Some critics might say efforts by U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards to save nearly 300 local jobs devoted to further research and testing on a veteran spy plane program at L-3 Communications in Waco is another example of what’s wrong on Capitol Hill.

Really? Defense is one area where federal funding is entirely appropriate, especially when Pentagon officials sign on. Considering that Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead concurs in this particular case and that the EP-3E aircraft is deemed by the Navy a crucial part in our scrutiny of  a dangerous world, we congratulate all who ensured continuation of the plane’s maintenance and upgrade program at L-3.

The fact 297 local jobs are also maintained is but icing on the community cake. 

True, Navy officials initially balked at continuing funding to improve this famous spy plane program. Pentagon officials hope to expand use of unmanned aircraft to do much of the spy-in-the-sky work in the future. However, using drones effectively in such duties over the turbulent Middle East is reportedly several years away, maybe more.

In these perilous times, with so many rogue nations and continuing strife, can we really afford to go even several years without bolstering the EP-3E workhorse to further improve the sensitive communications surveillance work that it does? This is surely no time to risk doing without it.

This was Edwards’ argument, a testament to his insights into key defense issues. The Navy agreed, approving $8 million more for the program to continue in Waco this fiscal year. How it ultimately fares in next year’s budget is up in the air, but the decision buys time for serious evaluation.

If this were a program the Pentagon had ruled obsolete, we’d balk right along with it. But the Navy decision to keep this program flying as a key part of our defense makes us grateful to all those individuals squarely behind it, including the tech-savvy folks at L-3. We suspect the Navy will find solid reasons to stay with at least some elements of the EP-3E even after a generation of drones is at last ready for surveillance duty.