Mon, 1st Feb 2010 19:14
WASHINGTON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday said it was time to 'take a final stand' against congressional funding of an alternate engine for the Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter.
Gates said he would strongly recommend a presidential veto if lawmakers again funded that program, and a Boeing Co C-17 transport plane, during the budget process. Last year, the department backed off the veto threat after concluding the program would not seriously disrupt the F-35 program.
This year, given additional concerns about the program, Gates said he believed that 'it's important to take a final stand' and ensure the multibillion dollar weapons program was really ended.
(Andrea Shalal-Esa in Washington; +1 202 898 8400, washington.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com)
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