By Sen. Carl Levin
My top responsibility as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee is guiding the committee’s consideration of the annual defense authorization act, a bill that sets policies and establishes programs for our military. We recently completed the committee’s consideration of this year’s bill. Once again, we worked on a bipartisan basis to provide for our troops and their families and for our national security, and once again, the bill highlights Michigan’s strong and longstanding contributions to our defense.
Perhaps most significant this year is the committee’s rejection of an Air Force plan to retire the A-10 attack aircraft. A-10s – including the 107th Fighter Squadron at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County – provide close air support for ground troops, and they’ve been used heavily in Iraq and Afghanistan, often helping troops under heavy fire. I believe that retiring the A-10 would leave an unacceptable gap in this important capability. I’m glad the committee preserved the A-10 for at least the next year, and that we paid for our plan with responsible savings from elsewhere in the budget.
Another major Michigan contribution is the important role our state’s automotive excellence plays in providing the safest, most capable ground vehicles for our troops. The central hub for much of that activity is the Army Tank and Automotive Research, Developing and Engineering Center (TARDEC) in Warren.
TARDEC is the Pentagon’s leading laboratory for research and development of advanced military ground vehicle technologies, including efforts to develop protection against rocket propelled grenades, improvised explosive devices and explosively formed projectiles; advanced materials for vehicle armor; more efficient engines; fuel cell and hybrid electric vehicles; unmanned ground vehicles; and technology partnerships with the automotive industry. The $182.9 billion in TARDEC funding included in our bill ensures that this important work will continue.
The bill also includes funding for the programs of the Army’s TACOM Life Cycle Management Command in Warren. This is the Army’s lead organization for the development, acquisition, and support of ground vehicle combat, automotive and armaments technologies and systems. It manages programs including the Abrams main battle tank, Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Stryker Armored Vehicle, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle and more.
There are a host of other Michigan-related projects and programs in the bill, including:
• $35.1 million for replacement of the fuel distribution facilities at Selfridge. Without this project, the base would be hampered by delays in refueling wide-bodied aircraft.
• $6 million to support establishment of an MQ-9 Reaper Remote Split Operations unit at Battle Creek Air National Guard Base. Battle Creek has been selected as a site for remote operation of this unmanned aerial vehicle, which is playing
an increasingly important role in national security, and this funding will help create the necessary facilities.
• $1.4 billion for Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) construction. Marinette Marine, just across the Michigan border in Wisconsin, is one of two shipyards building LCS, employs several hundred Michigan residents and relies on many Michigan suppliers.
• $385.1 million for the Army’s Stryker armored vehicle. General Dynamics Land Systems of Sterling Heights is the prime contractor for the Stryker armored vehicle and many Michigan companies serve as suppliers.
• $276.3 million for the Tomahawk cruise missile. Williams International in Walled Lake manufactures the engines for these missiles.
• $261 million for the Abrams Main Battle Tank program. General Dynamics Land Systems of Sterling Heights is the prime contractor for the Abrams program and more than 200 Michigan companies serve as suppliers.
• $144.4 million for Bradley Fighting Vehicle modifications, and $126.4 million for the Army’s Improved Recovery Vehicle, which the Army uses to rescue and recover other armored vehicles on the battlefield. L-3 of Muskegon is a major contractor for both programs.
• $28.4 million for the Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles. Detroit Diesel manufactures and supplies the engine for this program.
• $7.6 million for the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV). Meritor of Troy, AAR Mobility of Cadillac and a number of other Michigan companies are involved in FMTV production.
• $4.5 million for the Lightweight 155mm Howitzer. Howmet Castings of Whitehall is a major contractor for this program.
• $49.2 million for a next generation infantry fighting vehicle. General Dynamics Land Systems and BAE, both of Sterling Heights, are contractors who have been involved in this technology development program.
• $25 million for the DoD STARBASE program. STARBASE, which got its start in Michigan, is a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education program run by the Department of Defense for elementary school students.
STARBASE operates 76 locations in 40 states. Michigan has three DoD STARBASE programs located at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township, where the program originated in 1991; Kellogg Air National Guard Base in Battle Creek; and Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena.
Carl Levin is the senior U.S. senator from Michigan and the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
