Included as part of President Bush’s fiscal year 2009 budget request to Congress released yesterday is $15.4 million for the development of an Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) test facility at Navy Lakehurst.

“This critical funding included in the budget proposal demonstrates the commitment of the President working with the Department of Defense to ensure that Lakehurst continues to play a lead role in Naval aviation,” said Smith who led the successful effort to reverse the Pentagon’s decision to close Lakehurst during the 1995 Base Realignment and Closing (BRAC) commission. Since Smith led the fight to save Lakehurst in 1995 he has helped bring more than $120 million to Navy Lakehurst to grow the base and enhance its missions and critical role for Naval aviation.

The funding in the President’s budget will go toward a land based integrated AAG test facility to support the full scale development of the new aircraft recovery system which will replace the present arresting gear used to stop aircraft on aircraft carrier decks. The AAG will be back fitted onto existing CVN 68 (Nimitz) class aircraft carriers and forward fitted onto CVN 21 class carriers as they are built. Amongst its many advantages, Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) will increase efficiency and safety aboard the ship, significantly reduce the manpower necessary for recovery operations, and provide reliable, updated system for controlled deceleration of landing aircraft.

“AAG will provide new operational capabilities, including the ability to safely and efficiently recover all existing and projected carrier based aircraft, including lightweight unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) that will enter the Fleet in the coming years. This funding will keep Lakehurst at the center of launch and recovery for the next generation of aircraft carriers.

“Rest assured, this project is a top priority of mine as Congress moves forward with the budget process,” said Smith who also recently attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for a land-based Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch Systems (EMALS) test site at Lakehurst. Smith successfully steered $20.6 million in federal funding for the EMALS project.

Full design and Environmental Assessment for the new testing facility will start in February 2008.

Lakehurst is merging with Ft. Dix and McGuire AFB to form Join Base New Jersey to create the nation’s only tri-service joint base. This innovative idea that will help assure continued growth for all three installations and the surrounding communities. In total, Joint Base New Jersey will receive $145 million in the fiscal year 2009 budget.