Under a new agreement with Fincantieri Marinette Marine, the Wisconsin shipbuilder will complete Constellation (FFG-62) and Congress (FFG-63) but cancel four additional hulls. The decision reflects a broader Pentagon push to accelerate production under its “speed to delivery” initiative.
Officials said the shift aims to expand the fleet more quickly to meet emerging threats. The Navy plans to redirect unspent frigate funds toward new, more readily producible ships—potentially including Landing Ship Mediums and large unmanned surface vessels.
Marinette’s workforce of about 3,000 will remain active with ongoing contracts, including Saudi Navy combatants and other potential programs.
From day one I made it clear: I won’t spend a dollar if it doesn’t strengthen readiness or our ability to win.
To keep that promise, we’re reshaping how we build and field the Fleet—working with industry to deliver warfighting advantage, beginning with a strategic shift away… pic.twitter.com/pbTpIPDfR8
— Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan (@SECNAV) November 25, 2025
The Constellation-class program, launched in 2020 to replace Littoral Combat Ships, faced design delays and cost growth after modifications to meet US standards pushed the first delivery back to 2029.
The Navy has spent roughly $2 billion on the program and intends to work with Congress to reallocate remaining funds toward faster shipbuilding options.
US Naval Academy Commandant Fired After Six Months Over Loss of Confidence
Captain Gilbert Clark, commandant of midshipmen at the US Naval Academy, was relieved of duty Monday after less than six months in the role, the Navy said, citing a loss of confidence in his leadership.
The service did not specify the reason for his dismissal. Captain Austin Jackson, the deputy commandant, has been appointed interim commandant.
Capt. Gilbert Clark Jr. has been relieved of his position as commandant of the U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen less than six months after the alumnus took the position in June.
According to a statement sent to The Baltimore Sun, Clark was relieved of duty as the 91st Commandant of… pic.twitter.com/JnCqkVcXg3
— The Baltimore Sun (@baltimoresun) November 25, 2025
Clark, a 1998 academy graduate and career surface warfare officer, took over the position in June and was described as a key mentor and leader for the academy’s 4,400 midshipmen.
His removal follows a series of high-profile leadership changes ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, including the July dismissal of Vice Admiral Yvette Davids, the first woman to lead the academy, and other senior female officers across the Navy and Coast Guard.
Appeals Court Denies Release for Former Navy Admiral Convicted in Bribery Case
Retired Admiral Robert P. Burke, the Navy’s former vice chief of naval operations, will remain in prison while appealing his conviction for bribery, conspiracy, and related charges, the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled on November 13.
The court found that Burke’s appeal did not raise substantial legal or factual questions likely to overturn his conviction or reduce his sentence.
Burke was sentenced in September to six years in prison for steering Navy contracts to Next Jump, a New York-based training firm, in exchange for a lucrative post-retirement job offer and benefits. He began serving his sentence in October at a federal facility in West Virginia.
Retired U.S. Navy Admiral Sentenced to Six Years in Bribery Scheme
Admiral Robert P. Burke (USN-Ret.), 62, of Coconut Creek, Florida, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 72 months in prison in connection with accepting future employment at a government vendor in exchange for… pic.twitter.com/ebSHpwV4V1
— FBI (@FBI) September 18, 2025
Co-defendants Yongchul “Charlie” Kim and Meghan Messenger, Next Jump’s co-CEOs, are scheduled for retrial in April.
Burke, who retired in 2022 after leading US Naval Forces Europe-Africa, is only the second Navy admiral ever convicted of a federal crime while on active duty.
US Expands Caribbean Military Campaign as Hegseth, Caine Meet Regional Leaders
Top US military officials are meeting with Caribbean leaders this week as the Trump administration intensifies military operations in the region under its anti-drug campaign.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will meet Wednesday in the Dominican Republic with President Luis Abinader and senior defense officials, while Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine met Tuesday with Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to discuss regional security challenges, including narcotics and human trafficking.
The US military has launched 21 strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels since September, killing at least 83 people. Analysts view the escalation as part of Washington’s pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom the US has charged with narcoterrorism.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has announced and published footage showing yet another strike carried out overnight against an alleged drug trafficking vessel in the Southern Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela. The strike reportedly killed six suspected… pic.twitter.com/dAdTs8XaGy
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 24, 2025
This week, the administration also designated the Cartel de los Soles—a network tied to Maduro’s government—as a foreign terrorist organization.
While most Caribbean governments have remained cautious about the US actions, Persad-Bissessar publicly praised the strikes, drawing criticism from regional leaders.
The Pentagon said Hegseth’s visit aims to strengthen defense ties and reaffirm US commitment to regional security, as Caine also toured U.S. military installations in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
Trump Sends Envoys to Push Ukraine-Russia Peace Plan as Fighting Escalates
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that his plan to end the war in Ukraine has been “fine-tuned” and that envoys will meet with Russian and Ukrainian officials to advance negotiations.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, while Army Secretary Dan Driscoll will meet Ukrainian representatives. Trump said he and Vice President JD Vance will be briefed on progress before any potential meetings with Putin or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
PEACE IN PROGRESS: President Trump touts “tremendous progress” with a 28-point plan that could end the Russia-Ukraine war, as he directs key members of his administration to work with Presidents Putin and Zelenskyy to get the deal done.
“I look forward to hopefully meeting with… pic.twitter.com/zAgCPAwvVX
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 25, 2025
Talks continued this week in Abu Dhabi and Geneva as European leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron and Britain’s Keir Starmer, called the peace push a “crucial juncture.” Ukrainian delegates said negotiations remain preliminary, emphasizing the importance of strong security guarantees.
Trump’s proposed plan, criticized as favoring Russia, has been revised and shortened as discussions continue.
Despite diplomatic efforts, heavy fighting persisted. Russia launched missile and drone strikes on Kyiv overnight, killing at least seven and knocking out utilities, while Ukrainian drones targeted industrial sites in southern Russia. Both sides reported civilian casualties as the war nears its fourth year.
Russian Ship Accused of Laser Targeting and GPS Jamming Near UK Waters
The UK Ministry of Defense reported this week that Russian research vessel Yantar aimed lasers at Royal Air Force patrol aircraft and likely jammed GPS signals while operating near Britain’s Exclusive Economic Zone in early November.
The Royal Navy frigate HMS Somerset shadowed the ship from November 5-11 as it traveled through the North Sea toward the Faroe Islands, working with NATO allies to monitor its movements.
The United Kingdom and NATO classify Yantar, officially a research vessel, as an intelligence ship tied to Russia’s Defense Ministry. The Royal Navy said Yantar’s crew acted recklessly during the encounter, endangering RAF pilots. Defense Secretary John Healey condemned the behavior, warning Moscow that the UK was “ready” if the ship returned south.
The incident followed earlier tensions when a Royal Navy submarine surfaced near Yantar last year after it loitered over critical undersea infrastructure. Dutch naval forces also tracked the vessel this month as it moved through their waters.
The Defence Secretary @JohnHealey_MP this morning confirmed that a Russian spy ship – the Yantar – is on the edge of UK waters, north of Scotland, having entered the UK’s wider waters over the last few weeks.
This is a vessel used for gathering intelligence and mapping… pic.twitter.com/GO6LXVAfgU
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) November 19, 2025
Separately, Royal Navy and NATO ships shadowed Russian warships transiting the English Channel, while three RAF P-8 Poseidon aircraft deployed to Iceland to bolster NATO surveillance of Russian activity in the North Atlantic and Arctic.
EU Approves $1.7 Billion Defense Program Linking Ukraine to Bloc’s Military Industry
European Union lawmakers voted Tuesday to approve a 1.5-billion euro ($1.7 billion) defense program aimed at strengthening the bloc’s defense industry and deepening cooperation with Ukraine amid ongoing instability from Russia’s war and uncertainty over US policy.
The measure passed 457-148, with 33 abstentions, and allocates 300 million euros ($345 million) to the Ukraine Support Instrument.
EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said the plan will allow Ukraine to participate directly in EU defense procurement and industrial projects, injecting its wartime innovations into the bloc’s defense sector. Lawmakers described the move as part of a broader effort to build a “sovereign and resilient Europe” capable of defending itself without reliance on outside powers.
⚪️ European Parliament approved its first European Defense Industry Program to strengthen EU military capabilities
▫️ €1.5B plan boosts joint procurement and supports Ukraine’s defense industry https://t.co/C12sw4CDK8
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) November 25, 2025
The initiative comes as European defense spending reaches record levels, projected at 392 billion euros ($450 billion) this year, and as the European Commission prepares to boost long-term defense and space budgets to 131 billion euros ($153 billion). The new framework encourages EU members to buy equipment within the bloc and grants incentives to firms developing joint projects such as drone defense and space security systems.
The shift marks one of the EU’s largest post-World War II efforts to unify and expand its defense capabilities.
Israel Examines Human Remains From Gaza as Ceasefire Holds Under Strain
Israel said Tuesday it received human remains from Palestinian militants under a fragile ceasefire and is testing whether they belong to one of three remaining hostages still held in Gaza.
Islamic Jihad said it found the remains in the Nuseirat refugee camp.
The ceasefire, in place since October, requires Hamas to release all hostages. So far, militants have returned 25 bodies, while Israel has handed over 330 Palestinian remains. Israeli officials accused Hamas of stalling and warned of renewed military action if all hostages’ remains are not returned.
Despite the truce, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported 345 Palestinian deaths since the ceasefire began, including people killed in recent Israeli strikes. Israel said it targeted militants who violated the truce by emerging from tunnels or crossing into Israeli-held areas.
IDF escorting hostage’s body for forensic identification in Israel
After this handover, only 2 will remain in Gaza
Footage shows Red Cross receiving the remains from Palestinian Islamic Jihad https://t.co/iqT51T8ohq pic.twitter.com/ljPapsXVzb
— RT (@RT_com) November 25, 2025
Meanwhile, Indonesia said it is preparing 20,000 troops to join a planned UN-mandated stabilization force in Gaza, part of a US-backed 20-point plan that includes a transitional authority and outlines steps toward a potential Palestinian state.
In Israel, rights groups petitioned the high court to restore family visits for Palestinian prisoners amid reports of rising deaths in custody. Separately, a converted “popemobile” was unveiled in the West Bank as a mobile clinic set to serve children in Gaza.
Japan’s Prime Minister Takaichi, Under Fire From China, Receives Call From Trump After Xi Talks
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Tuesday that US President Donald Trump called her shortly after speaking with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, reaffirming the strength of the Japan-US alliance amid rising tensions over Taiwan.
Takaichi told reporters that Trump described their relationship as one of close friendship and discussed Indo-Pacific security challenges but declined to share further details.
The White House confirmed the call without elaboration.
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says she spoke with US President Donald Trump on a call at his request, and that he updated her on the latest situation between the US and China https://t.co/1eimkjHiId
— Bloomberg (@business) November 25, 2025
The conversation came weeks after Takaichi angered Beijing by suggesting Japan could respond militarily if China moved to seize Taiwan, calling such an act a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan.
China denounced the remark as a violation of its “red line,” imposed economic measures against Japan, and warned of consequences if Tokyo did not retract the statement.
Despite pressure, Japan has reiterated its commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue while seeking to calm the dispute. Trump has not publicly commented on Taiwan but maintains the US policy of strategic ambiguity, opposing the use of force while not committing to direct military involvement.
The diplomatic standoff has since extended to the United Nations, where Japan and China have traded accusations.
Sources: News Agencies
Evening Brief: Pentagon Reportedly Weighs Ending Scouting Partnership, Navy Cancels Frigate Program, Trump Sends Envoys for Peace Talks
Pentagon eyes Scout split, Navy axes frigates, Trump pushes Ukraine peace, and more. Here’s what’s making headlines this Tuesday evening.
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