WASHINGTON — House and Senate Armed Services panels have finished work on bills that would allow increased submarine production and boost the Pentagon’s authority to buy Sikorsky-made helicopters and F-35 fighter jets whose engines are made by Pratt & Whitney.
Sikorsky
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Senate rejects Murphy attempt to block Saudi arms sale
WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday rejected an effort by Sen. Chris Murphy to block a portion of a $110 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia. Murphy, however, says concern in the U.S. Senate is growing over the Saudi bombing campaign in Yemen.
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Pentagon wish list would be gift to CT defense industry
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has given Congress wish lists totaling more than $30 billion in additional weaponry and personnel that could substantially boost the number of F-35s and Sikorsky helicopters purchased this year. These requests are in addition to the $30 billion President Trump has sough in increased funding for the Pentagon this year.
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Murphy trying to block Saudi arms sale, but not the part benefiting Sikorsky
WASHINGTON — Sen. Chris Murphy has teamed up with Sen. Rand Paul to try to block part of a proposed $110 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia, but not the portion that would benefit Sikorsky.
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Navy moves step closer to contract with Sikorsky on King Stallion
WASHINGTON — The Navy on Tuesday moved a critical step toward awarding Sikorsky a contract on the first two huge King Stallion helicopters to be built in Connecticut. But the complete rollout of the program, which is expected to cost at least $25 billion, will be slow.
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Trump’s double down on defense would buy more Black Hawks, F-35s
WASHINGTON — On the same day President Trump rolled out his fiscal 2018 budget, which boosted defense spending, he also asked Congress for $30 billion in extra funding for the Pentagon, in part so it could immediately buy more F-35s and Sikorsky Black Hawks.
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Push is on for more F-35s, Sikorsky helicopters and work for EB
Defense hawks are hoping the Trump administration will agree to a supplemental defense bill, and an increase in defense spending in the next annual budget. President Donald Trump has vowed to rebuild the military — and “to load it up” with “beautiful new equipment.”
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CT lawmakers torn between funds for subs and waiver for Mattis
WASHINGTON – A stopgap measure to fund the federal government would allow work to continue on a new Connecticut-built ballistic missile submarine while also expediting the controversial nomination of retired Gen. James N. Mattis as the next secretary of defense, posing a tough choice for Connecticut’s lawmakers.
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Congress reduces numbers of F-35s, Black Hawks
WASHINGTON — Congressional negotiators sharply cut funding for Connecticut-made Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters and trimmed the number of F-35s the Pentagon would buy next year.
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Blumenthal: Lame duck need not be lame
WASHINGTON — Congress returns to work this week for a lame-duck session aimed at trying to set aside partisan differences long enough to keep the government from closing. Connecticut’s two Democratic senators also hope some of the state’s priorities will survive in the next six weeks.
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Larson makes big push for more F-35 fighter jets
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. John Larson is spearheading a push to substantially boost defense budget spending on additional F-35 fighter jets, but success is not assured.
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Navy praises CT-Sikorsky deal as it haggles over helicopter’s cost
WASHINGTON — The Navy lauded Connecticut’s effort to help Lockheed Martin cut the cost of the CH53K King Stallion, a new heavy-lift helicopter for the Marines, but the Navy and the company still are negotiating over the contract for the huge new helicopter.
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Clinton out-raises Trump in CT defense-industry campaign cash
WASHINGTON — Following a national trend, Connecticut’s defense workers and their bosses overwhelmingly gave to the campaign of Hillary Clinton while slighting that of Donald Trump. According to a Connecticut Mirror analysis, as of the end of August, the Clinton campaign raised more than $56,000 from individuals who work for the state’s defense industry, while the Trump campaign raised only $3,094.
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CT beat out S.C., Florida, others for billions in helicopter work
WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin was considering South Carolina, Florida and other states as places to build Sikorsky’s new CH-53K King Stallion helicopter – a Defense Department program expected to cost at least $25 billion – when the company and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy struck a deal to keep the work in Connecticut.
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CT defense industry hurt by Congress’ inaction on spending bill
WASHINGTON – Connecticut lawmakers are facing a major obstacle in their attempts to boost the number of helicopters, airplane engines and submarines made by the state’s defense contractors: greater than-ever congressional gridlock over the defense budget.
