Bishop saves F-22 production by 1 vote

The F-22 stealth fighter is designed to rule the sky in combat zones. But it needed help Wednesday from Rep. Rob Bishop to defeat the one force that had threatened to down all new F-22s: Congress.

Bishop, R-Utah, saved F-22 production by one vote in the House Armed Services Committee as it debated and finally passed its annual defense-authorization bill.

On a 31-30 vote, an amendment by Bishop took money from environmental-restoration programs — where the military said it would have trouble spending all proposed money anyway — and used it to keep alive F-22 production for another year, after the Obama administration had proposed stopping it.

"I'm giddy with happiness over that one," Bishop said. "It's a major win for Utah and also the military," He noted that Hill Air Force Base maintains the F-22, and ATK in Utah manufactures the composite material used to make the plane and provide its tough-to-track stealth characteristics.

Bishop's move provides $369 million to begin production on another 12 F-22s, hoping to bring the total in service from 187 to 199.

"The Air Force is still pretty adamant that 240 is the minimum number" of F-22s that it should have, Bishop said. "They say 240 presents a moderate risk to our air superiority; 187, therefore, is a huge risk to our air superiority."

Bishop was also able to freeze for a year plans by the administration to cut 250 aircraft of all types out of the current Air Force. He said 24 F-16s at Hill Air Force Base likely would have been among the planes removed, and their removal would have put fighter wings there at risk. "Putting that on hold was a big, big win for Hill," he said.

He added that because the F-22s will stay in production, it improves chances that Hill eventually will be selected for the F-35 joint strike fighter. He said if a fewer number than planned of F-22s are built over time, the Air Force may reshuffle plans and lessen the possibility of Hill receiving the F-35.

Also of Utah interest, Bishop included language in the bill requiring the Air Force to develop a long-term Minuteman III missile "warm line" sustainment plan to keep work alive on its motors (by ATK). Hill has maintained those missiles. But he lost some battles to keep other missile plans alive, many of which would use Utah-built motors.

He warned, "Even with these budget wins, there will be jobs in jeopardy in Utah" — mostly among defense contractors in the state. Still, he said, the wins "will minimize the harm to Utah."

Other wins for Utah in the bill, Bishop said, include:

$5.1 million for modifications to the taxiway apron area of Hill Air Force Base's main runway to make it more safe and allow flight operations to be more efficient.