The C-17 Battle Is Still On

Feb. 9, 2006

Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) has gone on record as “strongly opposed” to the President’s 2007 defense budget proposal to terminate C-17 production at 180 aircraft—issuing a statement saying, “If we do not purchase additional transports, we will lack the capability needed to deploy and adequately sustain forces overseas.” Talent acknowledges that adding more C-17s will be “an uphill battle.” Still, he has support. The Senate late last year did pass his legislation supporting additional procurement of C-17s.

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