US House rejects move to scrap funding for V-22

* House amendment defeated in 326-105 vote

* Pentagon in limelight as lawmakers debate spending

WASHINGTON Feb 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to maintain funding for the V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft built by Boeing Co (BA.N) and Textron Inc's (TXT.N) Bell Helicopter unit.

By a vote of 326 to 105, the House voted to keep $415 million in funding that was still to be spent this year on the aircraft, which takes off and lands like a helicopter, but flies like a plane.

Representative Luis Gutierrez, an Illinois Democrat, introduced the measure to cut the funding, in an amendment to a Republican bill that would cut domestic spending in the remainder of the fiscal 2011 year by $61 billion from current levels.

Gutierrez called the V-22 a "boondoggle" and said the Pentagon needed to tighten its belt at a time when Republicans were trying to cut funding for community health centers, student financial aid and firefighters.

Debate on the Republican bill began Tuesday and will likely continue through Thursday in a legislative marathon that will include debate on 400 amendments filed by both Democrats and Republicans to cut Pentagon spending and other programs.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday warned that the Pentagon was heading for a crisis unless lawmakers approved at least $540 billion in defense funding for fiscal 2011.

Several U.S. lawmakers rose to defend the V-22 program, arguing that it provided a critical capability for U.S. Marines and other troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The V-22 program was nearly canceled after several deadly accidents during its development. It is used for airborne assault, vertical lift, combat search and rescue and special operations.

The Pentagon on Monday requested $2.7 billion to buy 36 V-22 aircraft in fiscal 2012 under the last year of a five-year fixed-price procurement agreement.

Officials with the V-22 program have said they may seek another five-year agreement beginning in fiscal 2013. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa; Editing by Gary Hill)