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entagon spokesman Geoff Morrell would not take the bait yesterday as reporters questioned whether the now-extended grounding of the F-15 fleet would prompt senior DOD leaders to support continued F-22 production. He reminded them that “as a rule” Pentagon officials “do not talk about internal discussions [or] deliberations about recommendations we will make to the President on any program.” [Not officially, that is.] Morrell did add that the Pentagon has had discussions “with interested members of Congress, … and we certainly welcome their input.” That’s good because a slew of lawmakers are putting their two cents in.
The Pentagon has concluded a new agreement to buy laser-guidance kits that turn rockets into drone-killing weapons. BAE Systems and the Defense Department announced a framework deal of up to seven years for 25,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System guidance kits annually for the U.S. military.