DOD Defers F-22 Funding Decision to Next Administration

>The Pentagon has cleared funds for only four additional F-22s, and cautions that it plans to upgrade 100 in-service Raptors from 2010. (US Air Force photo)WASHINGTON --- To avoid unnecessary taxpayer spending, Defense Department officials here are only partially funding the expansion of F-22 Raptor aircraft production, leaving the decision for further expansion to the incoming presidential administration.>> John J. Young Jr., the undersecretary of Defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, told members of the air and land forces subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee in a Nov. 19 hearing that he has approved $50 million for advance procurement for four F-22s.>> DOD officials will include the purchase of these four aircraft in the second fiscal 2009 supplemental budget request, he said.>> The decision on whether to use the rest of the $140 million allocated in the 2009 National Defense Authorization Act for advance procurement for up to 16 more F-22s will be up to the President-elect Barack Obama administration in January, Mr. Young said. Procurement of the four F-22s provides a bridge to give the new administration every option with the program.>> "The department is acting responsibly, consistent with (Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates') commitment and congressional direction, seeking to ensure that each tax dollar is used carefully and efficiently," he said.>> DOD officials are delaying the advance procurement on the remaining 16 aircraft to save taxpayer money should the President-elect Obama administration decide not to purchase the aircraft, Mr. Young said. However, he acknowledged, if the new administration delays its decision on the F-22s past January, it could face higher costs from the manufacturers.