Japan will procure RQ-4 Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft to enhance the country’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, announced manufacturer Northrop Grumman. While press reports in late 2014 indicated that the Japanese might acquire three Global Hawks, the company’s Jan. 18 release states that details like aircraft quantities are not available at this time. Japan chose the RQ-4 and E-2D under its type selection process, which identifies capabilities and systems to meet specific defense requirements. The next step is for Japan to ask the United States to enter into the foreign military sales process for these items, states the release. “We are very pleased the Japan Ministry of Defense has expressed confidence in these systems and look forward to working with our US military customers through the FMS process,” said Mary Petryszyn, a company vice president.
Members of the House Armed Services Committee say the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile program has been set back three months due to the ongoing government shutdown. The comment is noteworthy because the JATM's status has been kept tightly under wraps.
