National Reconnaissance Office director Bruce Carlson said his agency’s new charter, expected out in a couple of weeks, will probably give him milestone decision authority over NRO programs. “I think that’s appropriate because, when we hit the [launch] button, I have to be the guy who says it’s OK to hit the button.” It will also allow the NRO director to call a meeting of the Secretary of Defense and Director of National Intelligence to work out when they give NRO incompatible instructions or requirements on programs. This is of “paramount” importance, Carlson said, if space recce programs are to succeed.
The U.S. and Sweden signed a bilateral Defense Cooperation Agreement on Dec. 5 that will strengthen military ties between them and likely lead to U.S. troops and prepositioned gear on Swedish soil. Swedish Defense minister Pal Jonson said the war in Ukraine prompted Sweden's joining NATO and he laid out…