cancidas
2008-11-09, 08:49 AM
from FlightGlobal:
US lawmakers warn future F-22 orders at risk
By Stephen Trimble
US lawmakers have asked the Department of Defense to spend the $140 million allocated by Congress to keep production of the Lockheed Martin F-22A on track until the next administration.
The bipartisan letter, signed by four senior members of the House Armed Services Committee, says a decision by Pentagon officials to withhold the funds would "effectively preclude" the option of buying more Raptors.
Congress decided to allocate $500 million for long-lead F-22 production in the fiscal year 2009 budget, but also required president-elect Barack Obama's administration to recertificate the programme before 1 March. But Congress cleared the Pentagon to spend up to $140 million of the sum to ensure that long-lead production would continue without a gap in the supply chain.
That contract must be received by Lockheed before 27 November to avoid a potentially costly gap in the supply chain, according to the letter, signed by Representatives Neil Abercrombie, Duncan Hunter, Jim Saxton and Ike Skelton.
The letter adds that at least $40 million of the $140 million would still benefit the F-22A or Lockheed F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programmes, even if the Obama administration decides not to buy more F-22s. "These funds are immediately required to complete the necessary actions for a contract award", the letter says.
The US Air Force has so far ordered 185 F-22s, including two losses, but maintains a requirement for 381. New air force chief of staff Gen Norton Schwartz told Congress in July that he believes the service needs more F-22s than 183, but that the 381 number is probably too high. Schwartz instead committed to accelerating F-35 purchases to help address a looming fighter shortfall.
Meanwhile, Pentagon officials are considering buying at least four more F-22s as part of a wartime supplemental spending bill next year, the letter says. Some lawmakers, however, still support extending full rate production of 20 aircraft by at least one more year.
US lawmakers warn future F-22 orders at risk
By Stephen Trimble
US lawmakers have asked the Department of Defense to spend the $140 million allocated by Congress to keep production of the Lockheed Martin F-22A on track until the next administration.
The bipartisan letter, signed by four senior members of the House Armed Services Committee, says a decision by Pentagon officials to withhold the funds would "effectively preclude" the option of buying more Raptors.
Congress decided to allocate $500 million for long-lead F-22 production in the fiscal year 2009 budget, but also required president-elect Barack Obama's administration to recertificate the programme before 1 March. But Congress cleared the Pentagon to spend up to $140 million of the sum to ensure that long-lead production would continue without a gap in the supply chain.
That contract must be received by Lockheed before 27 November to avoid a potentially costly gap in the supply chain, according to the letter, signed by Representatives Neil Abercrombie, Duncan Hunter, Jim Saxton and Ike Skelton.
The letter adds that at least $40 million of the $140 million would still benefit the F-22A or Lockheed F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programmes, even if the Obama administration decides not to buy more F-22s. "These funds are immediately required to complete the necessary actions for a contract award", the letter says.
The US Air Force has so far ordered 185 F-22s, including two losses, but maintains a requirement for 381. New air force chief of staff Gen Norton Schwartz told Congress in July that he believes the service needs more F-22s than 183, but that the 381 number is probably too high. Schwartz instead committed to accelerating F-35 purchases to help address a looming fighter shortfall.
Meanwhile, Pentagon officials are considering buying at least four more F-22s as part of a wartime supplemental spending bill next year, the letter says. Some lawmakers, however, still support extending full rate production of 20 aircraft by at least one more year.