Senator Barbara A. Mikulski's (D-Md.) military
innovation tour made its fourth stop today at Northrop Grumman's
Oceanic and Naval Systems facility. Senator Mikulski announced that
she has succeeded in her fight to fully fund the Advanced SEAL Delivery
System (ASDS) at $147.5 million this year. This money will fund
continued research, development, testing and evaluation of the ASDS
technology and begin the purchase of a second ASDS vehicle.
ASDS is a state-of-the-art submarine designed to deliver Navy special
operations forces (SEALs) to essential areas safely and covertly
through dangerous waters. The project supports more than 200 jobs and
brings in $100 million annually to the area.
"Today, I've brought my military innovation tour to Annapolis to
highlight the work being done to keep America strong by developing
smarter tools for our Navy," said Senator Mikulski. "The work at
Northrop Grumman shows that together, we can do better. We are
developing the smart new weapons that keep our war fighters safe, while
creating hundreds of high-tech jobs in Anne Arundel County."
Senator Mikulski will visit several more military facilities on her
innovation tour of Maryland as she addresses the development of smarter
tools for our military, new jobs for the state and innovative
technology that will protect our troops.
As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the
Defense Subcommittee, Senator Mikulski has fought since 2000 to secure
more than $50 million in additional funding for ASDS.
"We face a global war against terrorism with predatory nations and
groups that want to do us harm. But they won't succeed. We are
developing the
smart new technologies and smart new weapons that are
going to keep America safe," said Senator Mikulski. "I will continue
to fight to make sure we are making the right investments to develop
the new ideas that will protect us."