F136 Solicitation

Reps. Robert Andrews (D-NJ) and K. Michael Conway (R-TX), the chairman and ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee's acquisition reform panel, are urging colleagues to support funding in the Pentagon's FY-11 budget for the F136 engine, the alternate Joint Strike Fighter propulsion package.

Backed by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who believes the alternate engine is an example of wasteful DOD spending,

Still, the lawmakers argue there are sound public policy reasons to support continued development of the engine, built by a General Electric/Rolls Royce industry team.

Citing the recommendations of the Quadrennial Defense Review Independent Panel, as well as former Pentagon Acquisition Executive Jacques Gansler's views, as expressed recently to Inside the Pentagon's Amanda Palleschi, the lawmakers “strongly encourage your support for the Joint Strike Fighter competitive engine program.”

Competition is precisely what we need today for the $100 billion JSF engine program. Funding for the engine is already 75 percent complete. Let's complete the program, allow real engine competition to occur and enjoy the benefits that will result.