Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), released the following statement today after the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense approved a preliminary version of the Fiscal Year 2009 Defense Appropriations Bill.  If passed by the Congress and signed into law by the President, the bill will provide critical funding for Connecticut’s defense industry, particularly in the areas of submarine and aircraft purchases, as well as critical radar technology research. 

“This bill will provide a significant boost to Connecticut’s economy, and more importantly, the funding to help ensure that our armed forces are outfitted with the best equipment, weapons, and technology they need to perform their vital missions,” said Dodd. “The Subcommittee’s action is a testament to the confidence that our country shows in the tremendous quality of high-tech equipment, weapons, naval vessels, and aircraft produced by the workers of Connecticut. I will continue to fight to secure the funding that will help Connecticut’s defense industry ensure that the United States military remains the best equipped in the world.”

The FY 2009 Defense Appropriations Bill includes funding for a number of projects throughout the state, including, but not limited to:

• $20 million for research and development of Multi – Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program technology, Norden Systems – Norwalk, CT

• $79 million advanced procurement in addition to the President’s Budget Request for the purchase of $3.5 billion in Virginia Class Submarines, Electric Boat – Groton, CT

• Over $7.4  billion to procure F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, F-22A Raptors, and C-17 Globemasters, Pratt and Whitney – Middletown, CT

• Over $2.77 billion to purchase UH-60 Black Hawk and MH-60 Naval Hawk helicopters, Sikorsky Aircraft – Stratford, CT 

• $151,055,000  for the purchase of M4 carbines manufactured by Colt – West Hartford, CT

• $7.6 million for research and development of hybrid electric drive systems for the Arleigh Burke class destroyers, DRS Technologies – Danbury, CT

The bill also includes funding for several smaller defense companies in Connecticut that have developed promising new, cutting edge technologies that will greatly assist our troops in the years to come.