Northrop Grumman fired off a response to the Government Accountability Office for its recent criticism of the Global Hawk acquisition program, saying the company will work closely with the Air Force to keep the high-flying unmanned aerial vehicle on cost and schedule. The Los Angeles Daily News reported on the Northrop statement, which naturally refers to the “outstanding performance” of the high-flying UAV, which the Air Force sent off to war still in its development stage. Northrop also notes that it initiated production even as it was still in development and test at the behest of the Pentagon.
Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd III met with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines to discuss bolstering defense ties on May 2. The discussion included plans for joint F-35 exercises with Japan and Australia in the coming years.