Gates: Money Included For F-22 Jet A 'big Problem'

Gates disputed claims that he's titled "the scale dramatically against conventional capabilities" like the F-22 in order to fight asymmetric wars in countries like Afghanistan.

"A trillion dollars for the Joint Strike Fighter, a fifth generation fighter that has some capabilities the F-22 does not, is not a trivial investment in the future," said Gates.

Gates is requesting a total of $6.8 billion, excluding research and development money, in the Pentagon's fiscal 2010 budget to buy 30 Joint Strike Fighters — more than double the $3.1 billion and 14 aircraft earmarked a year earlier. The Pentagon plans to buy 513 F-35s over the next five years, with a total goal of 2,443 aircraft.

"We have to procure the kinds of equipment and weapons that gives us the maximum flexibility across the widest range of that spectrum of conflict," he said.

Separately, Gates said he still plans to request new bids for a $35 billion competition for an aerial refueling tanker by the middle of summer.

Chicago-based Boeing and a team comprising rival Airbus' parent company, European Aeronautics Defense and Space Co., and Northrop Grumman Corp. are girding for a new round of competition for the contract to build 179 planes.