All Politics Like Defense Spending is Local

The Connecticut Post worries that the economic crisis and Obama administration may cut back on defense spending negatively affecting Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. The helicopter maker is now one of Connecticut’s major manufacturing industries and has seen robust production over the last several years. The U.S. Army has begun purchasing UH-60M Black Hawk aircraft as well as a new Marine helicopter, the CH-53K. The article is concerned that a new U.S. Air Force program, the CSAR-X, may not get off the ground. This contract was originally given to Boeing to procure CH-47 aircraft but after a successful protest by Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin the contract was rebid. Currently the Air Force is reviewing new proposals. Sikorsky is hoping a version of the S-92, a bigger Black Hawk, will win this time. The CSAR-X while a necessary replacement for aging HH-60 aircraft is not as high a priority as the JSF or KC-X and funding may be sacrificed to continue support of those programs. Of course the Post is not worried about the loss of capability to the U.S. military but about jobs and money flowing to Connecticut. Many Congressmen and Senators, like John Murtha, have made the defense budget a way to keep their states and districts alive economically.