The U.S. Senate Tuesday approved the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2017, which will funnel $16.7 billion to Connecticut defense companies.
According to U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), the bill provides increased funding for Sikorsky Blackhawks helicopters and the UH-1N Replacement Helicopter Program; advance procurement for Electric Boat’s Virginia Class submarines and new SSN design; and Pratt & Whitney F-135 engines for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
The following Connecticut related spending is included in the legislation:
- $5 billion for two Virginia Class submarines
- $1.5 billion for Ohio Replacement Program submarines
- $8.5 billion for 63 Joint Strike Fighters
- $929 million for 36 Black Hawk helicopters
- $437 million for 2 Marine Corps’ CH-53K helicopters
- $61 million for the Navy MH-60R Naval Hawk helicopter program
- $302 million UH-1N helicopters replacement helicopter program
- $6.3 million for the Small Air Terminal at Bradley International Airport for the Connecticut National Guard
