Senate Panel Adds Potential Bridge Funding for F-22

Senate Panel Adds Potential Bridge Funding for F-22: The Senate Armed Services Committee has added $497 million to the Pentagon’s Fiscal 2009 defense budget request for the F-22 fighter program, potentially breathing life into attempts to keep the Raptor production line going beyond the current 183-aircraft program of record. In the May 1 release on the committee’s mark-up, the Senators say the funds could be used for advanced procurement of parts and materials for an additional lot of 24 Raptors that would be built starting in Fiscal 2010, or go towards shutting down the F-22 production line if no more aircraft are procured. Either way, the committee said the decision lies with the next Administration. The Pentagon’s request did not include any funding for additional Raptors beyond lot 9; nor did it earmark funds to close the F-22 line. But like the committee, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said he wants to preserve those options for the next President. Among its notable marks, the committee also added: $465 million for the F-35’s competing F136 engine program that DOD has recommended repeatedly for termination; $350 million for the transformational satellite communications program; $98 million to develop the MP-RTIP advanced radar on a wide-body aircraft; and $96.9 million to support a fleet of 76 B-52H bombers in a common configuration. No money was added for the procurement of additional C-17s; nor did the committee alter the Air Force’s plan to draw down its end strength to 316,771 personnel by the end of Fiscal 2009. House authorizers are scheduled to mark up their version of the bill the week of May 5.

5/5/2008

Verbatim

Too High a Risk?
"This issue is not about contractor 'A' or contractor 'B.' The issues is that we do not believe that it is prudent for up to 80 to 90 percent of the fighter fleet to be dependent on a single engine type, provided by one manufacturer. Being tied to one engine is too high an operational risk to take."
—Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), explaining why his House Armed Services Air and Land Forces Subcommittee had added funds to the 2010 defense budget to cover continued development of an alternate engine for the F-35, committee markup session, June 16, 2009.

Verbatim

You Betcha
"Your decision to terminate the acquisition of the C-17s, the F- 22s, the DDG-1000, and the Future Combat System vehicles—we have concerns that it may send the wrong signal to our friends and our potential aggressors that we are reducing our capability. It may also have a long-term impact on our defense industrial base. It may diminish our capacity to provide deterrents and reduce our strength that we provide to our allies. We hope that this is not the consequence, but some of us are concerned."
—Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), parting remarks to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Michael Mullen, Joint Chiefs Chairman, during a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing, June 9, 2009.