Obama approved $500 million defence spending budget

US President Barack Obama had recently signed the defence spending bill worth more than $500 million to be used for military research and projects based in Kentucky.

The bill, as demanded by the Obama administration, includes $400 million budget for chemical weapons at Blue Grass Army Depot, situated close to Richmond. Moreover, the newly signed defence bill will allow the continued development of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter’s second engine, to be carried out by General Electric and Rolls Royce.

The Obama administration and Pentagon are opposing the research of F-35’s alternative engine, but the US Congress continues to financially support its development. Despite concerns over the engine, President Obama signed the $636.3 billion defence budget – the last of 2010 federal fiscal year’s spending bills.

Meanwhile, Senator Mitch McConnell had requested a $53 million defence funding from the US government. Among McConnell’s earmarks were $12 million for a five-inch Mk 45 Mod 4 naval gun, $3 million for an Mk38 Mod 2 minor calibre gun and $2 million for a 57mm Mk 110 naval gun – all developed by BAE Systems. The senator will also allot $12 million to support the development of Laser Phalanx, an anti-missile ship system.

In related news, the University of Louisville (UofL) is expecting to get $6 million for the research on improving techniques to identify biological weapons. The university will also receive $1.9 million for the effort on new approaches to prevent poor tissue blood flow, infection and organ damage due to abdominal injuries obtained from battle.

James Ramsey, President of UofL, said that the funds will help discover new ways to support the military and will make UofL a premier research university.