Gordon Arthur is an Asia correspondent for Defense News. After a 20-year stint working in Hong Kong, he now resides in New Zealand. He has attended military exercises and defense exhibitions in about 20 countries around the Asia-Pacific region.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency approvals include 291 Altius 600M-V loitering munitions from Anduril, plus 720 Switchblade 300s from AeroVironment.
Shipbuilders were reportedly given four weeks to respond to the request, plus another three weeks to explain how follow-on frigates can be locally built.