China and South Korea: Convergence or Conflict of Interests?

11/11/2012
2012-11-11 by Richard Weitz The close alignment between Seoul and Washington in recent years has reinforced Beijing’s caution about breaking with the DPRK. The PRC and South Korea established formal diplomatic relations in 1992. Since then, their economic exchanges have soared, with China overtaking the United States as the ROK’s main…

Tokyo-Seoul Divisions Present Formation of a United Front Regarding Pyongyang

11/10/2012
2012-11-10 by Richard Weitz In spite of a common threat, South Korea and Japan have struggled to present a united front against that threat. South Korea and Japan both face a common military threat from North Korea, made evident most recently by the DPRK artillery strike against Yeonpyeong Island in…

Japan, US close to signing deal on F-35 workshare

11/09/2012
11/7/12 Japan and the United States are close to finalizing the workshare arrangement supporting the production of Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft for the Japan Air Self-Defence Force. A spokesman from the Japan Ministry of Defence (MoD) told IHS Jane's on 31 October that the two…

The F-35 and Pacific Strategy: Shaping a Core Lynchpin

11/08/2012
2012-11-08 By Robbin Laird Many analysts and politicians have discussed the F-35 as if it was a simple replacement aircraft. And in such conversations, the notion of stealth is seen as a high-end capability needed only sparingly and in specialized circumstances. If this were true, the Marines would not be…

Northrop Grumman and Terma Work on Composite Parts for the F-35

11/08/2012
Nov. 6, 2012 Northrop Grumman Corporation has entered a long-term agreement (LTA) with the advanced composites manufacturer Terma A/S in Denmark to manufacture component parts for the international F-35 Lightning II program. The LTA, which has a potential value of more than $97 million upon completion of all follow-on options,…

Aussie Air Chief Visits Fuesalage Assembly Line

11/08/2012
11/5/12 The Royal Australian Air Force's Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Brown, met Northrop Grumman Corporation NOC -1.56%  executives during a visit to the company's F-35 Lightning II production facility in Palmdale on Nov. 2. As part of his visit, Brown received an update on the F-35 program…