September 27 , 2006

HOUSE APPROVES FLORIDA DEFENSE FUNDS

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. John L. Mica (R-7th District) announced today that the House of Representatives has approved $86.6 million for defense activities located in Volusia County, $5.85 million for Seminole County and $1.8 million for Orange County.  Funds are included in the $377.6 billion Defense Appropriations Act passed in the House last night by a vote of 394-22.           

“The programs funded in this legislation further our commitment to winning the Global War on Terror,” Mica stated.  “This equipment will improve training and protection for our brave men and women serving in combat today, while providing significant economic support to Central Florida.”

The Defense Appropriations Act provides funding for Fiscal Year 2007 which begins October 1^st.  This legislation is expected to be approved by the Senate and signed by the President.  Below is a list of the funded projects for the 7^th District:

Volusia County - $86.6 million

Navy Sonobuoy Procurement - $66.9 million
Allows the Navy to purchase sonobuoys that are dropped from various aircrafts into the ocean in order to monitor and detect enemy submarines prior to U.S. fleet arrival.  Sparton is the only U.S.-owned sonobuoy manufacturer for the Navy and competes against foreign-owned, subsidized companies.  This program has been developed by Sparton Defense Electronics located in DeLeon Springs.

COFT XXI - $1.35 million
This program is the Army National Guard’s # 1 priority for Abrams Tank and Bradley Fighting Vehicle training devices.  The COFT XXI will provide needed upgrades for our aging fleet of COFT Trainers.  Without this upgrade program, National Guard units would continue to have fewer trainers than needed to maintain required levels of preparedness and training.  This program has been developed by Raydon Corporation of Daytona Beach.

Up-Armored HMMWV and Tactical Truck Crew Trainers - $9.75 million
The Up-Armored HMMWV and Tactical Truck Crew Trainer Program provides soldiers with life-like training to counter hostile actions when operating tactical trucks during convoy operations.  This funding further expands this training capability and simulates training on immediate action drills and convoy operations for HMMWV and other Tactical Truck crews.  This program has been developed by Raydon Corporation of Daytona Beach.

Tabletop Gunnery Trainers (TGT) and Full-Fidelity Trainers (TFT) - $6.3 million
This funding will purchase these training systems which are easily portable and can be deployed to provide soldiers with critical convoy, gunnery and maneuver skills.  They are currently deployed providing training experience to our soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.  This program has been developed by Raydon Corporation of Daytona Beach.

Virtual Door Gunnery Trainer (VDGT) - $1.3 million
This program is the Army National Guard’s top priority for virtual helicopter crew training and allows helicopter crew chiefs to train door gunner operations.  VDGT simulates the real-life middle eastern battlefield situations and provides essential door gunner training for helicopter crews not available without expending flying hours and ammunition.  This trainer provides National Guard crew chiefs the proper training in helicopter door gunnery needed for combat.  This program has been developed by Raydon Corporation of Daytona Beach.

Littoral Gateway System - $1 million
This fiber and electrical cable interconnect system provides any number of electro-optical inputs and outputs to static or dynamic underwater assets such as acoustical sensors, detection sensors, video cameras and power docking stations.  This funding will continue development of a gateway hub system for information and power centric activity in the underwater battle space.  This will allow monitoring of the ocean floor, subsurface, and surface in meeting critical missions such as anti-submarine warfare, mine detection, countermeasures, intelligence, surveillance, special operations, and seaport security.  This system is being developed by Ocean Design Incorporated of Daytona Beach.

Seminole County - $5.85 million

Diver Propulsion Device - $4.5 million
This transport system will provide Army Engineer and Special Forces Dive Teams the ability to accomplish their respective missions.  The Diver Propulsion Device will improve their ability to move personnel and equipment efficiently while executing port construction/rehabilitation, underwater infiltration, and other critical missions.  The new federal funding will provide initial operational procurement for Army Dive Teams.  The batteries and related hardware for this project may be provided by Matthews and Associates of Sanford.

Orange County - $1.8 million

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