DATE=7/26/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=COHEN - FIGHTER PLANE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-252154
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=TOKYO
CONTENT=


INTRO: Defense Secretary William Cohen says he will 
fight hard to get Congress to restore money for a 
controversial, next-generation Air Force fighter jet.  
The U-S House of Representatives chopped one-point-
eight-billion dollars from the F-22 (jet) program; the 
Senate earlier approved the funding. Supporters of the 
F-22 "Raptor" say it will be the best fighter plane 
the world has ever seen.  Critics say it will be the 
most expensive.  V-O-A's Jim Randle reports.  

TEXT:  Mr. Cohen says he will meet with as many 
members of Congress as possible, particularly those 
serving on the conference committee that must resolve 
differences between the House and Senate versions of 
the defense spending bill.

Mr. Cohen says he will tell members the budget cut 
will cause costly delays and likely kill the complex 
program. Mr. Cohen says the F-22 is designed to clear 
the skies of enemy planes -- making it possible for U-
S spy planes and bombers to reach heavily defended 
targets.  He says without the F-22, those bombers will 
need expensive upgrades to survive any conflict.

And Mr. Cohen says the cost of killing the Raptor may 
be measured in American pilots' lives.
 
            /// COHEN ACT ///

      Our pilots will be flying F-15's and 
      that's technology we developed back in 
      the late 60's and early 70's.  It has 
      been upgraded to be sure, but they 
      will be flying aircraft that are 
      considerably older than we think is 
      wise.  


            ///  END ACT ///

But congressional critics of the F-22 say it may cost 
200-million dollars per plane, several times the price 
of current fighters that performed well recently over 
Iraqi and Yugoslav skies.    

They also point out the F-22 is one of three different 
combat aircraft currently under development in the 
United States. The others include a new bomber and a 
major upgrade for the Navy's best fighter plane.  The 
programs could cost a total of 340-billion dollars, 
which some members of Congress say is more than the 
United States can afford. 

            ///REST OPT ///

Mr. Cohen spoke to reporters on a flight to Tokyo, 
where he will meet with Japan's prime minister and 
defense minister to talk about concerns that North 
Korea may test-launch a new, more-powerful ballistic 
missile and about the strained relations between 
Taiwan and China.  Later, Mr. Cohen travels to South 
Korea, Turkey, Ukraine and Georgia for further talks. 
(signed)

neb/jr/jo/rrm


26-Jul-1999 08:55 AM LOC (26-Jul-1999 1255 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.