Billions of dollars could be pumped into the state’s economy with the proposal of new defense spending, according to U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)
The state’s senior senator announced the Senate Armed Services Committee draft approval of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017, which he said bodes well for Senate backing of more helicopters, submarines, and joint strike fighter engines produced in Connecticut.
Blumenthal worked to secure $5 billion for two Virginia Class submarines, as well as $1.5 billion for Ohio Replacement Program submarines. Ohio Class – ballistic missile submarines that are particularly valuable because they are the leg of the nuclear triad most likely to survive nuclear conflict – will soon begin to retire. Electric Boat has been selected as the Navy’s prime contractor to build the 12 replacement submarines.
East Hartford-based Pratt & Whitney is the sole engine-maker for F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. This year’s defense authorization bill includes $8.5 billion for 63 Joint Strike Fighters across the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, and fully meets the President’s budget request. Blumenthal also secured an additional $50.8 million above the President’s request for Marine Corps’ F-35B spares and repair parts, bringing the total funding for spares and repairs to $1.46 billion.
Blumenthal secured $6.3 million in military construction funding for the Small Air Terminal at Bradley International Airport for the Connecticut National Guard. This funding will allow the 103rd Airlift Wing to have the facilities they need to support their recent conversion to the C-130 mission.
