More than 20 lawmakers on Monday urged President Trump to approve sales of armed drones to Jordan and the United Arab Emirates both to help in the ISIS fight and counter Chinese influence. The purchase of the MQ-9 Reapers would preserve thousands of US jobs, along with increasing the ability of the allied nations to assist in counter terror operations in the Middle East, according to the letter, which was signed by 20 Republican and two Democratic lawmakers.
With key members of Congress wavering on the possibility of a $350 billion defense reconciliation bill, defense experts told Air & Space Forces Magazine that the Pentagon is likely drawing up budget backup plans—but such plans would face hard choices between high-end weapons and low-cost drones and other programs in…