Political Quotes

“It is time to end the Joint Strike Fighter second engine mistake. In 2001, the GE engine lost in procurement competition to the one designed by Pratt & Whitney. A sole source development contract was signed in 2005. But since 1997, Congress has provided for a Joint Strike Fighter alternative engine program. This continuing resolution includes $450 million for the alternate engine in the Joint Strike Fighter. According to the Pentagon, the second engine's cost is close to $2.9 billion. The Department of Defense is clear: in their view, our military and the taxpayers are best served by not pursuing a second engine. There are more pressing Department of Defense priorities. There is just no guarantee that having two engines will create enough long-term savings to outweigh the near-term costs of nearly $3 billion. The risk from a single engine is reasonable and consistent with past acquisitions. A single engine is not a new approach and does not create dangerous levels of risk. We currently have two current aircraft programs, the F-22 and the F-18, which both utilize a single engine provider. Additional costs and the burden of maintaining two logistical systems are not offset by the potential savings generated through competition. We are not making procurement decisions in a vacuum. If we had all the money in the world, maybe an alternate engine would be a good idea. But we don't.”