Senator John McCain Looks To Cut Funding For More F-22 Jets

WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. John McCain wants to remove the $1.75 billion recently inserted into the proposed 2010 defense budget for more fighter jets from Lockheed Martin.

The Arizona Republican’s spokeswoman says he plans to file an amendment to cut the extra money for seven more F-22’s. The Senate Armed Services Committee last month narrowly approved the additional funding requested by Georgia Republican Saxby Chambliss.

McCain and Michigan Democrat Carl Levin, the committee’s chairman, voted against the additional finds. The full Senate may vote on the defense spending bill this week.

The extra money would extend production of the F-22 beyond the 187 aircraft that Defense Secretary Robert Gates says are needed. The White House has threatened to veto a defense bill that includes money for more of the radar-evading jets.