Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton announced recently that she had secured authorization of $12 million for Northrop Grumman's Long Island facilities including $7 million for Northrop Grumman Melville's AN/SPQ-9B program and $5 million Northrop Grumman Bethpage's E2-C IRST. Northup Grumman's Bethpage facility also stands to benefit from a $20 million increase for the EA-6B ICAP III program. Senator Clinton also obtained authorization for $6.2 million for BAE Systems' development of the Hyperspectral Longwave Imager for the Tactical Environment at its Greenlawn facility.

The news came as the Senate Armed Services Committee, of which Senator Clinton is a member, approved the FY 2005 Department of Defense (DOD) Reauthorization bill late Thursday. With the DOD authorization bill' passage by the Senate Armed Services Committee, the bill will now be sent to the Senate floor.

"Long Island has played an historic role in developing the technology to equip our men and women in uniform and today we are looking at a new era in Long Island's place as a premier research and development center for defense technology. This funding is yet another commitment to Long Island's future as a center for defense and homeland security research," Clinton said.

"Right now, as our brave men and women in uniform are fighting for freedom, combating terrorism, and defending our shores, it is more important than ever that we give them the best equipment and the most advanced tools possible. New York's companies, skilled workers, educational institutions and military bases have a lot to offer this effort, with skills uniquely suited to help our troops around the world. I am pleased that while these funds represent a significant commitment to our armed forces, they also represent a significant investment in New York's economic future," Clinton said.

Clinton also announced that an amendment she co-sponsored with Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island was included in the bill that will be sent to the Senate floor. The Reed-Clinton Amendment requires the Department of Defense to provide a report on contractor performance of security, intelligence, and law enforcement and criminal justice functions in Iraq to the Senate and House Armed Services Committee within 60 days.

The AN/SPQ-9B radar is designed to provide early and reliable detection of sea skimmer missiles so that a ship's defense assets can effectively counter them. The detection performance requirements fully address not only the missiles currently proliferated but also those of significantly lower radar cross-section which are projected to be real threats in the reasonable future. These increased capabilities are provided while not only retaining, but also significantly enhancing the radar's performance in fulfilling its original mission in support of gunfire control against surface targets and as an aid to navigation. Thus, the AN/SPQ-9B effectively provides two performance detection capabilities, addressing two quite diverse missions, all within a single and highly cost-effective radar.

The Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system for the E-2C is designed to extend the performance of the ballistic missile defense kill chain through sensor fused target detection, tracking, identification, and engagement system cueing within an integrated system of systems C2BMC architecture. The IRST also supports an extension of the E-2C's integrated air picture by providing a fusion method to identify and precisely determine the ballistic missile launch site in support of time sensitive attack of the launcher. When fully implemented, the system will provide earlier and more accurate detection of ballistic missile threats and improve the shoot down capability of the Aegis system.

The Hyperspectral Longwave Imager for the Tactical Environment (HyLITE) is the first tactical application of longwave infrared (LWIR) hyperspectral technology, providing a 24-hour capability to readily identify camouflaged or decoy targets, chemical agents or buried improvised explosive devices. The system consists of LWIR hyperspectral and midwave infrared (MWIR) high-resolution sensors. The LWIR hyperspectral sensor uses spectral discrimination techniques to find and classify targets, while the MWIR sensor provides high-resolution imagery of the identified targets. Designed as a medium altitude system, HyLITE is capable of operating in over-flight or standoff modes, and is applicable to both Special Ops and conventional missions.