Defense Secretary Robert Gates is defending his plans to scrap a new presidential helicopter now in development and start over.
Gates told Congress Wednesday the replacement helicopter is an example of a Defense Department purchasing system that is broken and there is no reason to pay $400 million a copy for the planned chopper.
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Gates got more questions about his plan to end production of the F-22 fighter jet. The futuristic plane is a darling of Congress, but at $140 million apiece, Gates says the money could be better used elsewhere.
The secretary noted there is little attrition among the F-22s already built, because the plane has never seen a day of combat in Iraq or Afghanistan.