Published: Saturday, October 8, 2005
Defense work may go to four area firms
Microvision, Intermec, CombiMatrix and Crane Aerospace could split a
total of $27 million.
By Eric Fetters
Herald Writer
Four local companies are in line to receive a combined $27 million
from this year's defense spending bill, which passed the U.S. Senate
in a unanimous vote on Friday.
Assuming that all the proposed military projects stay in the bill as
it makes its way to the White House, Microvision Inc. of Bothell
will benefit more than any other company in the state. The company
could receive $11.2 million to provide Stryker Brigade combat teams
with Nomad-augmented vision helmets.
At least 100 of the helmets, which display digital battlefield
information in front of a vehicle commander's eyes, already have
been used by Styker teams in Iraq. The spending bill calls for
buying nearly 1,600 more of the helmets.
Intermec Technologies of Everett would receive $10 million as part
of its ongoing work to help the military accurately track equipment
and parts.
CombiMatrix Corp. of Mukilteo would receive $4 million to further
develop a cost-effective device that can reliably detect biological
and chemical warfare agents.
The bill includes $2.5 million for Lynnwood's Crane Aerospace, which
is developing a weights and balance system to improve the safety and
speed of the military's C-130 cargo planes.
All four local companies named in the bill previously have done work
with the military.
The bill also includes millions of dollars to improve security at
Navy bases in the region, including Naval Station Everett.
Sen. Patty Murray's office reported that the bill includes more than
$113 million in military contracts for Washington state companies.
Overall, the Senate defense bill provides $445 billion for the 2006
budget year, which began Oct. 1.
The House of Representatives already has passed its own version of
the bill, and negotiators from both branches of Congress will work
out their differences in the coming weeks.
Reporter Eric Fetters: 425-339-3453 or
fetters@heraldnet.com