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Valley military projects set to get $80 million
Antelope Valley Press ^ | http://www.avpress.com/n/frsty5.hts | ALLISON GATLIN

Posted on 06/28/2003 5:38:31 AM PDT by BenLurkin

WASHINGTON - The House Appropriations Committee approved Thursday more than $80 million in support of projects at Edwards Air Force Base, China Lake Naval Weapons Center and for the California National Guard.

"Our successes in the ongoing war on terror, as well as in the recent war in Iraq, are the result of two things: the will and strength of our soldiers and the superiority of our military technology," said Congressman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, R-Santa Clarita. "Without the second aspect of our military strength, the first aspect becomes irrelevant. This funding is absolutely necessary to our nation's security because it keeps our military on the cutting edge and for that, I applaud the committee's decision."

"Edwards and China Lake play an important role in our national defense - a role that was on display during Operation Iraqi Freedom," said Congressman Bill Thomas, R-Bakersfield. "I am pleased that the Appropriations Committee recognized this role and provided both facilities with the funds needed to continue their outstanding work."

Among the projects receiving funding are $4.6 million to improve communication bandwidth for the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle; $3.5 million to procure and deploy mission-critical communication systems for ranges at Edwards to support programs such as the joint strike fighter and UAVs; $500,000 to expand a hypersonic flight test corridor study at Edwards for future test programs; and $7 million for the Air Force's aerospace propulsion program for future strategic missile and space programs.

At China Lake, projects include $6 million for the SPIKE Urban Warfare System, a low-cost missile system that can be carried by ground infantry for use against lightly armored vehicles or bunkers; $6 million for further development of the laser-radar seeker for a variant of the Tomahawk missile; $1 million for the Joint Fires Network Tactical Dissemination Module, part of a system linking facilities in the air, in space, on the ground and on the water; and $4 million for continued development of the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile.

Other projects include $4 million for the Integrated Hypersonic Aeromechanics Tool for hypersonic weapons development and $3.5 million for a precision guidance upgrade for the existing Hydra 70 rocket for helicopters.

Both China Lake and Edwards will benefit from $3 million for the Integrated High Payoff Rocket Propulsion Technology program, to finance research and development of rocket technologies for future weapons.

The California National Guard is in line for $3.5 million for a rapidly deployable wireless communications system to answer homeland security requirements.

The California Army National Guard also is listed for $35 million to upgrade radio system hardware to provide communications interoperability with the Army.

The bill also earmarks $3 million for the National Interagency Civil-Military Institute at Camp San Luis Obispo, to allow continued interagency training for emergency responders, civic leaders and others for counter drug and terrorism response efforts.

The defense appropriations bill now goes to the full House for consideration, expected sometime after the July 4th Congressional holiday.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; US: California; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: aerospacevalley; antelopevalley; edwardsafb; nationalguard; ng; usaf

1 posted on 06/28/2003 5:38:31 AM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin
At China Lake, projects include $6 million for the SPIKE Urban Warfare System, a low-cost missile system that can be carried by ground infantry for use against lightly armored vehicles or bunkers;

Is this the same Spike missile?

2 posted on 06/28/2003 7:13:44 AM PDT by csvset (White Devil for Sharpton)
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