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.
Members of Congress from both parties expressed frustration and dismay over the abrupt and still-unexplained firing last month of Air Force Gen. Timothy Haugh from his dual role as head of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency.