Funding for torpedo defense funding
The defense appropriation for fiscal 2003 has passed the House with $27.8 million requested by U.S. Rep. John Murtha for various aspects of the Surface Ship Torpedo Defense System, which is being manufactured and improved by Fayette County companies. This legislation also passed the Senate and is expected to be signed soon by the president.
“The Surface Ship Torpedo Defense system is extremely important to the Navy because of the vulnerability our ships have to torpedoes. It’s exciting to see us making such progress in protecting our ships and the sailors on board. But it’s just as exciting to see such a high-tech program based almost entirely here in Fayette County, providing a base for a new economy with the 200-plus jobs we hope to generate within a few years,” said Murtha, the ranking member of the Defense Appropriation Subcommittee.
Included in the legislation were:
— Surface Ship Torpedo defense, $6 million for production, which will be done in Fayette County by SenSyTech and Shumar’s Welding & Fabrication.
— Surface Ship Torpedo defense, $11.6 million for research and development of the sensors and software parts of the system, which are being done by Advanced Acoustic concepts in Fayette County.
— Surface Ship Torpedo defense, $10.2 million for research and development of the Tripwire Torpedo defense System – and anti-torpedo – involving SenSyTech and Penn State University Fayette Campus.
In addition, the appropriation includes $51 million for conversions of Bradley Fighting Vehicles, a program likely to be awarded to United Defense Systems in Uniontown.
And the legislation directs $1 million to continue development of the Turbo Fuel Cell Engine, a project being done by Pittsburgh Electric Engines Inc. in Derry. The engine will greatly reduce environmental issues and improve efficiency for trucks, and has stealthy characteristics important to the military.
Other regional programs in the legislation include:
— Diabetes Research of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, $4.3 million.
— Information Technology Leadership Program, $1.7 million to continue this initiative at Washington & Jefferson College, which is developing and delivering courses in information systems, information security, mobile computing and geographical information systems t the National Guard.
— Breast cancer research at Windber Research Institute $12 million.
— Development of coal-based jet fuel, Penn State University, $2.6 million.