Lieberman Announces Highlights and Connecticut Defense Projects Within the FY2010 Defense Authorization Bill

WASHINGTON, DC -- Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT ), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chairman of the Airland Subcommittee, strongly supported the Committee's approval of the fiscal year 2010 Defense Authorization Bill.

"This bill will provide the men and women of our Armed Services with the resources they need to win our nation's wars and keep us safe at home," Lieberman said. "I am proud that Connecticut industry contributes so much to our nation's defense, and this bill means both a stronger America and a stronger economy for us in Connecticut. I will fight for its final passage on the floor of the Senate and look forward to President Obama signing it into law."

Funding for additional F-22A Raptor aircraft

Lieberman strongly supported a provision of the Authorization Bill that will provide $1.79 billion to procure an additional seven F-22A Raptor fighter aircraft and introduced a provision to study the possibility of F-22A Foreign Military Sales. "The Air Force has repeatedly warned that stopping this program at 187 aircraft would place our nation at 'higher risk', and that is not a risk I am willing to accept," Lieberman said. "Continued production of the F-22A will guarantee that we have balanced combat air forces in the future to support the transition between the F-22A and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programs."

Lieberman to fight wasteful alternate engine

Lieberman vowed to fight the committee's decision to add funds to pay for additional research on an alternate engine for the Joint Strike Fighter. "When the President introduced his budget request, the alternate engine was the only program he specifically pointed out as one that 'does nothing to keep us safe'," Lieberman said. "I will work with the President to stop wasting tax payer dollars on this project and to instead invest in those programs that do keep us safe."

Lieberman applauds funding for submarines

Lieberman applauded the bill's procurement of one Virginia class submarine in 2010 and advanced procurement authorization for two submarines in 2011. The bill also authorizes the President's request for $495 million to begin research and development of a replacement for the Ohio-class SSBN strategic deterrence submarine. "The committee gave its unanimous support for the submarines we build in Connecticut. This is a testament to the skilled workers in our state, and means that we will be building the best submarines in the world for many years to come," Lieberman said.

Lieberman champions effort to grow the Army

Lieberman fought for a key provision of the bill that will allow the Army to grow by an additional 30,000 soldiers in FY 2011 and FY 2012 in order to reduce the strain on our soldiers. "The number of deployed soldiers is set to rise through the rest of this year, and signs of stress in the force are all too evident," Lieberman said. "I am proud that the committee has decided to give the Army authority to grow, and call upon the Secretary of Defense to act immediately to do so. Increasing the number of soldiers is an essential first step to easing the burden on the overall force."

Additional authorizations benefiting Connecticut:

-An addition of $92 million for the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP), the next-generation, high-altitude, precision surveillance and targeting radar for the JSTARS aircraft. This effort will benefit Northrop Grumman Norden Systems located in Norwalk, CT.
- An addition of $20.4 million for UH-60A-A to UH-60L Conversion, a recapitalization program for the US Army's Black Hawk helicopter fleet. Sikorsky Aircraft, a division of United Technologies, located in Stratford, CT, will lead this effort.
- An addition of $9 million to support the Common Command and Control System Module project led by General Dynamics of Groton, CT. The effort initiates an effort to design and develop a common command and control system for use on Virginia class, SSGN and Ohio class replacement submarines.
- An addition of $7 million for the Metals Affordability initiative, an effort that enables metal process technology development from proof of concept through insertion into military systems. Several Connecticut companies will likely benefit from this project to include United Technologies, Ladish Machining Operations, Acceleron, Budney Machining and Masterson's Manufacturing.
- An addition of $5 million to support the Full Authority Digital Engine Control project led by Goodrich Engine Controls of West Hartford, CT.
- An addition of $4 million to support the Thermally Efficient Engine Pumping System project led by Goodrich Engine Controls of West Hartford, CT.
- An addition of $4 million to support the Advanced Affordable Turbine Engine project led by United Technologies of Hartford, CT.
- An addition of $4 million to support the TB-33 Thinline Towed Array project led by L-3 Chesapeake Sciences of Stonington, CT.
- An addition of $3.5 million to support the Scalable Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Engine led by United Technologies of Hartford, CT.

- An addition of $3 million to support the Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Demonstrator project led by Fuel Cell Energy of Danbury, CT.
- An addition of $3 million to support the Reactive Armor project led by Ensign Bickford Aerospace and Defense located in Simsbury, CT.
- An addition of $2 million to support Dengue Fever research led by NanoVirocides of West Haven, CT.
- An addition of $1 million to support the Hybrid Bearing project led by the Timken Company located in Manchester, CT.
- An addition of $1 million to support the Light Alloy Aerospace and Automotive Parts Development project led by Sikorsky Aircraft located in Stratford, CT.

Authorizations for critical military construction projects:

- $9.1 million for the CT Air National Guard TFI -cNAF Bed Down Facilities.
- Authorization to construct an Armed Forces Reserve Center and Maintenance Facility "in the vicinity of Newtown, CT," which will facilitate rapid agreement to build this essential facility.