US Air Forces in Europe “currently operates a limited number” of airborne intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance assets, so it has “aggressively pursued” working with allies who have such capabilities, says Army Gen. John Craddock, Supreme Allied Commander Europe and head of US European Command. Craddock told lawmakers last week during testimony on the 2008 defense budget that last year USAFE “almost doubled its traditional intelligence exchanges.” He stated in written testimony that USAFE had participated in 438 security cooperation events in 61 countries.
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.