F-35 chief sees grounding risk in single engine plan

* Bigger risk if engine problem grounds fleet

* Competition could mean faster, better technology

* Developing plan for engine work by both companies

By Andrea Shalal-Esa

WASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) - The Pentagon needs to carefully consider the operational risk of having just one engine for the F-35 fighter jet, the Marine Corps general who runs the program said on Tuesday, adding that competition could bring faster technology development and lower costs.

F-35 Program Executive Officer Brigadier General David Heinz said he backed the Pentagon's budget proposal, which did not include funding for an alternate engine.

But Heinz also said lawmakers were likely to restore funding as they have in the past.

The Pentagon last month submitted a fiscal 2010 budget plan that once again included no funding for an alternate F136 engine for the F-35 being developed by General Electric Co (GE.N) and Rolls-Royce Group PLC (RR.L). It was one of several programs scaled back or canceled by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, many of which are being questioned now by lawmakers.

The F-35, or Joint Strike Fighter, is the newest family of advanced fighter planes being built by Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) for U.S. forces and eight partner countries.