The trial of James W. Fondren Jr., a retired USAF lieutenant colonel and former Pentagon civilian employee who is accused of passing classified information to Tai Shen Kuo, an agent of China, began Sept. 21 in US District Court in Alexandria, Va. The Examiner reports that convicted spy Kuo, a naturalized US citizen, testified against Fondren and that the prosecution introduced e-mails that showed Fondren knew the information he passed was classified and was going to the Chinese government. Fondren’s attorney has maintained Fondren did not know Kuo was a spy. (Justice Department release on Fondren’s indictment)
As the threat of Iranian-made drones grew, the Air Force rushed last year to equip F-15E Strike Eagles in the Middle East with a cheap, cost-effective way of defeating them. The service fielded the new capability in roughly a week.
