US lawmakers worry Air Force plane cuts

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-05-20 09:47

WASHINGTON -- House lawmakers say the Air Force could end up flat-footed if it carries out plans to end big programs like the C-17 cargo plane and retires fighter jets while waiting for new ones that are still being tested.

The Air Force's roughly $115.6 billion 2010 base budget request includes a significant shift in weapons buying, ending some politically popular but expensive programs like the C-17 and the F-22 fighter plane. It calls for retiring roughly 250 fighter jets on an accelerated schedule in anticipation of building up its fleet of F-35s from Lockheed Martin Corp.

But members of the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday questioned whether that leaves the Air Force with enough planes to perform its mission. They cited other proposed changes, like halving the number of planned C-27 cargo jets and scrapping current plans to build a new long range bomber.

"Is the Air Force shortchanging itself?" asked committee chairman Ike Skelton, D-Mo., while questioning top Air Force leaders about the service's budget.

Air Force Secretary Michael Donley and Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz defended the cuts and changes, saying there were enough planes for the service to meet its needs.

The Air Force spending plan is part of a $534 billion Pentagon budget that casts closer scrutiny on defense spending. Defense Secretary Robert Gates outlined cuts to some major programs in an effort to lower costs and curb wasteful spending. Some of those were programs that had been cherished by the Air Force, like the F-22 jets that cost $140 million each.

Schwartz acknowledged that some of the decisions were forced by budget limitations, saying "we might have made different choices" if there were more funds available.

Ending pricey programs, like Lockheed's F-22 and Boeing Co.'s C-17, "was a way to get us in a position where we could offer the country the best possible Air Force with the resources that were allocated to us," he said.

The Air Force also is in the early stages of shifting to the F-35, a plane made by Lockheed envisioned to form the backbone of U.S. air power for the next several decades. The budget calls for buying 10 F-35s for $4.5 billion during the 2010 fiscal year. Meanwhile, the service wants to scrap older fighter jets to save $115 million.

Some lawmakers questioned whether that was a wise decision, especially since the F-35 is still being tested. The committee's ranking member, John McHugh, R-N.Y., said that lag could help create a shortfall of fighter jets while the Air Force shifts between models.

"There are some decisions that have to be balanced against risk," he said.

Donley acknowledged that it was a "delicate" time for the F-35, but said the jet was being rigorously tested to prevent future problems.

"We are in the process of reshaping the Air Force. There is no question we are having to make some difficult calls," he said.