TAIPEI (Reuters) - China has added long-range missiles near Taiwan and leads the self-ruled island in military defenses, a U.S. navy official said, suggesting that Taiwan may need new F-16 jet fighters.

Almost 50 sailors were missing after a South Korean warship sank near the tense border with North Korea, the military said Saturday, but officials said there was no sign so far the North was to blame.

Wrecked WWII plane found near Ore. coast still a mystery, but investigators getting clues. A sheriff involved in investigating the wreckage of a World War II dive bomber found in the Oregon woods said Friday at least three U.S. Navy planes of that type apparently went down in the area from 1945 to 1948.

A South Korean warship with 104 people on board sank near the North Korean border late Friday after an unexplained explosion, military officials said, as one report said about 40 sailors were missing.

Japan's centre-left government Friday scrambled to work out a compromise in a festering row over a controversial US military base, days before its foreign minister heads to Washington.

Japan's centre-left government Friday scrambled to work out a compromise in a festering row over a controversial US military base, days before the country's foreign minister heads to Washington.

-

The Pentagon said it might extend a deadline for bids on a new aerial refueling tanker after Airbus parent EADS signalled it could return to the competition.

The Pentagon said it might extend a deadline for bids on a new aerial refueling tanker after Airbus parent EADS signalled it could return to the competition.

The Pentagon on Thursday said it might extend a deadline for bids on a new aerial refueling tanker after Airbus parent EADS signalled it could return to the competition.

Both pilots OK after Navy jets collide on training mission over northern Nevada desert. The U.S. Navy says two fighter jets on a training mission collided over the northern Nevada desert, but both pilots survived.

Gates: Gulf allies understand Iran sanctions next step; Iranian support for Taliban 'limited'. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday that Persian Gulf allies understand sanctions are the inevitable next step in dealing with the threat of a nuclear Iran.

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Abu Dhabi Thursday looking to tighten pressure on Tehran, as Iran's president warned Gulf countries against allowing a U.S. presence in the region.

US defense chief holds strategy talks with Gulf ally Saudi Arabia about response to Iran. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Saudi leaders Wednesday that the U.S. effort for diplomatic engagement with Iran had come to naught and he asked for the influential kingdom's help to win wide backing for biting economic penalties against Tehran.

Lockheed wins $17 million Navy contract for missile launch systems, could reach $104 million. Lockheed Martin Corp. said Wednesday it recently won a $17 million Navy contract for engineering on Navy missile launch systems, and with options it could be worth $104 million over four years.

Science Applications receives Navy contract worth up to $625 million to develop software. Defense contractor Science Applications International Corp., or SAIC Inc., on Wednesday said it received a contract from the U.S. Navy to develop and enhance command and control software.

A US Navy hospital ship was recalled from Haiti Tuesday as the US military cut its emergency deployment to the quake-hit nation, where aid efforts are now turning to reconstruction.

Lockheed to build radar systems for Navy E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft under $172M contract. Lockheed Martin has signed a $171.8 million contract with Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems to build four airborne early warning radar systems.

Supreme Court dismisses appeal of Chinese Muslims at Guantanamo Bay, says other options exist. The Supreme Court dismissed an appeal Monday from the seven Chinese Muslim detainees at Guantanamo Bay because they have been offered another place to live.

US military weighs role in quake-ravaged Haiti, wary of extended mission. U.S. military officials are deliberating how long American troops should stay in Haiti to tend to its earthquake-battered population, knowing that work remains but reluctant to take on much of the rebuilding that could commit the force to the region for years.