Senators press Gates to buy more Super Hornets

[Genetic Defect]

By John T. Bennett - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jan 12, 2009 18:01:18 EST

A dozen U.S. senators, including eight members of the powerful Armed Services and Appropriations committees, are pushing Defense Secretary Robert Gates to buy more Boeing-made F/A-18E/F aircraft.

In a Dec. 11, 2008, letter to Gates, Senate heavyweights Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.; Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn.; Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.; John Kerry, D-Mass.; and eight others raised concerns about “a significant shortfall in the number of strike fighter aircraft” capable of operating from aircraft carriers.

“If left unaddressed,” the perceived fighter shortfall “could render hollow a major portion of our aircraft carrier fleet,” according to the letter. “The role played by our aircraft carriers in protecting and promoting America’s interests around the world is too important to permit this to occur.”

Navy Times obtained a copy of the letter.

Senior Navy officials for months have warned about a looming “fighter gap” that could leave the service in need of about 70 more strike fighters by 2017. Other estimates have predicted the services could need up to 200 more fighter aircraft than they are planning to buy under current budget plans.

Left unaddressed, they say, the gap would persist not be closed until the service wraps up its purchase of the Lockheed Martin-made F-35 around 2025, according to Navy officials.

Early last year, Chicago-based Boeing responded to the Navy pronouncements with a proposal to fill the so-called “fighter gap” by floating the idea that the Chicago-based company could easily sell the sea service more F/A-18E/F Super Hornets under a new multiyear contract.

“As the Defense Department continues its preparation of the fiscal year 2010 budget, we express our strong support for the continued procurement of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to address the Navy’s strike fighter shortfall and believe the department needs to considering procuring at a greater rate than the program of record,” said the senators’ letter.

The senators’ letter urges Gates to consider using a multiyear procurement contract to buy the requested F/A-18E/Fs because of the “potential savings” such a plan would bring.

The last batch of Super Hornets cost the Navy about $53.8 million a plane. Boeing said it could get that down to about $49.9 million a jet under a new multiyear contract.

The letter included signatures of Democratic Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, Wash.; Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.; and Barbara Mikulski, Md.

Republican Sens. Sam Brownback, Kan.; George Voinovich, Ohio; and Christopher Bond, Mo., also signed on.

Eight of those senators sit on committees that have a say over military programs. Lieberman, Kennedy and McCaskill are Armed Services Committee members. Bond, Brownback, Feinstein and Murray sit on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Lieberman’s support could be key. Since Democrats took control of Congress in 2007, he has chaired the Armed Services air land subcommittee. He also sits on the seapower subcommittee.

But Lieberman fell out of favor with many Democrats by campaigning for Sen. John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate in 2008. Democratic leaders, since the November election, have been mulling calls to strip him of his panel chairmanships.

There is support in both chambers for the Hornet plan. The senators’ letter was sent to the Pentagon five days before nearly two dozen U.S. House members sent a similar missive to Gates that was first reported by The Hill in a report Tuesday.