Officials with Lockheed Martin Corp., the nation’s largest defense contractor, will have to wait a few more weeks before a definitive decision will be made by the Pentagon whether or not to buy more F-22 Raptor fighter jets.

Rob Fuller, communications manager for the F-22 project in Maryland, said recently Lockheed Martin Corp. officials were already in a wait and see mode because President Barack Obama had been expected to make a decision on the future of the F-22 program by a self-imposed deadline of March 1. Now it seems the waiting period will be somewhat longer.

“Nothing has really change as far as we’re concerned,” said Fuller Thursday afternoon. “Still waiting on a decision to be made.”

The delay comes from the Pentagon’s outgoing acquisition czar, John Young, when on Friday he sent a letter to House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton, D-Mo. In the letter, Young said the department will delay its decision to purchase more F-22s until its fiscal 2010 defense budget is complete.

The Lockheed Martin facility in Meridian manufactures the tail section of the Raptor. If the program were to cease, only about 20 workers at the Meridian plant would be affected, according to Lockheed Martin Corp. Plant Manager Joe Mercado. Most of the more than 200 workers locally work on the C-130 transport contract.

“It is possible we could absorb those workers into the C-130 transport program if the Raptor production line is terminated,” said Mercado recently.

If the Pentagon had needed more money, Obama would have been required to certify to Congress that the F-22 was a program of “national interest” – and express his intent to buy more planes beyond the 183 jets already planned.

Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed earlier this week said the additional funds, already authorized and appropriated by Congress, would be necessary to keep the lines open if a decision on the F-22 was not made by March 1. A Lockheed spokesman had no immediate comment Friday afternoon.

Raptor production is still slated to end after 2011 when Lockheed Martin is scheduled to deliver the last of 183 aircraft.

The radar evading, stealthy Raptor is the only fifth generation fighter in the world in full production. The supersonic jet has enjoyed strong support on Capitol Hill, but Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Air Force officials have differed over the future of the program and the number of planes needed.