscal 2025.
www.reuters.com/world/us/pen...
Pentagon says it fails eighth audit, targets 2028 to pass
For the eighth year in a row, the Pentagon has failed an annual audit, the Department of Defense said on Friday, continuing a pattern of financial accountability problems that have drawn bipartisan cr...
www.reuters.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Pentagon fails audit...again
Auditors identified 26 material weaknesses and 2 significant deficiencies in the Department of Defense's (DoD) internal controls over financial reporting for fiscal 2025.
www.reuters.com/world/us/pen...
Auditors identified 26 material weaknesses and 2 significant deficiencies in the Department of Defense's (DoD) internal controls over financial reporting for fiscal 2025.
www.reuters.com/world/us/pen...
Space Force awarded the first group of Golden Dome contracts.
The awards went to several companies including Northrop Grumman, True Anomaly, Lockheed Martin and Anduril, the sources said.
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
The awards went to several companies including Northrop Grumman, True Anomaly, Lockheed Martin and Anduril, the sources said.
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
www.reuters.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Space Force awarded the first group of Golden Dome contracts.
The awards went to several companies including Northrop Grumman, True Anomaly, Lockheed Martin and Anduril, the sources said.
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
The awards went to several companies including Northrop Grumman, True Anomaly, Lockheed Martin and Anduril, the sources said.
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Lots of details on this story.
Delays, setbacks loom over Trump's Golden Dome missile shield www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Delays, setbacks loom over Trump's Golden Dome missile shield www.reuters.com/business/aer...
www.reuters.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Lots of details on this story.
Delays, setbacks loom over Trump's Golden Dome missile shield www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Delays, setbacks loom over Trump's Golden Dome missile shield www.reuters.com/business/aer...
NEW- Saudi Arabia made a direct appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump and has long been interested in Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter jet, one of the people and a U.S. official said. The Pentagon is now weighing a potential sale of 48 of the advanced aircraft. www.reuters.com/business/aer...
www.reuters.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:02 PM
NEW- Saudi Arabia made a direct appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump and has long been interested in Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter jet, one of the people and a U.S. official said. The Pentagon is now weighing a potential sale of 48 of the advanced aircraft. www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Reposted by Mike Stone
Today's report: U.S. citizen dependents, and other non-essential American residents being evacuated from the base at Guantanamo Bay ahead of Hurricane Melissa. Their pets too.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/u...
Navy Begins Evacuating Families From Guantánamo Bay Ahead of Hurricane Melissa
www.nytimes.com
October 25, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Today's report: U.S. citizen dependents, and other non-essential American residents being evacuated from the base at Guantanamo Bay ahead of Hurricane Melissa. Their pets too.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/u...
A #hypersonic startup I've been following got small integration contracts that could lead to big things. "The company aims to produce thousands of the weapons annually at full rate production, with a target cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars per unit." www.reuters.com/world/us-mil...
www.reuters.com
October 24, 2025 at 10:47 AM
A #hypersonic startup I've been following got small integration contracts that could lead to big things. "The company aims to produce thousands of the weapons annually at full rate production, with a target cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars per unit." www.reuters.com/world/us-mil...
News on F/A-XX: Oct 7 (Reuters) - After months of delay, the Pentagon will select as soon as this week the defense company to design and build the Navy's next stealth fighter, a U.S. official and two people familiar with the decision said
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
www.reuters.com
October 7, 2025 at 10:56 AM
News on F/A-XX: Oct 7 (Reuters) - After months of delay, the Pentagon will select as soon as this week the defense company to design and build the Navy's next stealth fighter, a U.S. official and two people familiar with the decision said
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
The decision to move ahead with a selection was made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday, the U.S. official and one of the people said.
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
www.reuters.com
October 7, 2025 at 10:54 AM
The decision to move ahead with a selection was made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday, the U.S. official and one of the people said.
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Exclusive: Trump to reinterpret 1987 missile treaty to sell heavy attack drones abroad www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Exclusive: Trump to reinterpret 1987 missile treaty to sell heavy attack drones abroad
President Donald Trump is expected to unilaterally reinterpret a 38-year-old arms control treaty to sell sophisticated "Reaper" style and other advanced military drones abroad, according to a U.S. official and four people familiar with the plan.
www.reuters.com
September 5, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Exclusive: Trump to reinterpret 1987 missile treaty to sell heavy attack drones abroad www.reuters.com/business/aer...
More on Golden Dome.
The last lines of defense dubbed the "under layer" and "Limited Area Defense" will include new radars and current systems like the Patriot missile defense system and a new "common" launcher that will launch current and future interceptors...
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
The last lines of defense dubbed the "under layer" and "Limited Area Defense" will include new radars and current systems like the Patriot missile defense system and a new "common" launcher that will launch current and future interceptors...
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Exclusive: Pentagon Golden Dome to have 4-layer defense system, slides show
The Trump administration's flagship Golden Dome missile defense system will include four layers -- one satellite-based and three on land -- with 11 short-range batteries located across the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii, according to a U.S. government slide presentation on the project first reported by Reuters.
www.reuters.com
August 12, 2025 at 10:36 PM
More on Golden Dome.
The last lines of defense dubbed the "under layer" and "Limited Area Defense" will include new radars and current systems like the Patriot missile defense system and a new "common" launcher that will launch current and future interceptors...
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
The last lines of defense dubbed the "under layer" and "Limited Area Defense" will include new radars and current systems like the Patriot missile defense system and a new "common" launcher that will launch current and future interceptors...
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
One surprise was a new large missile field - seemingly in the Midwest according to a map contained in the presentation - for Next Generation Interceptors (NGI) which are made by Lockheed Martin
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Exclusive: Pentagon Golden Dome to have 4-layer defense system, slides show
The Trump administration's flagship Golden Dome missile defense system will include four layers -- one satellite-based and three on land -- with 11 short-range batteries located across the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii, according to a U.S. government slide presentation on the project first reported by Reuters.
www.reuters.com
August 12, 2025 at 10:35 PM
One surprise was a new large missile field - seemingly in the Midwest according to a map contained in the presentation - for Next Generation Interceptors (NGI) which are made by Lockheed Martin
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Golden Dome seeks alternatives to SpaceX: Kuiper, which has launched just 78 of a planned constellation of 3,000 low-earth orbit satellites, has been approached by the Pentagon to join the effort, signaling the administration's openness to integrating commercial tech www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Exclusive: Trump's Golden Dome looks for alternatives to Musk's SpaceX
The Trump administration is expanding its search for partners to build the Golden Dome missile defense system, courting Amazon.com's Project Kuiper and big defense contractors as tensions with Elon Musk threaten SpaceX's dominance in the program, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
www.reuters.com
July 22, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Golden Dome seeks alternatives to SpaceX: Kuiper, which has launched just 78 of a planned constellation of 3,000 low-earth orbit satellites, has been approached by the Pentagon to join the effort, signaling the administration's openness to integrating commercial tech www.reuters.com/business/aer...
It has become clear Trump presented a framework - not a fleshed-out plan. How sizeable any support ends up being for Ukraine will depend on coming negotiations about who provides which equipment, according to 10 officials...
www.reuters.com/world/europe... w/ @gramslattery.bsky.social
www.reuters.com/world/europe... w/ @gramslattery.bsky.social
Ukraine celebrates Trump's weapons reversal, but the 'devil's in the details'
President Donald Trump has finally found a way to like arming Ukraine: ask European allies to donate their weapons, and sell them American replacements. Now comes the hard part — agreeing on who will actually give up their prized systems.
www.reuters.com
July 16, 2025 at 3:01 PM
It has become clear Trump presented a framework - not a fleshed-out plan. How sizeable any support ends up being for Ukraine will depend on coming negotiations about who provides which equipment, according to 10 officials...
www.reuters.com/world/europe... w/ @gramslattery.bsky.social
www.reuters.com/world/europe... w/ @gramslattery.bsky.social
Scoop- President Donald Trump for the first time since returning to office will send weapons to Kyiv under a presidential power frequently used by his predecessor, two sources familiar with the decision said
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Trump to use presidential authority to send weapons to Ukraine, sources say
President Donald Trump for the first time since returning to office will send weapons to Kyiv under a presidential power frequently used by his predecessor, two sources familiar with the decision said on Thursday, a move suggesting new interest by the president in defending Ukraine.
www.reuters.com
July 10, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Scoop- President Donald Trump for the first time since returning to office will send weapons to Kyiv under a presidential power frequently used by his predecessor, two sources familiar with the decision said
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Reposted by Mike Stone
After today’s relatively quiet stage, tomorrow has the potential to explode into fireworks 🔥
@poetina.bsky.social has broken down the route of 🇫🇷 #TDF2025 Stage 4 in full detail - every key moment, every tactical twist that could shape the race.
📰 www.domestiquecycling.com/en/features/...
📷 ASO
@poetina.bsky.social has broken down the route of 🇫🇷 #TDF2025 Stage 4 in full detail - every key moment, every tactical twist that could shape the race.
📰 www.domestiquecycling.com/en/features/...
📷 ASO
July 7, 2025 at 6:05 PM
After today’s relatively quiet stage, tomorrow has the potential to explode into fireworks 🔥
@poetina.bsky.social has broken down the route of 🇫🇷 #TDF2025 Stage 4 in full detail - every key moment, every tactical twist that could shape the race.
📰 www.domestiquecycling.com/en/features/...
📷 ASO
@poetina.bsky.social has broken down the route of 🇫🇷 #TDF2025 Stage 4 in full detail - every key moment, every tactical twist that could shape the race.
📰 www.domestiquecycling.com/en/features/...
📷 ASO
Refueling is done blind - pilots can't see the boom extending from a tanker full of gas attaching to the B-2 16 feet behind their heads. www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Turkey sandwiches and stealth: Preparing for B-2 bomber missions
Before strapping into the cockpit of the U.S. Air Force's B-2 Spirit stealth bomber for missions that can stretch beyond 40 hours, pilots undergo weeks of preparation that focuses not only on flight plans, but what to eat.
www.reuters.com
June 26, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Refueling is done blind - pilots can't see the boom extending from a tanker full of gas attaching to the B-2 16 feet behind their heads. www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Inbox:
MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY RELEASE
The Golden Dome for America Industry Summit has been CANCELED.
The Summit will not be held on June 11, 2025 at the Von Braun Center downtown Huntsville, AL. An announcement will be made on SAM.gov if/when a new date and location are planned.
MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY RELEASE
The Golden Dome for America Industry Summit has been CANCELED.
The Summit will not be held on June 11, 2025 at the Von Braun Center downtown Huntsville, AL. An announcement will be made on SAM.gov if/when a new date and location are planned.
Home | SAM.gov
SAM.gov
June 2, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Inbox:
MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY RELEASE
The Golden Dome for America Industry Summit has been CANCELED.
The Summit will not be held on June 11, 2025 at the Von Braun Center downtown Huntsville, AL. An announcement will be made on SAM.gov if/when a new date and location are planned.
MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY RELEASE
The Golden Dome for America Industry Summit has been CANCELED.
The Summit will not be held on June 11, 2025 at the Von Braun Center downtown Huntsville, AL. An announcement will be made on SAM.gov if/when a new date and location are planned.
Reposted by Mike Stone
Japan flexes defence ambitions at arms show reut.rs/4jZbXmk
Japan flexes defence ambitions at arms show
Japan opened one of its largest-ever arms shows on Wednesday in a display that Defence Minister Gen Nakatani said marked the pacifist nation's deepening push for overseas defence cooperation and weapons exports.
reut.rs
May 21, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Japan flexes defence ambitions at arms show reut.rs/4jZbXmk
The vice chief of space operations, United States Space Force General Michael Guetlein, is expected to be in the Oval Office this afternoon where the officials, who declined to be identified, said that it was likely he will be named as the program lead
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Trump to make Golden Dome announcement on Tuesday, US official says
President Donald Trump is expected to announce he has selected the path forward for his ambitious Golden Dome missile defense shield, a U.S. official said on Tuesday.
www.reuters.com
May 20, 2025 at 3:46 PM
The vice chief of space operations, United States Space Force General Michael Guetlein, is expected to be in the Oval Office this afternoon where the officials, who declined to be identified, said that it was likely he will be named as the program lead
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's cost assessment office plans to slash funding for the next-generation jet's development by shifting the $454 million that Congress provided for the F/A-XX in the fiscal year 2025 budget to other programs
www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
US Navy's new fighter jet threatened by funding dispute, sources say
The U.S. Navy and Congress are battling with the Trump administration to keep moving forward with a contract award to build the Navy's next-generation fighter jet, according three people with knowledge of the matter.
www.reuters.com
May 14, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's cost assessment office plans to slash funding for the next-generation jet's development by shifting the $454 million that Congress provided for the F/A-XX in the fiscal year 2025 budget to other programs
www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
“The kingdom first requested information about General Atomics' drones in 2018, they said. Over the past 12 months, a deal for $20 billion of General Atomics' MQ-9B SeaGuardian-style drones and other aircraft came into focus, according to one of the sources.”
www.reuters.com/world/trump-...
www.reuters.com/world/trump-...
Exclusive: Trump poised to offer Saudi Arabia over $100 bln arms package - sources
The United States is poised to offer Saudi Arabia an arms package worth well over $100 billion, six sources with direct knowledge of the issue told Reuters, saying the proposal was being lined up for announcement during U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the kingdom in May.
www.reuters.com
April 24, 2025 at 10:02 PM
“The kingdom first requested information about General Atomics' drones in 2018, they said. Over the past 12 months, a deal for $20 billion of General Atomics' MQ-9B SeaGuardian-style drones and other aircraft came into focus, according to one of the sources.”
www.reuters.com/world/trump-...
www.reuters.com/world/trump-...
Scoop- SpaceX is pitching for the part of the Golden Dome initiative called the "custody layer," a constellation of satellites that would detect missiles, track their trajectory, and determine if they are heading toward the U.S. www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Exclusive: Musk's SpaceX is frontrunner to build Trump's Golden Dome missile shield
Elon Musk's SpaceX and two partners have emerged as frontrunners to win a crucial part of President Donald Trump's "Golden Dome" missile defense shield, six people familiar with the matter said.
www.reuters.com
April 17, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Scoop- SpaceX is pitching for the part of the Golden Dome initiative called the "custody layer," a constellation of satellites that would detect missiles, track their trajectory, and determine if they are heading toward the U.S. www.reuters.com/business/aer...