WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Rep. John L. Mica (R-Volusia County) announced today that two Volusia-based defense contractors could receive record funding of nearly $88 million through projects approved in the Fiscal Year 2002 Defense Appropriations bill, passed by Congress this week.
"This funding will be a big boost to securing new employment opportunities for Volusia County’s important defense sector," Mica stated. "These defense projects will not only benefit our military and war efforts but will provide high paying jobs for our local economy."
The defense measure includes $8.3 million for the Abrams Full-Crew Interactive Simulations Trainer (A-FIST), as well as $6.3 million for the Abrams & Bradley Interactive Skills Trainer (A/B FIST). These simulators attach directly to tank vehicles and provide hands-on gunnery training for entire tank crews, helping to prepare them for combat. The Army National Guard considers these training systems, built by Raydon Corporation, as their number one priority. Located in Daytona Beach, Raydon Corp will also be able to bid for SIMNET, a $10.5 million military simulation program also being funded by the federal government.
In addition, the federal government will be providing $62,886,000 for the procurement of Navy sonobuoys, which are the primary sensors used by Navy aircraft to protect U.S. Navy fleets against attacks from enemy submarines. Sparton Defense Electronics of DeLeon Springs is one of only two U.S. sonobuoy manufacturers for the Navy.
The defense budget bill passed the House 408-6 and the Senate 94-2 on Thursday, and is is expected to be signed into law soon by the President.