The Pentagon expects to complete work on the next phase of international partnership agreements for the Joint Strike Fighter program next year. The JSF arrangement marks a departure from past programs, because the eight partners—Australia, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, and Turkey—are participating in development of the aircraft. The JSF program director, Rear Adm. Steve Enewold, told Reuters news service that reports of a rift among partner countries are not true. He said, the program is ahead of schedule on its critical design review.
A combined Navy and Air Force program is seeking to build a smaller version of a ubiquitous air-to-air missile that could give advanced aircraft, such as the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, greater magazine depth in a high-end fight.