[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 119 (Friday, July 21, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S10504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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               LARGE ANECHOIC CHAMBER, PATUXENT RIVER, MD

 Mr. REID. Mr. President, the committee has been particularly 
interested in the proposed large anechoic chamber at Patuxent River, 
MD, a project for which $30 million has been appropriated to date. The 
Committee has received a letter from the Chief of Naval Operations, 
Adm. Mike Boorda, strongly endorsing this project, which I will ask to 
have printed in the Record today. This is a major national level 
project and asset, of great value in the use of modeling and simulation 
to provide more timely and cost effective RDT&E of naval aircraft. The 
Committee expects the Department of the Navy to begin expending the 
money already appropriated in the next few months, and fully expects 
that future appropriations will fully fund the facility. I note that 
some $60 million was authorized for the project. While the committee 
has not added to the $30 million already appropriated, it is impressed 
with the importance of the project and encourages the Navy to provide a 
design for the chamber that will maximize its long-term utility and 
efficiency.
  I ask that the letter from Admiral Boorda be printed in the Record.
  The letter follows:

                                    Chief of Naval Operations,

                                                    July 19, 1995.
     Hon. Strom Thurmond,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Senate, 
         Washington, D.C.
       Dear Mr. Chairman, I am writing to inform you of our 
     commitment to proceed with the construction of the Large 
     Anechoic Chamber at Naval Air Warfare Center, Patuxent River, 
     Maryland. We thank you for your support of our aviation 
     programs and of this future national asset.
       The proposed Large Anechoic Chamber (MILCON project P-389) 
     is of special interest due to its unique capabilities and its 
     multi-year appropriations. The chamber is a key component for 
     the increased use of modeling and simulation to provide more 
     timely and cost effective RDT&E of naval aircraft. It will be 
     completely integrated with the existing Air Combat 
     Environment Test and Evaluation Facility. Congress authorized 
     $60.9 million in FY93 for this project. We are proceeding 
     with a plan to construct a complete and useable, shielded 
     Anechoic Chamber which meets the stated intent of Congress.
       The Navy's commitment to fund supporting materials for the 
     chamber (estimated $9 million of OM&N) results in an 
     alternative that will construct a complete and capable 
     facility within existing funds. This approach will result in 
     beginning the project this year and provide the core 
     capability along with the flexibility to later complete the 
     project as initially envisioned.
       An additional appropriations of about $20 million will be 
     necessary to construct the chamber as initially envisioned 
     and to maximize its long term utility and efficiency. Design 
     efforts will be scoped to the available funds; if additional 
     appropriations could be made in advance of the design 
     process, a savings in both design and construction would be 
     course, be realized.
       We are moving ahead with this project and look forward to 
     its contribution to future state of the art aircraft 
     development.
       Sincerely & Very Respectfully,


                                                  J.M. Boorda,

                                               Admiral, U.S. Navy.


             statement for the record from senator sarbanes

       I want to thank the distinguished Chairman and the ranking 
     member for their help in including language in the report to 
     accompany the Fiscal 1996 Military Construction 
     Appropriations Bill supporting the construction of a large 
     aneochic chamber at the Naval Air Warfare Center, Patuxent 
     River, Maryland.
       This project--the Nation's first Integrated Test Facility 
     for aircraft--is a top priority of the U.S. Navy. It will 
     allow the Navy to perform flight tests, simulations and 
     threat assessments in an integrated, secure environment, and 
     provide more timely and cost effective research, development, 
     testing and evaluation of naval aircraft.
       I ask that a copy of the letter from the Chief of Naval 
     Operations for the Navy, Admiral J.M. Boorda, highlighting 
     the importance of this future national asset, be included in 
     the Record, immediately following my statement.
       Congress authorized $60.9 million for this project in 
     Fiscal 1993, and the committee has provided $30 million over 
     the past three years (1993, 1994 and 1995) for the completion 
     of this facility at Patuxent River. The base already has a 
     small anechoic chamber and associated laboratories that would 
     cost approximately $300 million to replicate. The need to 
     complement these unique facilities with a large chamber was 
     recognized as early as 1988 by the Inspector General at the 
     Defense Department.
       I fully expect the Navy to submit a budget request to 
     complete this important project in Fiscal 1997 and I hope the 
     Committee will approve the necessary funding.
       Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
       

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