Defence

The US Senate is supporting Boeing’s campaign to preserve its C-17 production line beyond 2008, but has stopped short of allocating new funds.

The Senate has passed an amendment to the fiscal year 2006 defence bill authorising the US Air Force to buy 42 more C-17s and is urging the service to fund long-lead components to avoid disruptions on the production line. Boeing says funds are needed within two months to keep its suppliers working.

The amendment also authorises the USAF to acquire up to six C-17s annually if it does not secure a multi-year deal. Boeing is currently under contract to deliver 15 C-17s in 2006, 15 in 2007 and eight more in 2008 before the line is scheduled to close.

If the House of Representatives also approves the amendment, USAF officials would have legislative backing to seek a new multi-year contract, despite new reported objections from the Department of Defense. A draft copy of the DoD’s classified Mobility Capability Study recently briefed to Congress members calls for the C-17 line to close after current contracts for 180 aircraft expire, and concludes that the military’s airlift resources will be sufficient to meet future needs (Flight International, 8-14 November).

A final version of the study is due to be released in February or March 2006.

The Senate amendment also requires the DoD to assess several factors ignored by the “flawed” mobility study, including the army’s shift to more rapidly deployable brigade combat teams and the planned redeployment of US forces from overseas bases.

In late 2001, the USAF used a similar legislative approach to gain authorisation for an ill-fated programme to lease 100 Boeing KC-767A inflight refuelling aircraft.

The US Project on Government Oversight swiftly objected to the Senate’s latest move to support the C-17 production line, calling the amendment “another gift to a defence contractor” and “the latest attempt by Congress to force the military to purchase weapons it doesn’t even need”.

STEPHEN TRIMBLE/WASHINGTON DC