Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday recommended a broad range of budgetary cuts to high-tech weapons programs, including production of the F-22 fighter jet, in a move that won mixed reviews from lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Gates said his $534 billion budget proposal represents a "fundamental overhaul" in defense acquisition and reflects a shift in priorities from fighting conventional wars to the newer threats U.S. forces face from insurgents in places such as Afghanistan.
He called for production of the F-22 jet to stop at 187 jets. There are 183 in the U.S. military now, so just four more would be funded as part of the fiscal 2009 supplemental budget if President Obama approves the recommendations. The planes cost $140 million each.
Lockheed Martin has already warned that ending this production would result in the loss of over 90,000 jobs.
Plans to build a new helicopter for the president and a helicopter to rescue downed pilots would also be canceled. A new communications satellite would be scrapped and the program for a new Air Force transport plane would be ended.
Some of the Pentagon's most expensive programs would also be scaled back. The Army's $160 billion Future Combat Systems modernization program would lose its armored vehicles. Plans to build a shield to defend against missile attacks by rogue states would also be scaled back.
To fight new threats from insurgents, Gates is proposing more funding for special forces and other tools.
At least we'll still have enough money for ACORN and every other pork project coming out of congress.
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