At the urging of President Barack Obama, the Senate agreed Tuesday to cut funding for construction of stealth F-22 fighters.

Utah Republican Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett objected to the move, which could cost jobs at Hill Air Force Base.

The Senate voted 58-40 to cease producing the F-22 Raptors after 187 are built. Obama, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the Democratic and Republican leaders on the Senate Armed Services Committee fought to end the program, saying the money would be better used on other military technologies, including much cheaper unpiloted drones.

But they faced stiff opposition, since so many states contribute to the construction and maintenance of the nation's premier military jet, which costs $140 million each.

More than 100 people work directly on maintaining the F-22 at Hill Air Force Base in northern Utah.

Hatch argued on the Senate floor that the nation needed to continue building the F-22 to maintain its air superiority over the fighters being designed by Russia and China.

"Fast and unseen," Hatch said, "the Raptor will punch a hole in an enemy's defenses, quickly dispatching any challenger in the air and striking at the most important ground targets."

He also said moving to the cheaper, smaller F-35 Lightning fighters, won't get the job done if the nation found itself in an air war.

"The fact is that the F-35 is neither

as capable a fighter nor as stealthy as the F-22," Hatch said. "Only by utilizing the strengths of both aircraft do we ensure air dominance for the next 40 years."

Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, appeared on Fox Business on Tuesday to defend the F-22 saying, "We should not skimp on the defense of this country, period."

Bishop, whose district includes Hill Air Force Base, was instrumental in passing a House amendment that would authorize funding for seven more F-22s. He has cited past military reports saying the nation needs 240 of the top fighters.

Obama slapped back at his detractors after the vote.

"I reject the notion that we have to waste billions of taxpayer dollars on outdated and unnecessary defense projects to keep this nation secure," the president said. "This would have been an inexcusable waste of money."

Backed by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Obama said 187 Raptors are enough. Obama threatened to veto the defense bill if the F-22 money was not removed.

While Hill will feel some impact from the F-22 cut, the Air Force has named the base as one of the main maintenance facilities for the F-35 and the unpiloted drones, which are effective weapons in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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