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.
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.