The House of Representatives has passed a $368 billion Fiscal Year 2004 Defense Appropriations bill that contains an additional $4 million to further support a critical aircraft carrier technology project being developed at Navy Lakehurst, Congressman Chris Smith, R-Hamilton, announced today.

    The money will help advance the research and development phase of the Aviation-Shipboard Information Technology Initiative (AS/ITI) project.  The $4 million follows $3.75 million already invested by the government into this project, which will redevelop and enhance systems used to launch aircraft from carriers.

    The money for AS/ITI is in addition to nearly $23 million for two construction projects that was included in the Fiscal Year 2004 Military Construction Appropriations bill, which passed the House late last month.

    “The $4 million for AS/ITI, coupled with $20.6 million for the EMALS project and $2.25 million for an Army recruiting station make this a banner year for Navy Lakehurst, which stands to receive close to $27 million this year alone,” Smith said. “With another base closing round on the horizon, this money will help us keep Navy Lakehurst strong so it can continue to serve the Navy and local community.”

    “The AS/ITI technology will enhance our aircraft carriers, enabling them to launch and recover aircraft safer, faster, and more effectively.  This will boost sortie rates and firepower without adding more aircraft.  It will also save about $2 million a year per carrier, and about $25 million a year Navy-wide,” Smith said.

    “I look forward to continuing to do everything I can to keep Lakehurst – Ocean County’s single largest employer and a vital component of the regional and state economy –in excellent shape to fend off any possible base closings,” Smith said.

    EMALS (Electromagnetic Aircraft Launching System) is a $373 million Navy program to replace the current generation of steam-based catapults on aircraft carriers, and install new systems to launch aircraft using electromagnetic energy.  The CVN-21 next-generation aircraft carrier, which will begin construction in 2007, will be the first carrier to field the EMALS system.  This $20.6 million construction project will set up a land-based test site to prove the merits of this emerging technology.

    The new recruiting facility will be the home of the Army’s Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Battalion, which is headquartered at Lakehurst.  The battalion is comprised of more than 260 staffers who recruit soldiers from throughout a five-state region that includes New Jersey.