Senate Drops F-22 Funding

July 21, 2009

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

On Tuesday morning, the full Senate voted to accept the Levin-McCain amendment to cut $1.75 billion Senate defense authorizers had added to the 2010 defense policy bill to keep F-22 production running beyond 187 Raptors. The vote was 58 to 40. That, of course, is not the end for F-22 proponents. Last month, the full House approved its version of the defense policy bill, complete with funding for additional F-22s. The House and Senate now will have to work it out in conference. Stay tuned.

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Trending Stories

Construction Begins on Prototype Silo for New Sentinel ICBM

New Acquisition Czars Say They’re Not Trying to Blow Up the System

Key E-3 AWACS Damaged in Iranian Attack on Saudi Air Base

F-35 from Nellis Air Force Base Crashes in Nevada

Related

How the Space Force Is Supporting NASA’s Artemis II Mission

March 31, 2026
In many ways, the Space Force’s role in NASA’s Artemis II mission, scheduled to lift off from the Eastern Range the evening of April 1, is the same as any other launch it supports. Space Launch Delta 45, which oversees operations at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., will ensure…

F-35 from Nellis Air Force Base Crashes in Nevada

March 31, 2026
A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighter from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., crashed in the sprawling training complex surrounding the base, service officials said March 31. The pilot suffered minor injuries and is being treated after ejecting from the aircraft.

New Acquisition Czars Say They’re Not Trying to Blow Up the System

March 30, 2026
Pentagon leaders, eager to move fast and avoid pitfalls that have plagued defense acquisition in the past, are handing authorities and oversight for some of their biggest programs to officers outside the traditional structure. But the Air Force and Space Force four-stars given those responsibilities say they don’t intend their jobs to be a permanent change to the system.