WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - U.S. Air Force officials defended on Tuesday a Pentagon decision to cancel development of the second engine for Lockheed Martin Corp's (LMT.N) F-35 jet fighter, but acknowledged it was a "close call."Challenged to explain why the Pentagon was so adamantly opposed to the program, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley told the House Armed Services Committee: "We will say up front this has been one of the most difficult issues we have wrestled with. In some respects, it can be considered a close call."
Representative Ike Skelton, the Missouri Democrat who heads the committee, said lawmakers were still waiting to see the business case analysis used to make the decision, a document Defense Secretary Robert Gates promised them three weeks ago.