A flying visit to the Farnborough show on Monday by U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Rudy de Leone was part of American efforts to achieve improved collaboration on defense programs with its allies. It followed signature in Washington of the Defense Trade Security Initiative on May 17, as the first U.S. export reform package in more than a decade.

During his visit, de Leone met with leading defense and industry officials in the UK and France. In addition to specific procurement issues, new policies were discussed to maintain two-way defense bridges across the Atlantic, and improve allied interoperability.

"We're stressing the need for more defense co-operation with our allies," he told Show News at Farnborough. "At the same time, we have to be protective of our technologies, particularly where re-exports are concerned".

These policies were an extension of the Declaration of Principle recently signed by Defense Secretary William Cohen and UK Defense Minister Geoff Hoon, to enhance co-operation on military programs between their respective countries.

"We see our special defense relationship with Britain as a model for similar future partnerships with other U.S. allies," de Leone said. But he added that it was essential for all the countries concerned to achieve a better match between their defense responsibilities and spending.

By John Fricker