The Bush Administration has decided to attempt to eliminate—for the second time—the alternate Joint Strike Fighter engine, the one being developed by the GE-Rolls Royce team. When questioned about it at the Pentagon budget briefing Monday afternoon, Vice Adm. Steve Stanley, the Joint Staff force structure chief, repeated last year’s argument that the cost outweighs the risk. It was that “risk factor” that got lawmakers riled up a year ago, when they held special hearings on the alternate engine issue. In the end, Congress kept the second engine but directed the Pentagon to get some independent analyses, but they are not due until March 15.
When Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rolled out an expansive acquisition reform agenda earlier this month, he promised aggressive implementation and reorganization aimed at transforming the way the Pentagon develops and fields weapons and platforms. The plan appears to have been well-received by past administration officials and lawmakers from both parties who…
