Skip to content

Schumer, Clinton: Congressional Panel Backs $19.1 Million For Defense Projects To Benefit Western New York

Schumer, Clinton: Defense Projects are Vitally Important for the New York State Economy and National Security


Washington, DC U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton today announced that the Joint House and Senate Conference Committee approved $19.1 million in the FY06 Defense Appropriations bill for projects to benefit Western New York. The House has approved the bill. The Senate is expected to work on the Defense Appropriations bill this week. If the bill is passed, it will be sent to the President for his signature.

Projects to be funded under the bill include, $8 million for Unmanned Threat Emitter (UMTE) Modernization by DRS Electronic Warfare and Network Systems and $2.1 million for the Multispectral Threat Emitter by DRS; $2.5 million for the CalspanUniversity of Buffalo Research Centers LENS X Hypervelocity Ground Testing program; $2 million for Carwell Products Army and Marine Corps Corrosion Prevention program; $2 million for Buffalos NanoDynamics Inc. for their Portable SOFC/JP8 Demonstrators; $1 million to General Dynamics and CUBRC for research on Acute Care of Blast Effects & Head Injuries; and $1.5 million for Buffalo BioBlowers air sterilization project.

This is great news for Western New York," said Schumer. "Additional funds will not only boost the area economy, but also put the Western New York and New York State at the forefront of defense technology. As the men and women of our military bravely serve our country all over the world, the funding for these Western New York defense projects will vastly improve national security technology and will give our armed forces an even greater edge."

"Western New York has already proven to the world its leadership in cuttingedge defense research and technology," Senator Clinton said. "This new funding will help protect our troops, both at home and abroad, and is an important investment in our local companies and the communities they support."

$8 million in federal funds will go to DRS Electronic Warfare and Network Systems for the UMTE Modernization project. Money for the UMTE program will be used to upgrade four existing systems located at one of the key ranges at the Nellis Test and Training Range in Nevada. The continuing proliferation of surface to air missiles and other antiaircraft presents a significant threat to our military forces. This upgrade of the UMTE systems takes advantage of mature and electronic warfare threat simulation technology and will result in more realistic training, and increased aircrew survivability, while providing substantial savings. DRS received $2.5 million of federal funding for UMTE modernization in FY 05.

$2.1 million in federal funds will go to DRSElectronic Warfare and Network Systems (DRSEWNS) Multispectral Threat Emitter Systems. The mobile MTESs will support a number of East Coast electronic warfare training ranges for stand alone and joint force exercises. The multispectral aspects of MTES have the ability to stimulate multiple aircraft sensors with one EW threat simulator on the ground. A MTES yields a higher return on investment for the Government and it meets joint force guidelines for training characteristics.

$2.5 million in federal funds will go to the CalspanUniversity of Buffalo Research Center for the Lens X Hypervelocity Ground Testing facility. CUBRC has designed and tested a prototype of a revolutionary ground test facility capable of performing ground testing of fullscale missile and space systems at Mach numbers from 10 to 22. These funds will fully complete, instrument and test this facility prior to the demonstration of its performance in investigating the communication, guidance and aeroheating problems associated with advanced missile and space systems to mitigate the risks and costs associated with the new hypervelocity missile systems in initial development by the DOD. CUBRC is a strategic partnership whose mission is to bring together scientists and engineers from academia and industry to provide the synergism to expand the research capabilities of all and provide significant growth opportunities in Western New York. CUBRC received $2.5 million of federal funding in FY 05.

$1 million in federal funds will go to General Dynamics and CUBRC for Acute Care of Blast Effects & Head Injuries. There is an urgent immediate requirement for research and data collection to address the acute care of blast effects & head injuries. As a result of the specific warfighting environment experience in Operation Iraqi Freedom and in Operation Enduring Freedom, there have been over 600 neurosurgical combat and combat related injuries. Of over 400 blast cases screened for concussion between March 2004 and today, over 50% exhibit persistent symptoms. A specific focused effort is required to address the immediate combat care, especially Level 1 through Level 3, of these combat trauma patients. Over the long term, an Institute for Military Neurotrauma Research dedicated to improving prevention and treatment efforts of neurotrauma in our soldiers is needed.

$2 million in federal funds will go to NanoDynamics, Inc. for the development of portable SOFC/JP8 Demonstrators. The Army has identified a critical need for ultralightweight man portable power, chargers, and power management for dismounted soldiers. This project will demonstrate the validity of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) power generation technology that utilizes JP8 and other commonly available military fuels. The Portable SOFC/JP8 demonstrator will develop 200 to 300 Watts in a low weight and volume, safe, reliable and costeffective power source that will increase the Future Force Warrior's tactical sustainability and survivability.

$2 million in federal funds will go to Carwell Products for their Army Corrosion Prevention and Control program and Marine Corps Corrosion Prevention and Control program. The $1 million for Carwells Army Corrosion Prevention and Control program will expand the Armys highly successful Corrosion Prevention and Control Program and establish Corrosion Control Centers and mobile Corrosion Service Teams at Army highdensity vehicle locations. This effort will be expanded to include Army Prepositioned Stocks as well. The $1 million for the Marine Corps Corrosion Prevention and Control program will establish and operate Corrosion Service Centers (CSC) at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Camp Pendleton, California; Camp Kinser, Japan; Camp Smith, Hawaii; and ship facilities at Blount Island, FL and Albany, GA. These Corrosion Prevention and Control programs focus on extending the useful life of Army and Marine Corps equipment by reducing maintenance requirements and associated costs due to corrosion damage.

$1.5 million in federal funds will go to Buffalo BioBlower. The Bio Blower destroys airborne biological agents by sterilizing the air. It is specifically applicable for any situation where a continuous supply of clean air is essential. The device can potentially eradicate a wide range of biological pathogens, such as anthrax, smallpox, SARS, influenza, tuberculosis and other toxic airborne species. The device is also applicable to battlefield operations, such as tents, command headquarters and enclosed armored vehicles. The Bio Blower is a modified Roots blower pump capable of extremely high gasflow ratesup to hundreds of cubic feet per minute. This recompressive process uniformly increases the temperature of the entire volume of gas, almost instantaneously. Funding is required to design, test and build prototypes for testing in a real environment to optimize performance and finalize mission requirements.