U.S. general suggests a compromise for GE, Rolls F-35 alternate engine controversyOctober 22, 2010

 

f-35 engine

Gen. Norton Schwartz, the US Air Force Chief of Staff, laid out one possible compromise that could see the continued development of an alternate engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

According to a report by Reuters, Gen. Schwartz suggested a compromise for the controversial issue that pits the Obama administration against congressional lawmakers.

The White House and Defense Secretary Robert Gates have tried for years to cancel the General Electric/Rolls-Royce proposal to develop an alternate engine that would compete with the one built by United Technologies' unit Pratt and Whitney. Sec. Gates has suggested that the Pentagon cannot afford to develop an engine that might be or might not be successful.

Meanwhile, lawmakers have argued that having a second engine will spur competition and help the government save money in the long term, and have continued to fund the program.

Sec. Gates, however, has now warned that he will recommend that the president veto any bill that seeks to fund a second engine, according to the article.

Gen. Schwartz, speaking at the National Press Club, said that having competition would no doubt benefit the government in the long term. But he added that the Pentagon could simply not afford it at this time. A possible solution, he noted, is for General Electric/Rolls-Royce to help fund the development of the engine.

“If Rolls and GE are so confident that their product will succeed and bringing value to the taxpayer… It would be nice if they put a little more against that $1.9 billion bill that they'd like the taxpayer to undertake,” he said.

When asked if his suggestion was a way to resolve the issue, Schwartz told Reuters that Sec. Gates would make that decision but if the companies did invest some of their own money to develop the engine, it might help change people's views.

A GE spokesman told Reuters without getting into specific details that both companies had already invested a “considerable amount” in the program.

A Pentagon spokesperson noted that funding for the program will run out on December 3.

“If the continuing resolution is extended, the department will make a decision at that time concerning further funding,” she told Reuters.