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Pentagon to End F-22 Raptor Production

UPDATE 2:30pm

WASHINGTON (AP) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the Pentagon will end the F-22 fighter jet and presidential helicopter programs run by Lockheed Martin Corp.

Military analysts widely expected the radar-evading supersonic jet - considered an outdated weapon system designed for the Cold War - would not go beyond the 187 already planned. The planes cost $140 million each.

But Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed, the nation's largest defense contractor, has said almost 95,000 jobs could be at stake if the Pentagon didn't buy more of the planes.

The new fleet of presidential helicopters - with a price tag of $11.2 billion that was nearly double the original budget- also were considered at risk to be cut in the 2010 budget.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

1:45pm

WASHINGTON (AP) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates is proposing deep cuts to some big weapons programs such as the F-22 fighter jet as the Pentagon takes a hard look at how it spends money.

Gates announced a broad range of cuts Monday to weapons spending, saying he plans to cut programs ranging from a new helicopter for the president to ending production of the $140 billion F-22 fighter jet.  The F-22 is constructed in Cobb County, Georgia and test pilots flew the jets on testing missions over the Tennessee Valley.

 The Army's modernization program would be scaled back, while a new satellite system and a search-and-rescue helicopter would be cut.

Gates says his budget will "profoundly reform" the way the Pentagon buys weapons and does business.

To fight new threats from insurgents, Gates is proposing more funding for special forces and other tools.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)