Airship project called wasteful
U.S. senator criticizes technology developed by Lockheed in Akron
By Rick Armon and Jim Mackinnon
Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio)
December 22, 2008
The high-altitude airship being built in Akron for the U.S. Department of Defense is a waste of money and isn't even wanted by the Pentagon, a U.S. senator says.
Sen. Tom Coburn, a Republican from Oklahoma and frequent critic of pork-barrel spending, features the airship in his new report, 2008: Worst Waste of the Year.
In the 49-page report, he highlights $1.3 billion in questionable spending nationwide. The airship, being built by Lockheed Martin at the Akron Airdock, receives special treatment as an example of egregious spending.
''For years, Congress has poured millions of dollars into the development of the [airship] despite repeated insistence from the Pentagon that the technology is not needed,'' the report says.
Lockheed Martin, a defense contractor, received $149.2 million a few years ago for the project and another $3.2 million this year.
The unmanned airship is designed to float as high as 60,000 feet for as long as six months in one spot and be used for military reconnaissance and communication. It is intended to be a low-cost alternative to satellites.
''I'm not against sending money to cities that are economically depressed for something the government is going to use, but I'm against them producing something that the government doesn't need,'' Coburn said in a telephone interview from his home in Oklahoma.
It also might have been wiser to bid the project competitively instead of just giving the money to Lockheed Martin, he said.
He also said the airship is ''compromising the defense of the entire nation,'' because the money could be better spent on other military projects.
Comment from the Department of Defense was not available.
Lockheed Martin issued a statement defending its work.
''Lockheed Martin is committed to supporting our war fighters with this much-needed persistent capability,'' the company said.
Lockheed Martin said the first phase of the project involves building the High Altitude Long Endurance Demonstrator, also known as HALE-D.
The prototype airship is scheduled for its first flight test in the summer.
The initial airship is being built ''to demonstrate the feasibility of controlled high altitude lighter-than-air flight while carrying a payload for a duration of two weeks,'' the company said.
The airship is being designed to carry payloads for different missions at less cost than competing airborne systems, Lockheed Martin said.
In his report, Coburn takes a jab at U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Niles, for pushing the project as a way to provide jobs in his district.
''I see financial ruin for us in our country if we have leaders who aren't thinking beyond their own parochial interests,'' Coburn said. ''In light of what's happening in our country . . . shouldn't we be more fiscally proper in how we spend your money and your kids' money?''
Congressional members need to determine spending priorities based on national interests and not focus so much on earmarks, especially because the national debt stands at $10.6 trillion, he said.
''But Congress doesn't do that. That's why we're in trouble,'' Coburn said.
Ryan issued a three-sentence statement defending his support for the airship and disputing Coburn's suggestion that the military doesn't want it.
''I believe that the high altitude airship is an important project, not just for my district, but for the U.S. military,'' Ryan said. ''The project was originally requested by the administration, and the airship is still supported by both the Department of the Army and the Department of the Air Force. It is and remains an important defense project that provides needed jobs for my district.''
The airship project also was cited in the 2008 Congressional Pig Book, a publication by the Citizens Against Government Waste that identifies pork-barrel spending. The watchdog group noted that $787,200 was given to the project for fuel cells.
In addition to the airship, Coburn cites:
• $15,000 for Summit County to create a voice-mail program for the homeless.
• $188,000 for the Lobster Institute, which is developing an underwater ''LobsterCam.''
• $784,000 for Kansas City, Kan., Community College for training for casino workers.
• $24.6 million for the National Park Service's 100th year anniversary, which doesn't take place until 2016.
• $298,068 for potato farmers to advertise specialty potatoes to high-end restaurants.
To read the report, go to http://coburn.senate.gov/public/.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com.
Jim Mackinnon can be reached at 330-996-3544 or jmackinnon@thebeaconjournal.com.
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