The Department of Defense has signed agreements worth $135M combined with five vendors under Defense Production Act Title 3 to help sustain critical workforce capabilities and broaden domestic production capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
DoD said Thursday those contracts were signed with Bethel Industries, General Electric’s (NYSE: GE) aviation subsidiary, Spirit AeroSystems, Steel America and Allied Systems.
Bethel Industries secured a $15M agreement from the Pentagon and will use it to install a laser-cutting system to boost the production of body armor for warfighters and retain workforce capabilities in Jersey City, N.J.
GE Aviation will expand production of combat engines and other components using advanced manufacturing processes and retain more than 100 design and mechanical engineers under a $20M contract with DoD.
Wichita, Kan.-based Spirit AeroSystems will expand metallic machining, composite fabrication and advanced tooling capacities for aircraft materials and retain employees under an $80M agreement with the department.
Steel America will use a $19.5M investment from DoD to retain staff and expand shaft repair and production capacity in support of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Allied Systems will sustain production and continue to provide services for cranes and davits in support of the Navy and Coast Guard under a $500K agreement with the Pentagon.
