Drawing the Technology Line, Finally: According to the South Korean Chosun Ilbo, government officials confirmed Thursday that Washington had turned down Seoul’s request to purchase Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles. The export of the RQ-4A Global Hawk, Northrop Grumman’s cutting edge reconnaissance aircraft would have required Congressional sign-off, but the Bush Administration nixed the possibility for fear of transferring key strategic technology. However, according to Seoul, it took Washington six months to let them know.
Lt. Gen. Stephen L. Davis, the Department of the Air Force’s top internal watchdog, has been nominated to lead Air Force Global Strike Command, which oversees the service’s bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles.