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| Wilson Secures $49.5 Million for Kirtland Air Force Base |
May 02, 2002 |
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Funds approved by House Armed Services Committee
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Heather Wilson announced today that the House Armed Services Committee has approved funding for several projects at Kirtland Air Force Base. In a late evening session the Committee approved the Defense Authorization bill, which contained several projects for New Mexico. Wilson has consistently worked to maintain Kirtland and keep its missions strong so that when there is another round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) in 2005, it will be in good shape.
Among the funding authorized by the House Armed Services Committee is $8.4 million for a Visiting Officer/Airman Quarters at Kirtland Air Force Base. The funding will allow the Base to construct a new dormitory for visiting airmen and officers.
“Kirtland must have facilities adequate to fulfill its mission,” said Wilson. “With a new dormitory, the base will be better able to serve the officers and students training here.”
The existing visitor’s quarters are currently at full capacity, and a large percentage of visiting airmen must be housed in off-base contract quarters. Over 100 airmen per day are sent to contract quarters, costing the government over $3.0 million per year. During peak seasons, these off-base quarters can be up to 60 minutes away.
The Committee also approved funding for upgrades and improvement to helicopters used by the 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland. Wilson secured $29.5 million to upgrade the HH-60G PAVE HAWK helicopter to match those in combat squadrons. The upgrade includes equipping the aircraft with 701C engines, forward-looking infrared (FLIR) systems, and helicopter infrared suppression systems (HIRSS). This funding will allow for the upgrade of the 58th Special Operations Wing’s 13 helicopters.
Wilson secured $11.6 million to configure the Wing’s MC-130P aircraft with the Universal Aerial Refueling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI). The UARRSI is the receptacle, hydraulic fuel lines, and electrical connections that make the aircraft air refuelable. All but two MC-130P’s in operational units are modified with the UARRSI for air refueling. None of the four MC-130P’s used for training at Kirtland are currently modified.
The 58th Special Operations Wing’s mission is to train mission-ready special operations, rescue, missile site support, Distinguished Visitor (DV) airlift advanced helicopter, and MC-130 aircrew students. The unit provides the manpower and airlift needed in response to crises around the world and assists civilian authorities in regional rescues. Last year, Wilson secured $7.3 million for 58th Special Operations Wing projects.
“The 58th Special Operations Wing trains our special operations and search and rescue crews. They need to be the best of the best,” said Wilson. “This money will upgrade the Wing’s aircraft so that our men and women in uniform have the best training to be prepared to do the jobs we ask them to do.”
Other programs in the Defense Authorization bill for Kirtland Air Force Base are:
$79 million for the Joint Technology Office (JTO). The JTO will help leverage the federal Government’s investment in directed energy programs, ensure adequate stability in the industrial base, and promote educational opportunities in these technologies. enable the Department of Defense to direct a more coherent and more effective investment strategy for all future high energy laser development.
$2.25 milion for a new vacuum pump system for the AFRL Advanced Laser Facility to support advanced technology research and testing and lethality testing for the Airborne Laser (ABL), and Advanced Tactical Laser ACTD and Technology (ATL-T) testing. This will reduce schedule risk and cost risk by upgrading a vacuum pump system that was purchased in the mid 1970s that experienced four failures last year delaying testing by 1.5 months.
$11 million to upgrade the munitions storage complex
$2.5 million for the relocation of the Truman Gate
Over the last three years, Wilson has added the following projects to the Department of Defense Budget at Kirtland Air Force Base:
Fiscal Year 00 -- $14 million to upgrade ramps and runways
Fiscal Year 01 -- $7.35 million to build a new fire and rescue station jointly used by the base and the Sunport
Fiscal Year 02 -- $4.3 million to Construct a New Small Arms Range and Support Facility
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