Gates: No Substantive Reason For More F-22s
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Bettina H. Chavanne
With a congressional vote on F-22 funding imminent, Defense Secretary Robert Gates reiterated his objection to buying more of the aircraft in a Pentagon briefing July 20.
"What I've not heard is a substantive reason for adding more aircraft in terms of our strategic needs," he told reporters. When questioned about the loss of jobs resulting from the F-22's cancellation, Gates said the aerospace industry will see a "substantial increase" in jobs due to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter "if we don't drain money away from it."
Gates accused lawmakers of "wheeling and dealing&for pet projects," which has presented DOD with "even more difficult choices& We've got to get the money from somewhere."
Gates also announced a temporary increase in the U.S. Army's authorized active duty end strength, from 547,000 to 569,000. The 22,000-troop increase would plug holes created by increased violence in Afghanistan and Pakistan, a rising number of nondeployable troops and the end of stop-loss, according to Gates. The additional forces will "ensure deployed units are properly manned" and will not be used to create additional brigades.
The temporary increase will not require additional funding in fiscal 2009 or '10, but Gates indicated money may be needed after that point.
Photo credit: USAF
