NH Defense Funds Working Their Way Toward Approval
WASHINGTON – Congress has earmarked $26 million in defense funds to go to BAE Systems, a Nashua software and defense contracting company, for defense projects, Rep. John Sununu (R-NH) announced last week.
The money for BAE is part of $121 million allocated for New Hampshire in the 2002 defense authorization bill and the military construction appropriations bill. Both bills were moving toward final passage before the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.
Specifically, the $26 million would be plugged into two types of defense mechanisms at BAE, a company that has manufactured mostly defense products for 50 years. First, $17 million has been designated, is for improving the electronic warfare counter measures on the Air Force’s newest front-line fighter jet, the F-22 Raptor, as well as on the joint strike fighter jet and other military air, ground and sea craft. The remaining $9 million is designated for improving a missile warning system that defends military helicopters from advanced infrared guided missiles.
BAE communications vice president Randy Morger said these counter measures protect military personnel on board the crafts by spoofing or fooling enemy missiles and thereby deflecting their strikes.
Morger said BAE could not discuss whether any specific anti-terrorism measures are being worked on because of the terrorist attacks, but he said these programs were in place before Sept. 11.
He said BAE appreciates the efforts of New Hampshire’s “very strongly defense-based” representatives to back the state’s defense systems and contractors. “We’re very thankful and grateful for the support of particularly our congressional delegation here in New Hampshire that has been very proactive in looking for those systems,” he said.
It is too early to tell if the $26 million in funds would lead BAE to hire more employees at or if it would cause any major changes in the company, Morger said.
The House and the Senate have each passed versions of the defense authorization bill and the military construction appropriations bill, and the measures must be approved by a joint conference committee and signed by President Bush before the can become law.
Sen. Bob Smith (R-NH) announced last week that $55 million of the state’s total allocation of $121 million is designated for projects at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and for the New Hampshire National Guard. The $55 million is part of the military construction appropriations bill.
