If so, it would be a dramatic reversal for Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who has vowed to prevent the possibility, saying it would cost the government too much money.

But the powerful subcommittee chairman, Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), and other lawmakers have been pushing the idea of buying tankers from several companies, hoping to stave off future challenges to a contract award that have in the past derailed progress on the program. Last summer, Boeing successfully overturned a contract to Northrop Grumman, worth up to $35 billion, and new bidding has yet to begin.

Murtha indicated there may be some wiggle room after talking with Gates and Pentagon acquisition chief Ashton Carter. The administration identified four issues it won’t negotiate on, and Murtha scribbled them down on a scrap of paper.

“The tanker’s not one of them,” he said, refusing to divulge the list.

In a wide ranging interview with defense reporters Wednesday, Murtha did, however, sketch an outline for shaping next year’s $534 billion defense budget:

- He said he would continue to urge the administration to reverse its decision to cancel the VH-71 presidential helicopters, a prospect that he and others have said would be costly. But so far, the administration has not budged.

“It’s a public relations problem,” Murtha said, adding he hopes that the investment in an initial version of the helicopters made by Lockheed Martin shouldn’t go to waste.

But he acknowledged changing course on a program already tarred for costing $13 billion – more than twice the original estimate – would be politically difficult. Lawmakers are aghast at the $500 million-per-helicopter price tag, and the administration has dug in against the project.

- He expressed uncertainty about the future of the Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter jet. While he would like to be able to fund 20 new aircraft, he said, it would cost $3.2 billion that might not be possible this year.

- He also has talked with Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) about the possibility of making a demilitarized version of the high-tech jet that could be sold to Japan.

The two appropriators, however, differ over how much retrofitting the jet for foreign sales would cost, Murtha said. Inouye estimates the cost would be around $300 million, while Murtha and his staff expect a price tag of about $1 billion.

- He indicated he might cut funding for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which the Pentagon is staunchly defending as the next-generation fighter jet for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps as well as a number of international partners.

“I’m for a big buy of the F-35,” Murtha said. “But I’m not necessarily for buying it this year if it’s not ready.”

- He said he would find money for additional F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters. “We know we’re going to do something about it,” he pledged.

- And, he said, he would find money for an alternative engine for the Joint Strike Fighter.