Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) welcomed the Obama Administration’s pledge to give “serious consideration” to future sales of new-build F-16C/D fighters to Taiwan. “I commend the Administration for recognizing that our friend and ally Taiwan’s air force is woefully undersized and outgunned by communist China,” stated Cornyn in an April 27 release. Cornyn, in whose state Lockheed Martin builds the F-16, had placed on hold the nomination of Mark Lippert to oversee Asian and Pacific security affairs in the Pentagon due to Cornyn’s concern that the White House was not adequately addressing his concerns about Taiwan’s aging fighter fleet. However, White House Legislative Affairs Director Rob Nabors wrote Cornyn on April 27, telling him that the Administration would consider new F-16C/Ds for Taiwan in addition to the ongoing retrofit of the country’s F-16A/Bs in light of the “growing military threat to Taiwan.” Cornyn lifted his hold and Lippert received Senate confirmation for the senior policy post.
A Golden Dome task force established under U.S. Northern Command earlier this year has a broad remit, which includes fielding the capability to defend the U.S. against missile and drone attacks, its leaders said this week. Some of the primary focuses right now are ensuring Golden Dome can defend itself…