Netherlands and US defense officials formally signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday to engage the Dutch in the production and development stages of the Joint Strike Fighter program. Netherlands, which has been part of the JSF program since 1997, plans to purchase 85 conventional take-off and landing variants of the F-35. Another JSF participant, Turkey, signaled its intent to sign an MOU, committing itself to buy about 100 JSFs.
Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, held meetings with defense leaders from the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea during a trip to the Indo-Pacific this week.