Pentagon punts decision on future F-22, C-17 production

Defense Department officials have averted a showdown with Congress over plans to cease production of two of the military's most expensive aircraft, most likely punting difficult decisions on the popular programs to the next administration.

In its fiscal 2009 budget sent to Capitol Hill Monday, the Pentagon did not request any funding to shut down production lines of either the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighter jet or the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane even though there are no firm plans to build any more of either aircraft.

Each program has jobs scattered over more than 40 states, giving them widespread support on Capitol Hill. Although the Air Force has said it wants 198 more F-22s than the 183 under current plans, it has pushed behind the scenes for more C-17s than the 190 ordered.

The absence of a funding request to end production for the aircraft in fiscal 2009 has given supporters some hope that either Congress or the next administration could ultimately decide to buy more planes. But in the last year of the Bush administration, it inserts a great deal of uncertainty into future defense plans.

"On one hand, it gives [the next administration] more flexibility than they otherwise would have," said Steven Kosiak, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. "But I think the general observation would be that it's just another case where some of these big decisions are being kicked down the road for the next administration to deal with."

If there are no more F-22 purchases beyond the 20 planned for fiscal 2009, the last fighter would be assembled at Lockheed Martin Corp.'s plant in Marietta, Ga., in 2011. But many of the second- and third-tier subcontractors that supply parts years before the final assembly of the planes would begin to close their production lines in late 2008.

Pentagon officials have signaled they plan to request money for four more Raptors in the upcoming fiscal 2009 war supplemental -- however, it appears that small order would only briefly delay line closures.

"Obviously, we're pleased that it's supported in the budget," a Lockheed Martin spokesman said, referring to the $4 billion already requested for procurement in fiscal 2009. "The plane has done exceptionally well in wherever it has gone in exercises. We'll support the Air Force as the budgetary process continues."

Boeing has poured $100 million into keeping its so-called long-lead suppliers on the C-17 program, in the hopes that Congress will approve money to buy 10-14 more of the cargo planes in the next FY08 war supplemental spending bill. Without any more purchases, Boeing will assemble the last C-17 next year.

"We've delivered the 171st C-17. That leaves 19 remaining on [the Air Force's] current domestic buy," a Boeing spokesman said. "That's not many. That takes us through mid-2009."

For its part, the Pentagon did little to clarify its long-term plans for either program when it released its FY09 budget request.

Using the fiscal 2009 supplemental to buy a small number of F-22s "has the advantage of leaving a decision about F-22 to the next administration, which will have to execute the program either way it goes," said Vice Adm. Steve Stanley, the Joint Staff's director of force structure and resources.

About C-17s, Pentagon Comptroller Tina Jonas said congressional add-ons to the program over the years led defense planners to believe the shutdown costs "ought to be then included in a future budget."

A senior Air Force official later told reporters that there are a "variety of things going on that really impacts our ability to make a decision on shutting down the C-17 line."

Those factors include cost problems with the larger C-5 Galaxy cargo plane modernization program and the Bush administration's decision to enlarge the Army and Marine Corps by 92,000 troops, which may require more aircraft to transport ground forces, the official said.