DATE=7/20/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251979
TITLE=FIGHTER POLITICS - L (ONLY)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN IS CRITICIZING A 
CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE DECISION TO SLASH FUNDING FOR THE AIR 
FORCE'S NEWEST FIGHTER PLANE.  V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM 
THE PENTAGON, WHERE OFFICIALS HOPE TO REVIVE THE MULTI BILLION 
DOLLAR PROGRAM TO BUY THE MOST CAPABLE - AND EXPENSIVE - FIGHTER 
PLANE THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.  

TEXT: (AT A TUESDAY PRESS CONFERENCE) DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM 
COHEN COMPLAINED THAT THE POLITICAL SNEAK ATTACK ON THE F-22 
"RAPTOR" CAUGHT PENTAGON OFFICIALS COMPLETELY BY SURPRISE.  THE 
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE VOTED LATE LAST WEEK TO USE THE 
ONE POINT EIGHT BILLION DOLLARS EARMARKED FOR THE FIRST SIX 
PLANES ON OTHER PROJECTS. THAT EFFECTIVELY KILLED THE PENTAGON'S 
BIGGEST ARMS PROGRAM.  

THE AIRFORCE HAS PLANNED TO BUY 339 F-22 "RAPTORS"  OVER SEVERAL 
YEARS.

SECRETARY COHEN, WHO SERVED FOR DECADES IN THE CONGRESS, SAYS THE
MANEUVER IS UNCIVIL, UNPRECEDENTED, AND UNWISE. 

                      /// COHEN ACT    ///

         THE PURPOSE IS QUITE OBVIOUS, I THINK, AND THAT IS TO 
         AVOID ANY PUBLIC DISCUSSION, PUBLIC DEBATE AND ANY 
         ABILITY OF THE AIR FORCE OR THE CONTRACTOR TO RESPOND TO
         QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT THE SYSTEM (AIRCRAFT). 

                        /// END ACT /// 

THE COMPLAINT ABOUT A STEALTHY POLITICAL ATTACK IS IRONIC, SINCE 
THE AIRCRAFT IN QUESTION IS SUPPOSED TO USE IMPROVED STEALTH 
TECHNOLOGY TO HIDE FROM RADAR AND FLY UNDETECTED DEEP INTO ENEMY 
TERRITORY.  THE F-22'S POWERFUL, EFFICIENT ENGINES ARE SUPPOSED 
TO ALLOW THE CRAFT TO TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES AT SUPERSONIC SPEEDS.
CURRENT FIGHTERS CAN BREAK THE SOUND BARRIER, BUT ONLY FOR SHORT 
PERIODS BEFORE THEY RUN OUT OF FUEL.

PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THEY MAY BE ABLE TO GET MONEY FOR THE 
RAPTOR RESTORED TO THE MILITARY BUDGET WHEN HOUSE AND SENATE 
MEMBERS MEET TO RESOLVE DIFFERENCES IN THE SPENDING PLANS 
APPROVED BY THE TWO CHAMBERS.  BUT ONE PENTAGON OFFICIAL WITH 
LENGTHY CONGRESSIONAL EXPERIENCE SAYS IT WILL BE A DIFFICULT 
POLITICAL FIGHT TO WIN.  SHE SAYS SOME MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE 
ANGRY BECAUSE THEY THINK PENTAGON OFFICIALS HAVE USED MONEY 
CONGRESS APPROVED FOR ONE PURPOSE AND SPENT IT ON OTHER PROJECTS.

CRITICS OF THE RAPTOR SAY THE 200-MILLION DOLLAR COST PER PLANE 
IS TOO MUCH, PARTICULARLY WHEN CURRENT U-S FIGHTERS CAN SWEEP THE
SKIES OF ANY LIKELY OPPONENTS.  BUT SECRETARY COHEN WARNS THAT 
U-S  F-15'S AND F-16'S ARE BASED ON 1960'S TECHNOLOGY AND ARE   
NOT   LIKELY TO DOMINATE AIR BATTLES FOR MANY MORE YEARS.  
(SIGNED)



NEB/JR/PT

20-Jul-99 6:08 PM EDT (2208 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.