news Gates sees movement soon on arms buyer nomination

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Gates sees movement soon on arms buyer nomination


1 hour, 15 minutes ago



By Andrea Shalal-Esa

FORT RUCKER, Alabama (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates expects U.S. Senate movement soon on the nomination of Ashton Carter as the Pentagon's chief arms buyer.
"I have every hope and expectation that Dr. Carter's nomination will be moved in the near future," Gates told reporters at Fort Rucker, home of the Army's main site for training pilots and unmanned aerial system operators.
The Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this month approved Carter's nomination. But several senators have put a hold on it, citing concerns about the delayed $35 billion competition between Northrop Grumman Corp and Boeing Co to build 179 new aerial refueling tankers.
Gates said he hoped to move forward on the tanker competition soon and would let lawmakers review the proposed competition criteria and get their input before releasing them.
He said he hoped a new tanker contract could be awarded by early next year or next summer.
"They're desperately needed by the Air Force," he said.
Carter, a Harvard University professor and former assistant secretary of defense for international security policy, was nominated for the job of overseeing more than $100 billion in annual U.S. arms purchases and a $70 billion research enterprise. If confirmed by the Senate, Carter would replace John Young as undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics.
(Editing by Andre Grenon)