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Parochial interests and corporate favoritism are driving an alternative engine program that is superfluous to defense needs and burdensome to U.S. taxpayers, according to Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW)

Contrary to what the U.S. Air Force and two independent panels have concluded, General Electric and some of key congressional proponents insist upon an alternative engine as part of the Joint Strike Fighter Project that was established to replace an aging aircraft fleet. In 2001, the U.S. Defense Department selected Lockheed Martin as the winning bid, which also included an engine that Pratt and Whitney would bid.

CAGW has argued the key lawmakers are bowing to pressure from GE to pursue an alternative project that would amount to $3 billion in waste. The House is expected to vote this week on an amendment that would strike the alternative engine project from the 2011 Defense Authorization Act.

With budgetary pressures already forcing defense planners into restrictive positions, some discernment is order where new expenditures are concerned.