Sep. 16, 2009 (United Press International) -- U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie says he wants to see competition for the defense contract to build engines for the F-35 jet fighter.
Pratt & Whitney won the battle in the Senate to be the primary engine manufacturer for the jet fighter, but the House version would allocate funds for an alternate engine made by General Electric (NYSE:GE) and Rolls-Royce.
Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, said in a memo to his colleagues this week that he wants to see the GE-Rolls team get in on the action to foster a better product, The Hill reported Wednesday.
"Competition is good for the Defense Department, too!" Abercrombie's memo said.
The debate now is part of conference negotiations between the Senate and the House over the 2010 defense authorization bill.
"The Department of Defense wants to give a sole-source, $110 billion, 30-year contract to one fighter engine company, as part of the largest defense acquisition program in department ... history -- the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter," Abercrombie wrote.
The congressman said history shows having multiple sources for engines is a good idea, pointing to problems with single-source F-15 fighter jet engines in the 1970s and '80s.
