Under the terms of the agreement, Japan will modify an existing F-16 design to produce by the late 1990s a new aircraft, designated the FS-X (Fighter Support Experimental).
But any cut in the plan would drive up the already high cost of the stealthy strike fighter in a way that might undermine political support, a fact not lost on Boeing marketers charged with keeping their company in the fighter business.
While Norway didn't support the war in Iraq, it did sent special forces and fighter planes to Afghanistan as part of the U.S.-led war against terrorism.
At the same time, we accelerated or increased weapons programs needed to confront real and growing threats -- the Joint Strike Fighter, the Littoral Combat Ship, and more helicopters and reconnaissance support for our troops at the front.
He had complained frequently that the Air Force was not getting ground forces the reconnaissance support they needed in overseas conflicts, and there was continuous friction over modernization priorities (Gates eventually terminated a fighter program championed by the purged Air Force leaders).