Pentagon eyeing cuts in weapons programs

[Judi Lynn]

Pentagon eyeing cuts in weapons programs(Updated 05:25 p.m.)

2005/11/4
WASHINGTON (AP)

The Pentagon, struggling to pay for a costly war in Iraq, is considering as much as $15 billion (€12.5 billion) in cuts to aircraft, shipbuilding and other weapons purchases as it begins to craft a budget for next year.

Defense analysts and congressional staff say such reductions could hamper efforts to replace equipment worn out in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and outdated Cold War-era weapons systems. Any proposed cuts are likely to set up a fierce battle, as members of Congress _ including majority Republicans _ strive to protect programs that pour millions of dollars and thousands of jobs into their local economies.

Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, said cutting critical programs like the F/A-22 Raptor fighter or the Joint Strike Fighter, a next-generation aircraft, could face resistance.

"Such shortsighted cuts may yield greater budget flexibility now, but will hamper our national security potential far into the future," Cornyn said of possible cuts to funding for both warplanes, which are partly built in Texas.
(snip/...)

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John Cornyn and friend.

[wakeme2008]

1. F22 piece of shit airplane should have been killed years ago

OTOH, the JSF is a good design and should go forward. All IMHO.

[Stella_Artois]

2. Not really a POS

It will be the dominant A2A aircraft of the next 20 years. Its just incredibly expensive, and was designed to face a threat that currently does not exist, but did when it was first designed and may well emerge again in the next 2 decades.

The JSF as you indicate is much more affordable and flexible and certainly should move forward.

[teryang]

3. Funny that Pentagon raises issue and not Congress

Who's running the country?

[creeksneakers2]

4. They have enough planes already

Nobody is threatening us.