Australian to send 30 more military advisers to Afghanistan
Australia announced on May 28 it would send an additional 30 military advisers to train Afghan troops and expected other countries to increase their contributions to the restive Central Asian country.
Defense Minister Marise Payne said the increase was requested by NATO and supported by the United States. It would bring Australia’s commitment in Afghanistan to 300 military personnel in non-combat roles.
“Their role will be to continue in the train, advise and assist roles,” Payne told a Senate committee.
“We expect other partners to also enhance their contribution to the Resolute Support Mission,” she added.
The NATO-led Resolute Support Mission is supported by 39 nations that contribute around 13,500 personnel. Its role is to train, advise and assist Afghan security forces and institutions.
Australian troops have been involved in Afghanistan since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. AP
U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier clears round of sea trials
The Navy’s newest aircraft carrier has completed another round of sea trials.
Local news media outlets report that the future USS Gerald R. Ford completed “acceptance trials” May 26 after three days at sea. The $12.9 billion carrier is expected to be commissioned this summer.
The ship completed tested various state-of-the-art systems during its first round of sea trials in April.
Construction on the Ford started in 2009. It was supposed to finish by September 2015, with costs at $10.5 billion. But there were issues with the carrier’s advanced systems and technology, including aircraft landing equipment and power generation. AP
Northrop Grumman to begin making part of F-35 in Mississippi
Northrop Grumman will begin making part of the F-35 fighter jet in Mississippi, investing $3.7 million and adding 60 jobs over the next four years.
The defense contractor and Gov. Phil Bryant made the announcement May 26. Northrop Grumman, based in Bethesda, Md., currently has 50 employees in the Gulf Coast town of Moss Point assembling military drones.
Defense contractors often spread work to many states to maintain political support for expensive weapons programs. According to a website of primary F-35 contractor Lockheed Martin Corp., work for the F-35 is done in 46 states. U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran is a Mississippi Republican.
The company is in line to get more than $3.4 million in state and local aid. Mississippi Development Authority spokeswoman Tammy Craft said the state will provide $1.75 million to pay for building improvements, equipment and training. Jackson County will provide $685,000 for improvements to a publicly owned building at Trent Lott International Airport in Moss Point, which Northrop Grumman is leasing through 2026.
Craft said Northrop Grumman will be eligible to receive some worker income tax rebates because the company pays wages higher than the state average. Northrop Grumman would get at least $1 million over 10 years, assuming 60 jobs paying the minimum $42,130. The company declines to say how much it pays, although Craft said it’s “well above the state average.”
The company will also be eligible for property tax breaks on equipment, although Craft did not provide an estimate of their potential value. AP