US PRESIDENT Barack Obama says he really doesn't need a new presidential helicopter with an Armageddon-proof kitchen.
"It would let me cook a meal while under nuclear attack," he mused.
"Now, let me tell you something - if the United States of America is under nuclear attack, the last thing on my mind will be whipping up a snack."
Mr Obama's comments came as he pledged to put up "a fight" against "exotic projects that are years behind schedule and billions over budget" in a speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars service organisation.
"This is pretty straightforward - cut the waste. Save taxpayer dollars. Support the troops," he told the group at its annual convention.
"If a project doesn't support our troops, if it does not make America safer, we will not fund it.
"If a system doesn't perform, we will terminate it.
"And if Congress sends me a defence bill loaded with a bunch of pork, I will veto it."
Mr Obama has taken aim at plans for a new fleet of Marine One helicopters before, notably at a White House Fiscal Responsibility summit in February, when he said he had ordered a review into the project's huge cost overruns.
The US Navy charged Lockheed Martin to build a new fleet of 28 helicopters to serve as Marine One in 2005.
The project originally was meant to cost around $US6 billion ($7.24 billion) but has skyrocketed up to $US11.2 billion ($13.5 billion).
Each aircraft would now cost about $US400 million ($482 million) - more than the cost of the two adapted Boeing 747 aircraft now serving as Air Force One.
The new helicopters were to be based on Lockheed's EH-101 aircraft, currently produced by a British-Italian partner.
The new generation of iconic green-and-white helicopters are said to offer the President greater protection and a higher range than current Sikorsky models - some of which are up to 40 years old.
The decision in 2005 to award the contract culminated an intense competition between Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky Aircraft Corp's all-American entry, the S-92.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25945452-401,00.html
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