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WASHINGTON, US - THE economic crisis will force some tough decisions for the Pentagon's budget, notably in plans for the costly F-22 fighter jet program, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Tuesday.
'This department faces difficult choices among competing priorities and programs' Mr Gates admitted at a press conference.
Looking ahead at the upcoming defense budget, Gates said the Pentagon will take particular note of 'reducing cost, dealing with programs that are being poorly executed' and ensuring the 'balance between current or future needs.' The Pentagon's overall budget for fiscal 2009, excluding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, stood at US$515 billion (U$777 billion).
The top US military officer Admiral Mike Mullen confirmed Monday it was 'highly likely the military will face budget cuts.' In doing so the department needs to cut programs 'where costs have spun out of control,' so funds can 'remain on the war effort,' he said.
Gates identified the F-22 combat aircraft replacement program as an area the Pentagon will examine for cuts. 'It's obviously one of the programs that, along with a number of others - many others - that we will be looking at,' he said.
The Air Force is seeking another 60 above the 183 F-22s they currently have. The program has already cost more than US$65 billion, with each F-22 costing US$350 million.
The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor, conceived during the Cold War, is considered by its critics - including Gates - to be ill-adapted for use in irregular conflicts like Iraq and Afghanistan.
Top US air force officials however defend the program by saying the fighter jets are well adapted for use against potential US rivals such as China. -AFP
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