All That’s Left is a “One Percent” Problem: Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England told reporters after a Washington conference Monday that he believes the US and Great Britain are “within one percent” of reaching agreement over prickly technology transfer issues with the Joint Strike Fighter. According to Reuters news service, England thinks the two countries can resolve any lingering differences by the middle of June. That is at odds—slightly—with the latest British version, in which talk of back-up plans has emerged should JSF negotiations fail to meet UK expectations.
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.