By Emelie Rutherford
Pentagon leadership agreed this week to spend $50 million on parts for four future F-22 jet fighters, instead of obligating $140 million in advanced funding for 20 potential fiscal year 2010 aircraft that some lawmakers, the Air Force, and contractor Lockheed Martin [LMT] wanted.
Pentagon acquisition chief John Young also confirmed the Pentagon now plans to seek full procurement funding for the four aircraft in the next war supplemental spending bill, according to comments from Young relayed yesterday by his spokesman. The most recently passed supplemental covers war spending until next summer–near the end of FY ’09.
The decision on whether to outright buy any F-22s in FY ’10–and thus keep the line going past FY ’09 for the program with an uncertain future–must be made by President-elect Barack Obama’s administration no later than March 1, per the FY ’09 defense authorization bill.
“The next administration may decide on or after January 21, 2009, to obligate additional advance procurement funds up to the $140 (million) approved by Congress,” Young states in an acquisition decision memorandum (ADM) signed Nov. 10, which was obtained by Defense Daily.
Young said the $50 million in advanced-procurement monies for the four F-22s “provide a bridge to a January decision by the next administration.” Obama will be inaugurated Jan. 20.
Lawmakers have authorized and appropriated $523 million in advance-procurement funds in the FY ’09 budget to be used for parts for the 20 FY ’10 fighters–yet the authorization measure says only $140 million can be spent before the next president decides on the aircraft’s fate.
Lockheed Martin and the Air Force pushed for the $140 million to be released for a contract award by Nov. 27, yet Pentagon leadership resisted. House and Senate lawmakers– including leaders of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and members of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)–sent Pentagon officials two letters last week calling for the full $140 million to be released for the 20 potential aircraft. They argued additional costs would be incurred if no advanced-procurement funds are released before the Obama administration’s decision (Defense Daily, Nov. 4, Nov, 7).
Young said that while Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England “have endorsed bridging the F-22 program for consideration by the next administration,” that the “initial Air Force POM (Program Objective Memorandum, the six-year budget) and the draft Defense Department budget do not include F-22 aircraft.”
That draft budget will be reviewed by Obama’s forthcoming Pentagon team.
Young said that “industry has indicated that (four) aircraft of Advance Procurement now, and additional Advance Procurement in January, will bridge the F-22 line with little or no additional cost to the taxpayer if additional F-22s are purchased.”
Lockheed Martin is “supporting the U.S. government to preserve the decision for the next administration on the continued production of the F-22,” spokesman Thomas Jurkowsky said yesterday afternoon.
“We’re now in receipt of the ADM and we’re evaluating it,” he added.
Young’s F-22 action was being evaluated on Capitol Hill yesterday, said a spokeswoman for HASC Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.).
“Congressional intent was to allow the next Administration to determine the future of the F-22 program by obligating sufficient funds to keep the line open until such a decision can be made,” spokeswoman Loren Dealy said. “OSD statements over the past several months have reflected this intent. However, it is not yet clear whether DOD’s recent proposal will accomplish this goal.”
Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), whose state is home to Lockheed Martin F-22 facilities, said yesterday in a statement: “We’ve been successful in keeping the F-22 line open, we will continue the fight to keep the line open and we will continue to fight for additional multi-year contracts.”
Chambliss, who is still battling for his seat following a close and inconclusive election showdown last week, sits on the SASC.
Sources say that England has been a barrier to continued F-22 production.
“It’s pretty obvious that the Bush team is trying to position the F-35 (Joint Strike Fighter, made by Lockheed Martin) in the best possible manner while doing little for the F- 22,” said Loren Thompson, chief operating officer of the Lexington Institute.