The Air Force and the Army are moving forward on the Joint Combat Aircraft despite “some minor differences” and should achieve a production decision by the end of May, says Lt. Gen. Howie Chandler, USAF deputy chief of staff for operations, plans, and requirements. (The Defense Acquisition Board has JCA on its schedule for May 30.) Chandler told the air-land panel of the Senate Armed Services Committee last week, “Those differences are going to be so minor that, whatever we need to do with those, we’ll have plenty of time to make adjustments as we work the program through.” The Army expects to start production on its version this fiscal year, with USAF following in Fiscal 2010.
The U.K. and the U.S. will continue to enjoy access to the ports, airfield, and workshops at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for at least another century, under a deal inked between the U.K. and Mauritius May 22.