BEIJING – Japan is expected to decide by the end of the year whether to order four Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Global Hawk surveillance aircraft that could later be upgraded to reinforce the country’s anti-ballistic missile defenses. The decision, which has been brewing for years, is due to appear in the National Defense Program Guideline, which will set out future military policy when it appears this year, program officials say.

ANDERSEN AFB, GUAM — U.S. Air Force and Navy Global Hawks operating from Andersen AFB in Guam may share ground support and occasionally cover each other’s missions as part of a June 12 agreement between the two services to coordinate their high-altitude surveillance operations.

Mitsubishi Aircraft has begun making production drawings for its MRJ regional jet and confirms that the aircraft is on schedule for a first delivery in the first quarter of 2014. The target was set a year ago after a major design change and is three months later than the schedule adopted when the program was launched in April 2008. First flight is due in the second quarter of 2012.