US Senate bill seeks study on export F-22 version

WASHINGTON, June 25 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee has approved a defense authorization bill for fiscal 2010 that includes language asking the Pentagon to explore creating an export version of the F-22 fighter, the panel's chairman, Senator Carl Levin, said on Thursday.

Levin and the top Republican on the committee, Senator John McCain, said they both opposed adding $1.7 billion in funding for seven more Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N)-built F-22 fighters to the bill, a measure that passed on a 13-11 vote. But they said they were supporting exploring a possible export version.

McCain said he would continue to fight against continued production of the F-22 when the bill is debated on the Senate floor, probably next month. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa; editing by Carol Bishopric)