On Sikorsky’s 97th Birthday, Blumenthal Advocates for Increased Funding to Support CT Defense Industrial Base & Workforce

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today questioned Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Michael M. Gilday, Commandant of the Marine Corps General David H. Berger, and Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas B. Modly on the Navy’s Fiscal Year 2021 defense budget request to advocate for increased funding to support the production of nine CH-53K King Stallion helicopters and two Virginia Class submarines.

“Today, marks the birthday of Connecticut’s Sikorsky Engineering. It has provided 97 years of capability for our nation’s defense, including the CH-53K helicopters, which is a marvel of engineering. I want to suggest that the cost of each aircraft would come down if the pace of production is increased from seven to nine,” stated Blumenthal during the hearing.

Blumenthal has expressed concern over proposed funding reductions for the Virginia Class submarine program, which could negatively impact both the United States’ undersea superiority and the submarine industrial base. Questioning Admiral Gilday, who recently visited Electric Boat, on the lack of the second submarine, Blumenthal cautioned the negative impact of only funding one submarine in the FY 2021 budget on Connecticut’s defense industrial base.

“As you know there has been a furlough of about 300 workers in the last few months, but that is minuscule compared to the thousands that we will see going down and then coming back in terms of the demands on this workforce. The lack of that second submarine in 2021 is really going to be impactful. It is the crown jewel. I think we are really playing with fire if we fail to make sure that workforce is sustained,” said Blumenthal.  

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