Washington, D.C. - Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) announced today that $15.9 million in federal funding will be going to defense projects in and around 27th District of New York. Funding will be divided between the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute, NanoDynamics, DRS-Electronic Warfare Network Systems (EWNS), the Calspan-UB Research Center (CUBRC), Moog Inc., Luvata, and Surmet Ceramics Corporation. 

“This funding is great news for our burgeoning defense industry in Western New York,” said Congressman Higgins.  “The crucial contributions that these companies are making to both Western New York and to our Armed Forces are impressive.  They are playing a critical and relevant role in our nation’s defense and military preparedness.  I am proud to represent a district that serves as home to these institutions, employing thousands of Western New Yorkers, and making an impact all over the world.”

The Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute (HWI) is an independent, not-for-profit, biomedical research facility located in downtown at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. The facility will receive $2.9 million dollars for a research project aimed helping soldiers who suffer from traumatic brain injury (TBI).

NanoDynamics, located on Buffalo’s Outer Harbor, will receive $1.6 million for a fuel cell power source that will help small tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) fly for longer periods of time with greater fuel savings.  An electrically powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (“UAV”) has the advantage of being able to operate quietly at low altitude which has a number of tactical applications such as intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance.  They will also receive $1.4 million for the development of blast resistant nano-crystalline concrete. 

CUBRC, also based in Buffalo, will receive $1.6 million to complete the checkout and calibration of the LENS XX facility in preparation for its use to test new hypervelocity missile and re-entry systems currently under development by the US Defense Department.  With the completion of LENS XX, the United States will possess the only facility in the world capable of full-scale testing of hypersonic missiles and space systems at re-entry velocities from 10,000 mph to 25,000 mph.  Testing in this new facility will provide unique design and performance data a cost of less than 1 percent of an equivalent flight test program with significantly less risk.

Moog, located in East Aurora New York, is a worldwide designer and manufacturer of motion and fluid controls and control systems for applications in aerospace, defense, industrial and medical device markets. The company employs 8,364 people in Western New York. Moog will receive $2 million for the development of an advanced rotary actuator, a quiet, compact electro-mechanical device that would be an enabling technology for the U.S. Navy.  Moog will also receive $800,000 for its Electronic Motion Actuation Systems.

DRS-EWNS, a manufacturer and testing simulator producer, supplies high-technology services and equipment used by all the branches of the United States military, international military forces, industrial markets, major aerospace and defense prime contractors, and government intelligence agencies.  The company employs over 300 people in Cheektowaga. The company will receive $4 million for the modernization of the Unmanned Threat Emitters (UMTE) system.

Luvata is a leading company in metal fabrication, component manufacturing and related engineering and design services with locations throughout the world, including a location in Buffalo, New York. The company will receive $1.6 million for a project demonstrating the effectiveness of copper to eliminate the dangers posed by pathogens in military healthcare settings and other high-risk facilities and the effectiveness of reducing nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections.  

Surmet Ceremics Corporation, based in Buffalo, New York, will receive $4 million to create an integrated domestic manufacturing capability to produce ALON and Spinel Optical Ceramic components, essentially a super-strong transparent bulletproof material, in large quantity and size at an affordable price.