The House Defense Bill: Great News! (for military contractors, that is)

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The House bill is overwhelmingly good news for U.S. defense contractors. That’s because, 0n weapon programs, the bill mostly reflects the Obama administration’s requests. And that means most big-ticket programs on which firms are so dependent avoided major funding changes.

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The bill also reduces the administration’s request for the F-18 fighter program by around $104 million, pointing to a list of reasons. But it adds $75 million to buy 22 new F/A-18E/F aircraft.

House appropriators want to slash the Pentagon’s $3.2 billion request for the P-8A Poseidon multi-mission aircraft program by $68 million, citing airframe cost growth and “support equipment growth.”

The legislation adds $146 million for Black Hawk helicopters. It also adds $200 million so the Pentagon can buy 40 more surface-to-air missiles.

The bill would add $950 million to the Navy’s request for the Virginia-class submarine project, while matching the Navy’s request for the Littoral Combat Ship program. It does, however, trim the service’s request for the LCS mission module program.

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http://www.armytimes.com/article/20130724/NEWS05/307240049/House-approves-2014-defense-spending-bill

LOL at "slashing" $68 million from a $.3.2 billion dollar request.