Dodd, Lieberman Announce Significant Appropriations for Connecticut's Defense, Submarine Industry
September 7, 2006


 
WASHINGTON – The Senate today approved the 2007 Defense Appropriations Bill, providing substantial support to Connecticut’s defense industry, particularly in the areas of submarine research and technology. In part due to the efforts of Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT), the bill will help boost the Connecticut economy and ensure that U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines are outfitted with the quality resources they need to perform their missions.

“This isn’t everything I fought for, but on balance, it is a strong down payment on our national defense,” Dodd said. “It also is another ‘vote of confidence’ for the workers in Connecticut who build the hi-tech weaponry and equipment that – whether in the air, undersea, or on the ground – protect our nation and help fuel our state’s economy and jobs.”

“Our military's greatest successes have occurred when it has adapted to new times, new technologies, and new ways of thinking, planning and fighting," Lieberman said. “Never have we better needed new defense innovations than in fighting the dynamic war on terror evolving in the Middle East. This year's defense budget bolsters our strength and ability to adapt to the ever changing climate of war by ensuring America's military remains the best trained, best equipped and best led in the world. I am also pleased that this budget continues to recognize the tremendous contribution that Connecticut companies and the outstanding workers provide to keeping our country safe. I am proud to say that 'made in Connecticut' continues to be a guarantee of the highest quality weapons and equipment in the world.”

Funding in the Defense Appropriations bill will be used for military equipment, ranging from ground vehicles, aircraft, and naval ships to various advances in technology development and troop protection. The following towns and projects will be funded through the defense appropriations:

Groton (Electric Boat)

$2.5 billion to procure one new VIRGINIA Class attack submarine


$54 million for submarine research:

     -$16 million for Large Aperture Bow Array on Virginia Class Submarines

     -$15 million for Flexible Payload Module and Virginia Payload Interface Module

     -$8 million for Advanced Submarine research


     -$10 million to demonstrate Large Displacement Unmanned Undersea Vehicle at Sea Launch and Recovery technology

     -$5 million to develop High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) Generator technology


Stratford (Sikorsky)

$175 million for 12 additional Back Hawk helicopters for a total of 94 aircraft, including a replacement of 7 helicopters lost in battle and 5 national guard aircraft.


$357 million to continue developing the CH-53K Super Stallion helicopter.


Middletown (Pratt and Whitney)

$1.48 billion over the President’s budget to procure F/A-22 Raptor Air Force fighter jets which are powered by F119 Pratt and Whitney engines for a total of $3.4 billion.  The bill also authorizes a multi-year procurement for the next three years.


 $3.9 billion to continue research and development of the Joint Strike Fighter, which will be outfitted with F119 Pratt and Whitney engines. 


$542.5 million for three additional C-17 Cargo Aircraft, powered by F117-PW-100 engines along with authorization for another 4-year C-17 multi-year purchase.


Norwalk (Norden Systems)

$3 million above the President’s budget to fund APY-6 Real Time Precision Targeting Radar


Danbury (Goodrich)

$3 million for research and development of the Prometheus Spectrometer, employing millimeter wave technology to detect chemical/biological warfare agents.


$4 million above the President’s budget to procure AN/AVR-2B Laser Detecting Sets to detect certain guided weapons targeting Army helicopters.


$3.5 million to develop Reconnaissance Payloads for Operationally Responsive Spacecraft.


ElectroEnergy:  $2 million for research and development of Bipolar Wafer-cell Nickel-Metalhydride aircraft battery to outfit the Air Force’s F-16 aircraft.

DRS Systems:  $15 million to continue research and development of a permanent magnet motor system for use in electric propulsion and power generation of Naval ships.


West Hartford (Goodrich Pump and Engine Control Systems)

$2 million to develop Universal Control Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) Systems for Black Hawk, Chinook, Apache and Armed Reconnaissance helicopters.


$2 million to purchase Engine Digital Electronic Control for Black Hawk Helictopers.

Windsor Locks  (Hamilton Sundstrand)

$3 million for an electric start system for large gas turbine powered Naval ships


$2 million to develop an Air Force electronic propeller control system

Windsor (Aerogear)

$1.5 million for Legacy Aerospace Gear Drive Re-engineering program to rebuild key sectors of the U.S. aerospace industry.


Enfield (Specialized Technology Resources, Inc)

$3 million to expand domestic production of Solar Cell Components known as photovoltaic encapsulant.


South Windsor  (UTC Power)

$3 million to develop fuel cell powered Army vehicles using technology called Hydrogen PEM ambient Pressure


Bloomfield (Kaman)

$5 million to develop an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle that could be used to resupply soldiers deployed under combat conditions.


$4 million to develop composite small main rotor blades.


Mystic (Alion)
$2 million to develop Advanced Receive-While-Transmit-Sonar technology.


Chesapeake Sciences: $2 million to develop an affordable twin line towed array.

Wallingford (Z-Medica)
$2 million for the Marine Corps to QuickClot, a high-tech clotting agents called QuickClot for traumatic wounds incurred in combat.


Branford (Oxley)

$5 million for research and development of a Future Medical Shelter System for the Army to deploy 2 mobile health care units, fully equipped with biological and chemical decontamination facilities.


Bridgeport (Moore tool)
           

$3.5 million for development of special precision micro-manipulation and SuperPulse laser machine tool systems for work on turbine engines.