Two key provisions that will benefit Ohio-based defense manufacturers were recently secured as part of the Senate version of the FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
In order to better protect aircraft within the 180th Fighter Wing based in Toledo, Ohio, the bill authorized a total of $15 million to support the construction of upgraded flight aircraft hangars. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), who serves as the committee’s ranking member, secured the funding at the urging of Portman in a public letter in June.
“Last month, I saw firsthand how our Airmen at the 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo are carrying out one of our nation’s most important homeland defense missions: protecting our skies through the Aerospace Control Alert,” Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) said. “Defending the homeland remains the number one national security mission for our military, so it is critical that the 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo has the best equipment available.”
The recently-passed bill also authorizes $1.8 billion in funding for the Abrams Tank and $695.5 million to modernize the Stryker vehicle, each of which have critical development work conducted by the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center based in Lima, Ohio.
The funding continues previous work authorized in the FY2017 NDAA, in which $652 million was secured for Abrams Tank modifications and $579 million for the development of the Stryker vehicle.
“By providing the funding to make important upgrades to Stryker vehicles and increase the rate of production of the Abrams tank, Congress will ensure our forward deployed soldiers have the vehicles they need to be effective and keep them safe,” Portman said.