Saturday, August 17, 2019

Columbus Plant Gets $59 Million Helicopter Contract

Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith issued the following statement. 


U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), a member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced the award of a $59.1 million contract to procure Mississippi-produced Light Enforcement Helicopters (LEH) for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.



The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) contract is for the delivery of nine LEH aircraft, with an option for a tenth helicopter.  With the option, the total contract is valued at $65.7 million.  The LEH aircraft, used for border surveillance and law enforcement missions, will be manufactured at the Airbus plant in Columbus.



“Illegal activity on our borders is a continuous challenge, and these helicopters are valuable tools used by Customs and Border Protection to secure the border,” Hyde-Smith said.  “This contract will allow talented aircraft manufacturers in Mississippi to play a key role in recapitalizing the LEH fleet.”



At a Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee hearing in May, Hyde-Smith advocated the award of existing funding to procure new aircraft to strengthen the CBP helicopter fleet, which has been diminished by aging airframes and accidents.



The contract, which draws from FY2017 and FY2018 appropriations, will entail designing, building, installing, testing, and certifying the aircraft for CBP use.



The Department of Homeland Security approved a similar contract in July 2018, with $45.9 million allotted to procure seven LEH produced in Mississippi’s Golden Triangle Region.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

More government welfare for MS. Brag about winning a competitive bid in the private sector or just shut up about token government projects.

Anonymous said...

@ 10:58, it's actually not government welfare - welfare (with which you are probably well familiar) is a handout for doing nothing. In this case, a company with a manufacturing facility that employs workers in Mississippi, and that has a proven track record of building highly-capable helicopters was hired to build said helicopters for the government, for money. Do you have a problem with defense manufacturers, private industry, or just everyone for any reason? Perhaps you think the government should manufacture its own helicopters, or maybe you'd rather have folks sitting on their ass collecting a check for doing nothing, or workers in another state build these helicopters?

I bet if this RFP/Q came around and you owned a qualified manufacturing company you'd enter a bid, or perhaps you're still living in your parent's basement, there's no way to know that... Either way, please let those of us actually doing the work in this country do the work, while you sit back end enjoy the security and prosperity we provide.

What would make you happy, because it seems like that's what we're all here for...and please explain what a "token" government project is.

Anonymous said...

If I'mnot mistaken, this factory was originally built with defense funds for Israel. Basically the money was allocated for Israel but they were required to spend the funds we gave them in America. Israel wanted European helicopters so the manufacturers cut a sweatheart deal at the expense of the taxpayer. But we are their vassal so it is what it is

Anonymous said...

11:16, you are mistaken, and please take your anti-Semitic comments elsewhere.

Anonymous said...

We should not be building helicopters in MS to sell to CBP. We should buy them from the Russians, or maybe N. Korea, or even Iran.

Better yet, let's have an open border and then CBP won't even need helicopters.

Yea, that's the ticket.

//sarcasm mode off//

Jackwagon!

Anonymous said...

Foregoing a portion of taxes for a short time that otherwise would never be earned is not corporate welfare.

Anonymous said...

I guess you would be happier if Texas got the contract

Anonymous said...

1:09 Perhaps you should find a dictionary and look up what “Anti-Semitism” is and what it means. Also, you provided no proof that 11:16 is mistaken.

Anonymous said...

5:27, geez; do I have to everything around here?

Anonymous said...

I've got no problem with Israel. I wish I could visit with a full security detail.

But it is interesting that every Mississippi governor since 2003 visits the Holy Land during his administration on the taxpayer's dime to secure a bit of that foreign-aid back to Mississippi.

Not that there is anything wrong with that. I hope they are successful. The money has to be spent somewhere. Might as well be Mississippi.

https://www.jewishpress.com/news/us-news/mississippi-governor-phil-bryant-arrives-in-israel/2018/11/21/

Anonymous said...

11:16 here
Not antisemite but i admit I was mistaking EADS (now Airbus) with Stark Aerospace (Israeli Aero) which is all confusing.

Stuff About ZeroBear PolyBear said...

Need to arm those border patrol choppers with 50mm Gatling guns. Would make illegals coming across border much more interesting.

Anonymous said...

@6:21 PM - you don't need a security detail to visit Israel. I have been there nine times without any issues. It certainly is a lot safer than Jackson.

Anonymous said...

... this factory was originally built with defense funds for Israel. Basically the money was allocated for Israel but they were required to spend the funds we gave them in America. Israel wanted European helicopters so the manufacturers cut a sweatheart deal at the expense of the taxpayer.

Link? PUT UP.



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