Defense bill fires $500 million Wichita area's way

http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/business/6862837.htm ^ | Sept. 26, 2003 | Alan Bjerga

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WASHINGTON - The 2004 defense appropriations bill that passed Congress on Thursday includes more than $500 million in Wichita-related projects.

Wichita-area programs include:

$280.6 million for the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System, also known as JPATS, for the Air Force. Raytheon makes the JPATS, which is used for pilot training.

$19.5 million for Navy JPATS.

$31 million for four new UC-35 Marine Corps aircraft, which are made at Cessna.

$8.5 million to buy additional aircraft from Cessna for modernization of the Civil Air Patrol.

$4.9 million for Aircrew Survival Radio Test Sets for the Air Force's survival radios. The sets, used to recover downed crew, are made at Aeroflex in Wichita.

$2.1 million for the Air National Guard to establish a central network operations support center at McConnell Air Force Base. The center allows the Air National Guard to protect data.

Also included are funds for Black Hawk helicopters, F/A-22 Raptor fighter planes and C-17 and C-40A cargo planes, components of which are made in Wichita.

And some of the $625 million given to the Airborne Laser program, part of the national missile defense plan, will go to Wichita, where Boeing Wichita is responsible for modification work on the 747 that is the laser's platform.

The $368 billion defense appropriations bill passed the Senate on Thursday after passing the House of Representatives on Wednesday. It now goes to President Bush for his signature.

Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said the funding "will help ensure workers will stay on the job, and we will be able to get our military the tools they need."

The controversial 767 tanker-lease program was not included in the bill. The program has not yet received final congressional approval and would not start production until 2006.