North vs. South Over UAVs?: It was bound to happen, given the urgent need for many reserve units around the country to latch onto a new mission—and unmanned aerial vehicles are as close to a flying mission as some may get. The Associated Press news service reports that North Dakota and South Dakota both have their sights set on the Global Hawk UAV and, perhaps, the smaller Predator, as well. North Dakota officials believe they have UAVs all sewn up for Grand Forks Air Force Base, but with the winning ways of South Dakota lawmakers, they may feel the need to keep the pressure on.
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.