FACTBOX: Key elements of the Senate 2010 defence bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Armed Services Committee approved a bill on Thursday authorizing defence spending for fiscal 2010 that largely supports the Pentagon's proposed weapons cuts, but continues funding for several big-ticket programs that were targeted for termination.

Key elements of the measure include:

-- Adds $1.7 billion (1 billion pounds) to buy 7 more F-22 fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin, rejecting the Pentagon's decision to halt production after 187 fighters.

-- Adds $438.9 million to continue work on a second F-35 engine being built by General Electric and Rolls-Royce Group.

-- Backs Defence Secretary Robert Gates' recommendation to cut funding for the missile defence program by $1.2 billion, including cutting the number of ground-based interceptors to 30 from the 44 initially planned.

-- Backs Gates on ending production of the Boeing Co C-17 transport plane at 205 planes already on order, including no funding for additional aircraft.

-- Backs Gates on ending the Lockheed VH-71 presidential helicopter program after the program's costs threatened to double to over $13 billion.

-- Requires the Pentagon to submit a report on its plan to transfer responsibility for the C-27J cargo plane being developed by L-3 Communications Holdings to the Air Force and cut the number of planes to 38 from 78.

-- Supports President Barack Obama's proposed changes for military commissions, including language that would ban the use of coerced testimony, and set limits on the use of hearsay and classified evidence.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa; editing by Andre Grenon)