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WASHINGTON (AP) - The Pentagon’s chief weapons buyer is heading to Capitol Hill Wednesday to address lawmakers’ concerns about Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-22 fighter jet program.

The Pentagon last week approved $50 million in “bridge funding” so President-elect Barack Obama’s administration can make a decision on the future of the F-22 program in January. The extra funding will purchase parts for four F-22s beyond the 183 planes under contract.

However, some lawmakers say the Pentagon’s latest move does not comply with the defense authorization bill passed by Congress earlier this year that included $140 million for advanced materials for the F-22 to keep production lines running. That course of action would allow more time for the next administration to make a decision on the program’s future.

Rep. Neil Abercrombie, chairman of the House Armed Services’ air and land forces subcommittee, wants to know why Pentagon acquisition chief John Young and the Air Force “chose to ignore the 2009 National Defense Authorization Act,” David Helfert, a spokesman for the Hawaii Democrat, said Tuesday.

While the Pentagon’s new plan allows for the Obama administration to decide early next year whether to obligate the $140 million to support up to 20 more of the stealth fighter jets, congressional aides say that it’s unrealistic to expect an immediate decision in January.

Even though there has been strong support on Capitol Hill for the supersonic jets, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Air Force officials have differed over the over the future of the program and the number of planes needed for the service’s fleet. The Air Force says its needs 381 aircraft, while Gates maintains only 183 of the radar-evading planes are necessary.

Plans for more of Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed’s jets also could be hurt by the price tag of $191 million per plane.

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