We’re not certain if this action will end the debate over executive agency status for unmanned aerial vehicles, but, Reuters news service reports that the Pentagon’s No. 2 civilian has directed the Air Force and Army to jointly work acquisition of Predator/Warrior UAVs, which are basically the same airframe and both built by General Atomics. The two services are supposed to develop a common program proposal by some time in August. The Air Force sparked the executive agent controversy anew earlier this year, and since then lawmakers have vowed to end UAV duplication of effort.
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.