Senate rebuffs Obama, McCain in bipartisan embrace of additional C-17 cargo jetsSeptember 30th, 2009 Senate rebuffs Obama, McCain in backing cargo jetsWASHINGTON — In a rebuff to both President Barack Obama and his former presidential opponent, Republican Sen. John McCain, the Senate on Wednesday rejected an effort to kill $2.5 billion for 10 new C-17 cargo jets and devote the money to military readiness accounts.
Senate panel OKs $636 billion Pentagon budget with $128 billion for Iraq, Afghanistan warsSeptember 10th, 2009 Senate panel OKs $128 billion for warsWASHINGTON — With hardly any debate, a powerful Senate committee Thursday approved President Barack Obama's $128 billion request for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for the budget year beginning in October. The move came as anxiety is increasing on Capitol Hill over the chances for success in Afghanistan and as Obama weighs whether to send more forces to the country.
Brazil to buy French fighter jetsSeptember 7th, 2009 PARIS - Brazil is planning to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France, officials said Monday. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is currently in Brazil to negotiate the aircraft deal.
House leaders drop their plans to buy fancy passenger jets for senior government officialsAugust 11th, 2009 House leaders drop their plans to buy fancy jetsWASHINGTON — House Democratic leaders said Monday that they will not force the Pentagon to buy four new passenger jets used to ferry senior government officials. Democrats have been criticized for adding $330 million to the Air Force's 2010 budget to buy the jets even though the Pentagon didn't request the money.
US lawmakers scrap plans to buy fancy jetsAugust 11th, 2009 WASHINGTON - House Democratic leaders have said they will not force the Pentagon to buy four new passenger jets for ferrying senior government officials after the reported 330 million dollar move invited all round criticism. Two of the four planes were to be C-37s - the military equivalent of the fancy Gulfstream 550.
House provides $200 million for new jets for travel by Pentagon officials, lawmakersAugust 6th, 2009 House provides $200 million for gov't VIP jetsWASHINGTON — The House is ordering up three Gulfstream jets to fly Pentagon and other top government officials — including members of Congress — around the globe in conditions far cushier than coach class. The almost $200 million appropriation to buy three C-37 jets, the military version of the Gulfstream 550, is buried in a $636 billion Pentagon budget passed by the House last week.
White House issues veto threats as House fights loom on fighter jets, presidential helicoptersJuly 28th, 2009 White House issues veto threats; House fights loomWASHINGTON — The White House threatened Tuesday to veto a $636 billion spending bill for the Pentagon, citing funding for F-22 fighters and a much-criticized replacement presidential helicopter. President Barack Obama wants to terminate both programs.
Panel approves $128 billion for Iraq, Afghanistan operations; tally tops $1 trillionJuly 22nd, 2009 Panel approves $128 billion for Iraq, AfghanistanWASHINGTON — The total cost of the U.S. response to the Sept.
Senate Roll Vote: to halt production of the Air Force's F-22 Raptor fighter jetsJuly 21st, 2009 Senate roll vote on fighter jet productionThe 58-40 roll call Tuesday by which the Senate voted Tuesday to halt further production of the Air Force's missile-eluding F-22 Raptor fighter jets. A "yes" vote is a vote in favor of an amendment to halt further production of the planes.
Battle between White House and Congress over F-22s heads toward Senate voteJuly 21st, 2009 Senate heads toward vote on F-22s
WASHINGTON — The Senate debated Tuesday whether to spend $1.75 billion on seven additional F-22 jets, a decision that pits the possible loss of thousands of defense jobs against Obama administration assertions that the Pentagon has enough of the fighters and the program should be terminated. Lawmakers from states that would benefit from manufacturing the jets want the money pumped into the aerospace and defense industries.
Obama says Senate smart to stop F-22 production, calls fighter jet program wasteful spendingJuly 21st, 2009 Obama hails Senate vote killing F-22 productionWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has hailed the Senate's decision to stop additional production of F-22 fighter jets, saying the move will "better protect our troops."
Obama was referring to a 58-40 vote in which the Senate on Tuesday accepted an amendment killing an additional $1.75 billion that supporters of the F-22 had tried to get into a defense spending bill. In a statement at the White House, Obama said he rejected the notion that the country has to "waste billions of taxpayers dollars" on outdated defense projects.
Jet showdown: Pentagon chief says veto threat is real in squabble with Congress over fundingJuly 17th, 2009 Pentagon, Congress square off over money for jetsWASHINGTON — The Pentagon and Congress all but dared each other Thursday to a showdown over funding for fighter jets in a multimillion-dollar squabble that each side said they were fighting in the interests of U.S. security. The Democratic chairman of a key House Appropriations panel said he's confident that plans to add $369 million to the Pentagon's budget for a dozen more F-22 jets will survive a White House veto threat.
In stinging remarks, Pentagon chief says lawmakers are spending more on jets than necessaryJuly 17th, 2009 Gates scolds Congress over funding for fighter jetCHICAGO — Defense Secretary Robert Gates is jeering Congress for wanting to spend millions of dollars on more fighter jets than he says the U.S. actually needs.
House committee adds $369 million for Lockheed's embattled F-22 fighter jetJune 17th, 2009 House committee adds $369M for Lockheed's F-22 jetWASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin Corp.'s F-22 program got an unexpected lift Wednesday after House lawmakers approved $369 million to continue production of the radar-evading fighter jets. The surprise amendment, likely to reopen a debate over the necessity of the Cold War planes that cost $140 million each, was approved by the House Armed Services Committee.
Navy: Delivery of Lockheed Martin's F-35 by 2015 is critical, or risk fighter jet shortfallMay 14th, 2009 Navy: F-35 fighter jets needed by 2015 deadlineWASHINGTON — The chief of naval operations said Thursday on-time delivery of Lockheed Martin Corp.'s next-generation Joint Strike Fighter will be critical in closing the gap of the fighter jets needed to match current and future threats. Navy Adm. Gary Roughead told the House Armed Services Committee that the service's current fleet of legacy F-18s from Boeing Co.
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