The bill funds Pratt's F-35 jet engine and spends billions on Sikorsky helicopters.
By HOWARD FRENCH
Special to The Republican
Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky Aircraft and Electric Boat are among the Connecticut companies that would benefit from the National Defense Authorization Act passed on Thursday by the House of Representatives.
The bill funds East Hartford-based Pratt’s F-35 jet engine for use on the Joint Strike Fighter. It provides no funding for an alternative engine from Pratt competitor General Electric, despite efforts by GE partisans to include some money for the second Strike Fighter engine.
The bill does require the Pentagon to restart the GE program if more work is needed to improve the performance of the Pratt engine, which is being tested.
A second provision requires the Pentagon to “preserve and store” property owned by the federal government “that would allow the development of the alternate engine to be restarted,” and allow GE and partner Rolls-Royce to use the preserved equipment as long as there is no cost to the taxpayer.
Congressman Joseph D. Courtney, D-2nd District – who is on the House Armed Services Committee – says he’s concerned about those provisions and “will continue to work with the Senate and in conference to oppose them.”
The bill also includes billions for helicopters from Stratford-based Sikorsky and for submarines built by Electric Boat in Groton.
Courtney says the budget plan, which still needs to be considered by the Senate, bolsters eastern Connecticut’s industrial base.
Among the Connecticut-related programs in the House defense budget are:
- $3.3 billion for 19 Joint Strike Fighters for the Air Force, $1.1 billion for six of the aircraft, also known as F-35s, for the Marine Corps, and $1.5 billion for seven F-35s for the Navy, all powered by Pratt engines. The bill also authorizes $2.7 billion in research and development funds for the F-35 program.
- $850 million in development funds for the replacement of the Air Force refueling tanker plane. The new tanker, to be built by the Boeing Co., also will be powered exclusively by Pratt engines. The tankers refuel military aircraft in flight.
- $1.3 billion for 71 Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters for the Army and National Guard, as the president requested.
- $677 million to develop Sikorsky’s CH-53K Super Stallion transport helicopter for the Marine Corps.
- $409 million for 18 of Sikorsky’s MH-60S Knighthawk helicopters for the Navy. The helicopters are used by the Navy for combat, search-and-rescue, special-warfare support, and airborne mine countermeasures.
- $791 million for 24 Navy Seahawk helicopters, which feature advanced radar, missiles, and low frequency sonar.
- $4.8 billion for Electric Boat’s Virginia-class attack submarine program, including $3.2 billion to build two submarines in 2012, and advanced funding to prepare to build two each in 2013 and 2014.