Senators Criticize Proposal to Kill Lockheed Aircraft

Published: Jan 13, 2005
Source: www.washingtonpost.com



Two dozen senators yesterday criticized a Pentagon proposal that would eliminate Lockheed Martin Corp.'s C-130J Hercules aircraft to save nearly $5 billion over the next six years.

"You can't turn on the TV today without seeing a C-130 at the airport in Iraq; you can't turn on the TV without seeing the C-130" delivering supplies as part of the tsunami relief in South Asia, said Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.).

The Pentagon has proposed ending the program as part of more than $30 billion in cuts aimed at reducing the federal budget deficit and offsetting the costs of the Iraq war. The proposal also includes a cut in funding for Lockheed's F/A-22, Boeing Co.'s national missile defense system and several Northrop Grumman Corp. shipbuilding programs.continue..