Defense.gov News Photo 020624-D-9880W-008

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Edward C. "Pete" Aldridge (seated left) and Italian Secretary General of Defense and National Armaments Director Adm. Giampaolo Di Paola (seated right) sign a memorandum of understanding in the Pentagon on June 24, 2002. The memorandum commits Italy to participate in the Joint Strike Fighter system development and demonstration phase. The Joint Strike Fighter is the military's next generation, multi-role, strike aircraft designed to complement the Navy F/A-18 and the Air Force F-22 aircraft. The Joint Strike Fighter program is the largest DoD acquisition program in history.