Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Pentagon’s Budget Review Boosts UAVs, Drops F-22, VH-71 and CSAR-X
The Pentagon is increasing production of the General Atomics Predator and Reaper armed UAVs and withdrawing 250 strike aircraft.

The Pentagon is increasing production of the General Atomics Predator and Reaper armed UAVs and withdrawing 250 strike aircraft. The long-awaited statement on the U.S. Fiscal Year 2010 budget by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates confirmed an end to F-22 production at 187 aircraft, offset by a slight advance in the pace of the F-35 program.

As expected, Gates cancelled the AgustaWestland/Lockheed Martin VH-71 presidential helicopter, which he said had doubled in price and was six years behind schedule. The USAF’s search for a new Combat Search And Rescue helicopter (CSAR-X) was also halted. CSAR-X was delayed and recompeted after Lockheed Martin challenged Boeing’s selection, but Gates called it “yet another single-purpose, single-service solution.”