Air Force gives Congress $18.75 bln arms wish list

By Andrea Shalal-Esa

WASHINGTON, Feb 11 (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force has sent lawmakers an $18.75 billion wish list of weapons systems it says it needs but could not include in the Pentagon's fiscal 2009 budget request, including some pricey aircraft programs.

The list, for instance, includes $3.9 billion to buy 15 Boeing Co (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) C-17 transport planes, which would help keep the Boeing production line open beyond 2009, according to the document, which was obtained by Reuters late on Monday.

This year's list, first reported by the trade publication InsideDefense.com, is even bigger than last year's request of $17 billion, and comes close to the $20 billion that Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne says the service needs to modernize its aging fleet and buy aircraft in efficient quantities.

The list also includes $600 million for four Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) F-22 fighter jets beyond the 20 already included in the fiscal 2009 budget, plus $497 million in long-lead procurement funding to buy 24 more and maintain full rate production of the fighter jet in 2010.

The Air Force says it needs 381 of the radar-evading F-22 Raptors, but the Pentagon has capped the number at 183.

Lawmakers use the lists of "unfunded priorities", which are prepared by all the services, to help shape the final defense spending and appropriations bills, adding dozens of airplanes, ships and other weapons above the Pentagon's requests.

Congress has added 18 C-17s to the defense budget over the past two years, despite a Pentagon decision to cap production of the popular transport plane at 180.

The Air Force already has 170 C-17 transport planes and will get at least 28 more.