Governor Drops Lawsuit Over F-15 Transfers

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Gov. Brian Schweitzer is dropping the state's lawsuit against the Defense Department over plans to move the Montana National Guard's F-15s to California.

The move comes after Defense Secretary Leon Panetta assured the state's senators that the Air Force will halt scheduled transfers of aircraft until Congress finalizes 2013 budget plans later this year, which could also further prevent those transfers.

The transfers had worried leaders in several states that could potentially lose aircraft used by their guard forces.

Schweitzer filed court documents Monday dropping Montana's lawsuit over the matter.

He says the suit is no longer necessary now that the Defense Department says it will stick with plans to replace the F-15s with C-130 cargo planes.

The governor says he can re-file the lawsuit if Air Force plans change.