UPDATE 1- US general suggests GE, Rolls pay for F-35 engine

[unhappycamper]

UPDATE 1-US general suggests GE, Rolls pay for F-35 engine
Wed, 13th Oct 2010 02:52
By Andrea Shalal-Esa

WASHINGTON, Oct 12 (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force chief of staff on Tuesday mapped out a possible compromise to end the fight between the Obama administration and Congress over a second engine for the F-35 fighter plane.

Gen. Norton Schwartz said moves by General Electric Co and Britain's Rolls Royce to fund more of the remaining development of their F136 engine could diminish opposition to funding the program.

The Pentagon has tried for years to save money by cancelling the GE-Rolls engine, which is being developed as an alternate to an engine built by United Technologies Corp unit Pratt & Whitney.

Lawmakers, arguing that maintaining competition between the engine teams will save money in the longer-term, have continued to fund the controversial program.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has repeatedly said he will recommend that President Barack Obama veto any bill that funds the second engine.



unhappycamper comment: General Electric Co and Rolls Royce really want in on the F-35 action. They have kept their lobbyists busy handing out cash bribes campaign contributions.