House, Pentagon Disagree on F-35 FundsAugust 02, 2008
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
In its first crack at writing a 2009 defense budget, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense ignored the Pentagon's F-35 budget request and wrote its own plan.
The Pentagon wants to spend $3.7 billion in 2009 to purchase 16 low-rate initial-production aircraft, eight each for the Air Force and Marines. An additional $3 billion would pay for continued research, development and testing.
The House panel last week cut $786 million -- four production planes -- from the Pentagon plan. It would add $320 million to buy two additional flight-test planes. The Pentagon chose to cut the flight-test planes to save money.
The House also wants to spend $430 million to pay for continued development of a second engine by General Electric and Rolls Royce, which the Pentagon opposes. The Pentagon, according to Inside the Air Force, estimates that developing the second engine will cost $3.6 billion.
Lockheed Martin spokesman John Kent downplayed the House panel's initial bill, saying the subcommittee markup "is but one point in the budget process which is far from being finalized."
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