Boeing Choppers Army Wants to Cut Are Backed by Senate Panel

The Senate panel that controls U.S. defense spending rejected an Army proposal to stop production of Boeing’s Chinook helicopters.

• Senate Appropriations Defense Subcmte added $28m in advance procurement funds for continued production of the Chinook CH-47 Block II, according to report Bloomberg Government obtained
  • NOTE: The full Appropriations Cmte is scheduled to act on the defense spending measure Thursday
• Lawmakers are asking the secretary of the Army to assess increased costs and production issues that could delay a “successful program” before submitting budget request for fiscal year 2021: report
• NOTE: Army’s proposed FY20 plan called for saving $962m through 2024 by cutting 28 of 68 previously planned Chinook heavy-lift helicopters – all 22 of an upgraded standard model plus six of a version for special operations
• Separately, the appropriations panel wants the Air Force to buy new light-attack aircraft instead of continuing to research options; panel is requesting an updated procurement plan, according to report
• Panel also recommended $210m in procurement funds; Textron is making one version of the aircraft, the AT-6B, in Wichita, Kan.; the other version, the A-29, is made by Sierra Nevada, and Embraer Defense and Security in Jacksonville, Fla.