Defense Appropriations Bill Includes Over $60 Million for Military & Technology

Bill Includes Funding for Oregon National Guard Reintegration Program.

Salem-News.com

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - The United States Senate last night passed the fiscal year 2010 Department of Defense appropriations bill, which includes over $60 million for Oregon projects.

Included at the request of Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, these projects will provide research and development of clean energy technologies, equipment to help ensure military personnel land aircraft safely in severe weather conditions, and updated data and voice communications systems.

The bill also includes funding for the Oregon National Guard Reintegration Program, which helps soldiers transition back to civilian life.

“These grants will bolster research programs at our universities and put people to work developing important technologies for our military personnel, from Astoria to Merlin,” said Merkley. “By strengthening the Oregon National Guard, this bill will help our men and women in uniform get back to their civilian lives when they return home.”

“Along with providing millions to fund job-creating advances in nanotechnology and clean energy technologies, this bill will help Oregon National Guard members succeed at home once their service abroad is over,” said Wyden.

Funding for the following projects include:

Oregon National Guard Reintegration Program - $400,000 – Statewide Funds will be used to support the ONGR program which helps returning National Guard members transition back to civilian life.

ONAMI Nanoelectronics, Nanometrology and Nanobiotechnology Initiative – Portland State University - $4,800,000 – Multnomah County Funds will help advance research into biomedicine, measurement/imaging and electronics.

ONAMI Safer Nanomaterials and Nanomanufacturing – University of Oregon - $4,400,000 – Lane County Funds will be used to develop safer and greener nanomaterials and nanomanufacturing methods.

Recoil UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter Wild Land Fire-Fighting Tank System - Recoil Suppression Systems, LLC - $4,000,000 – Josephine County. Funds will be used to provide a wildfire tank system for the Blackhawk helicopter to help the Army National Guard fight wildfires.

ONAMI Miniaturized Tactical Energy Systems Development – Oregon State University - $3,000,000 – Benton County. Funds will be used to develop miniaturized energy systems such as soldier power systems and advanced cooling units.

Transportable Transponder Landing System - Advanced Navigation & Positioning Corporation - $3,000,000 – Hood River County Funds will be used to help enable all types of military aircraft to land safely in any terrain or weather conditions.

Permanent Magnet Generator – Wave Energy Buoy - Columbia Power Technologies, LLC - $2,400,000 – Benton County. Funds will be used to develop an ocean tested wave power electricity generating unit to be deployed to Navy sites.

SiC – RF Power for Airborne Avionics Systems - Microsemi Corporation – Power Products Group - $2,000,000 – Deschutes County Funds will be used to develop critical components for data communication systems on new and upgraded Air Force platforms.

Assessment of Alternative Energy for Aircraft Ground Equipment (AGE) - Lektro, Inc. - $2,000,000 – Clatsop County. Funds will be used to assess new power technology applied to Aircraft Ground Equipment.

F-16C (ANG) Improved Voice/Data Communications - Rockwell Collins, Inc. - $2,000,000 – Clackamas County. Funds will be used to upgrade voice and data communications for military aircraft.

ARL-ONAMI Center for Nanoarchitectures for Enhanced Performance – University of Oregon - $1,000,000 – Lane County. Funds will be used to continue to build early stage technology for Army sensing, communications, portable energy storage and generation and thermal management requirements.

Reinforcement HMMWV Repair Hood Kits - Miles Fiberglass & Composites, Inc. - $1,000,000 – Clackamas County. Funds will be used to repair and reinforce High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles.

U.S. Marine Corps UH-1N Helicopter Navigation Thermal Imaging Systems (NTIS) – FLIR Systems, Inc. -$19,500,000 - Wilsonville. Funds will be used to upgrade a program to improve the capability of the Navigation Thermal Imaging Systems (NTIS) for the fleet of helicopters used by the U.S. Marine Corps.

Shipboard Protection System– FLIR Systems, Inc. - $10,900,000 - Wilsonville. Funds will be used to support a program to deliver an integrated suite of thermal imaging equipment designed to increase the surveillance capability and safety of combat personnel.

Metals Affordability Initiative - $5,000,000 – Multi-state. Funds will be used to support the military war fighting capability while reducing life cycle cost through technology innovation. Funds will be distributed to programs in multiple states through a competitive grant award process.