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.
Anduril and General Atomics will develop their Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force, beating out Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the service announced on April 24. But any of the non-selected companies can compete to actually manufacture the eventual design, the Air Force said.