Politics

House defies Gates over combat jet

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House lawmakers Thursday defied the Obama administration in a longstanding fight over whether to make two types of engines for the Pentagon’s costliest weapon, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The House Armed Services Air and Land Forces Subcommittee unanimously agreed to authorize $485 million for fiscal 2011 for an alternative engine made by General Electric and Rolls Royce in its markup of the annual defense authorization bill. Pratt and Whitney makes the Pentagon-backed engine for the next-generation combat jet.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who is campaigning against funding for the second engine, said he’ll recommend the president veto any bill that includes money for both engines or for the purchase of more C-17 Air Force cargo jets. The subcommittee did not include an authorization to buy more C-17s.

Full story: House defies Gates over combat jet – Jen DiMascio – POLITICO.com