The British vote to leave the European Union likely won’t have a significant effect on the Air Force, US Air Forces in Europe chief Gen. Frank Gorenc said Monday. In a telephone interview, Gorenc, who is retiring in July, said “for me, at my level, with respect to working with the British [air arms], I see very, very little effect” on USAFE as a result of the Brexit. There may be some effects “economically,” and those are still to be seen, but the relationship between USAF and Britain’s air arms “has been strong for decades” and “I believe will continue to be strong, and … we’re going to pursue the great capability that we have in the air together.” So far, the only effect the vote has had in the relationship is that “it’s the only thing that they’re talking about now in Europe,” Gorenc said, while there remain pressing security issues to discuss. He expects the Brexit will be a major talking point at the NATO Summit in Warsaw two weeks from now, but he doesn’t anticipate any major NATO air adjustments as a result. (See also: Set Sail for Brigadoom.)
The Pentagon has concluded a new agreement to buy laser-guidance kits that turn rockets into drone-killing weapons. BAE Systems and the Defense Department announced a framework deal of up to seven years for 25,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System guidance kits annually for the U.S. military.