Both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees added funds to continue with development of an alternate engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The Pentagon, you remember, wants to can the General Electric version of the fighter’s power plant and go sole source with the Pratt&Whitney engine—ostensibly to save money. (Lawmakers questioned that approach and elicited testimony from Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne expressing concern over the decision.) The House panel’s version of the 2007 defense authorization bill would add $408 million, while the Senate panel opted for $400.4 million. It looks like this is one area where there will be little discussion during conference time when the two panels iron out differences in their measures.
An important U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS command and control plane was among the aircraft damaged in a March 27 Iranian missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.