Panel Acts to Cut Boeing Funding

A U.S. House defense panel Thursday cut $400 million in requested funding for Boeing Co.’s top Army program, a new family of armored vehicles and radios.

The Army’s budget for fiscal 2006 includes $3.8 billion for research on what’s now the second-most expensive U.S. weapons program. The committee cut that request by 10.5% and sharply criticized the program.

“The committee has numerous concerns with the Future Combat Systems program,” the panel said. “Reasons include technology immaturity, lack of firm requirements, unknown program costs and duplicative programs.”

The program is the keystone of the Army’s effort to become more mobile and better connected. Boeing, the world’s No. 2 builder of commercial aircraft, touts it as an example of how the company also can manage complex systems integration.

The Senate Armed Services Committee last week backed the $3.8-billion request without major criticism. The House and Senate versions will be negotiated later this year.