European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 31, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Scrapping of b-2 is support for controversial bomber never really took off in Congress budget Branch by Branch by Luke Britt staff writer the end of the air forces b-2 bomber program came As much less of a Surprise on Capitol Hill wednesday than its appearance in 1988 when it started As a $25 billion question Mark. The demise of the cold War congressional Obs finance and a fast shrinking defense budget telegraphed the Fate of the b-2 to the press months ago. And legislators said president Bush s state of the Union offer to limit procurement of the b-2 to 20 planes was Little More than admitting the obvious. Quot the b-2 is dead Quot said rep. John Kasich a Ohio a longtime foe of the bomber. Kasich and other legislators expressed satisfaction after learning of the Pentagon s it s not inconceivable that they will get the Money for the five planes but the administration is going to have to show Congress the Benefit of those extra planes a Steve Kosiak intent to Back off from the fight Over the embattled bomber. Despite cutting the b-2 program and taking other Cost saving measures in the proposed fiscal 1993 budget the air Force is asking for $3.7 billion More this year than last for a total budget of $83.9 billion. Both the army and Navy budget requests have fallen. The b-2 has faced Strong opposition in Congress since being unveiled in november 1988,10 years and $25 billion after secret research and development began by the Northrop corp. Including the lengthy research a cd development costs 20 b-2 bombers would Cost about $2 billion per copy. The Pentagon originally asked Congress to fund 132 of the planes but dropped the request to 75 in 1990. Congress agreed to buy Only 15 planes 13 of which have yet to be built. Bush s apparent Concession on the b-2 program was seen by some defense experts As disingenuous. They predict that the b-2 Battle will continue Over the 5-plane difference Between what the defense department still wants and what Congress has already approved. Quot it s not inconceivable that they will get the Money for the five planes but the administration is going to have to show Congress the Benefit of those extra planes Quot said Steve Kosiak senior budget analyst for the defense budget project a non partisan Public policy group based in Washington. Quot a year ago perhaps you could argue that More planes were needed but to cancel the program and then argue that you need five More planes is harder to do Quot Kosiak said. A Kasich said Quot there will be no More than the 15 we be authorized because we can t afford  the Pentagon plans to propose that the five test aircraft built by Northrop corp. During the research phase of the program be refitted for operational capability according to senior air Force officials. Quot no new planes beyond what Congress has already authorized will have to be built Quot said a senior air Force official familiar with the plan. A according to budget figures released wednesday capping b-2 procurement at 20 will save $14.5 billion during the next five years second Only in savings to the scrapped Navy sea Wolf submarine. Air Force programs accounted for three of the four unilateral cuts proposed wednesday by the Dod. In addition to the b-2, defense Secretary Dick Cheney is recommending the termination of the Small midget Man intercontinental ballistic missile and the Advance cruise missile. In wednesday s budget proposal the savings on the midget Man which is still in the research phase was listed As $1 billion through 1997. Air Force budget highlights Price proposed major of cuts a unit savings a b-2 stealth $865 million $14.5 billion bomber through 1997 a Advance $6.4 million $2.3 billion cruise Over life missile production a Small icbms not available potentially $30 billion Price survived the cuts per unit a f-22 advanced $57 million tactical fighter a c-17 Airlift aircraft $217 million Sas but the system once touted As the most accurate Mobile nuclear missile in the world could have Cost . Taxpayers $30 billion or More during initial production. The advanced cruise missile which went into production under former president Reagan was capped at the 640 missiles which have already been delivered the Pentagon had planned to Purchase 1,000 of the missiles. The Cap saves $1.3 billion through 1997 and $6.5 billion Over the life of the program. Quot these missile cuts Are really significant in that although they appear to Only save a Little Here and there now Over the course of their production life they amount to Many billions of dollars Quot Kosiak said. Although unilateral cuts in air Force systems seemed to be an anticlimax other programs that escaped the a did cause a stir. Think tanks and policy groups speculated before president Bush s state of the Union address tuesday that the f-22 advanced tactical fighter and the c-17 Airlift aircraft might face cuts. Instead the Pentagon recommended healthy boosts in funding for both programs. About $2.2 billion would be spent in fiscal 1993 on the f-22, still under development by Lockheed corp. The c-17 was recommended for a $1 billion increase or a total of $2.7 billion to be spent in fiscal 1993 on eight planes. Sas Dav catty a Chi a a not re Rio to Kherson of the 614 fighter so climbs into his f-16 Jet fighter As Day dawns at Torrejon a Spain. Christopherson flew one of four sorties on &sk3sj hams Ednab Gemant having 16 of 80aircraftthat a Ere assigned of he original 401s. Tac fighter Wing a. Torrejon. Friday january 31, 1992 the stars and stripes b Page 15