F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program: Background and Issues for Congress
Abstract
Procurement of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSFs) began in FY2007. Current DOD plans call for acquiring a total of 2,456 JSFs for the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy at an estimated total acquisition cost (as of December 31, 2007) of about $246 billion in constant (i.e., inflation adjusted) FY2009 dollars. The administration's proposed FY2010 defense budget requests about $10.4 billion in research and development and procurement funding for the F-35 program. The proposed FY2010 budget would fund the procurement of 10 F-35As for the Air Force, 16 F-35Bs for the Marine Corps, and four F-35Cs for the Navy. The administration's proposed FY2010 defense budget also proposes to terminate the F-35 alternate engine program, which is intended to develop the General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136 engine as an alternative to the Pratt and Whitney F135 engine that currently powers the F-35. The George W. Bush administration proposed terminating the alternate engine program in FY2007, FY2008, and FY2009. Congress rejected these proposals and provided funding, bill language, and report language for the program's continuation. The F-35 alternate engine program has emerged as a major item of debate on the FY2010 defense budget. The Obama administration opposes further funding for the alternate engine program and has threatened to veto the FY2010 defense authorization or appropriation bill if either "would seriously disrupt" the F-35 program.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 25, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA511275
Entities
People
- Ronald O'Rourke
Organizations
- Library of Congress