Navy Adm. Timothy Keating, who relinquished command of NORAD and US Northern Command on March 23, now has assumed command of US Pacific Command, taking over from acting commander Air Force Lt. Gen. Daniel P. Leaf. “He is fully prepared to continue the record of accomplishments that the countries of this region have built together,” Defense Secretary Robert Gates said of Keating during the change of command ceremony. Keating’s new territory includes 43 countries.
A combined Navy and Air Force program is seeking to build a smaller version of a ubiquitous air-to-air missile that could give advanced aircraft, such as the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, greater magazine depth in a high-end fight.