Carter said exports were an important driver of the U.S. economy but also helped build the military capabilities of U.S. allies, allowing them to assume more responsibility for their own security.
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U.S. pursues export control reform The Obama administration is continuing its drive to speed export reviews of weapons and high-tech gear despite unrest across the Middle East and should have proposals ready this summer, U.S. defense officials say. Pentagon acquisition chief Ashton Carter underscored the need for reform, saying the current system was so cumbersome it actually drove some nations to buy equipment from other countries. He said the Obama administration was not only willing, but determined to change the system to better protect fewer items, while loosening restrictions on other items that are already widely available on the global market. Escalating protests in the Middle East and North Africa have sparked questions about the wisdom of loosening U.S. export restrictions at a time when Egypt and Tunisia have already seen leaders overthrown. Critics worry that U.S. weapons could fall into the hands of Islamistcontrolled governments that are hostile to the United States or Israel, the closest U.S. ally in the region. Defense officials say they are keeping a close eye on any pending arms sales but the administration is proceeding on a “case by case” basis rather than imposing a blanket moratorium on weapons sales to the Middle East. A2Z METALWORKER
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“It’s in our interest to make this possible,” he said. “When we make it difficult for people, they just give up and go somewhere else to get the equipment they need.” SAUDI, EMIRATES DEALS GOING AHEAD Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said export reforms were driven in part by concerns raised by some of the United States’ closest allies, like Britain and Australia, who complain that current laws hamper their ability to work as closely with the U.S. military as both sides would like. Thus far,Whitman said, there was no move to halt sales to countries like the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia.
Boeing starts assembling first production P-8A Poseidon Boeing star ted final assembly of the fir st U.S. Navy P-8A Po s e i d o n p ro duction aircraft last month at its Renton factory. The Navy plans to purchase 117 of the 737-based Poseidon anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to replace its turboprop Lockheed Electra-based P-3 Orion fleet. The Navy awarded Boeing a $1.6 billion contract for the first six production P-8A Poseidons in January, following up on contracts for two static-test P-8As and six flight-test aircraft. “Boeing will deliver this first aircraft to the Navy on schedule in 2012 in preparation for initial operational capability, which is planned for 2013,” Chuck Dabundo, Boeing vice president and P-8 program manager, said in a news release. The first production P-8A fuselage arrived from supplier Spirit AeroSystems last month and was loaded into a tooling fixture, Boeing said. Workers have since started installing systems, wires and other small parts. Boeing has refitted an old site in Seattle for P-8 military systems installation and testing.