The U.S. Senate today approved Wisconsin Sen. Herb Kohl's request to direct $27.8 million in federal funding toward national defense projects involving companies in southeastern Wisconsin.

The projects are included in the Senate version of the fiscal 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill. Kohl is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and had identified the Wisconsin projects as priorities for funding.

"These programs will give our military the updated technology they need to operate at home and abroad. This funding creates more energy efficient equipment that will save both the military and taxpayers money," Kohl said.

As part of the appropriations legislation, Kohl received approval for:

• $3 million for advanced corrosion protection for military vehicles and equipment at PPG Industries Inc. in Oak Creek. The research will apply state of the art, high performance, environmentally friendly, anti-corrosion technologies and specialty materials for use in military applications.


• $4 million for cogeneration for enhanced cooling and heating of advanced tactical vehicles at Modine Manufacturing Co. in Racine. The project will capitalize on prior technical breakthroughs for evaporator and condenser design to produce demonstrators that can be rapidly transitioned to active tactical vehicle programs. The program will use CO2 instead of more traditional Freon for air conditioning.


• $2.4 million for enhanced medical situational awareness at Shoreland Inc. in Milwaukee. The project will continue to develop a worldwide network accessible through a hand held device that will guide members of the military anywhere in the world to the nearest and best medical facility.


• $2.6 million for integrated alternative power systems at Eaton Corp. in Milwaukee. The project will design, develop and build the smart nodes for an electric distribution system that balances power sources for optimal security and power efficiency by enabling a reconfigurable power network, also known as a microgrid.


• $6 million for large format lithium ion battery at C+D Technologies in Milwaukee. The project will develop the large batteries the Army needs to meet the demands of its new vehicles.


• $2.4 million for microdrive for future HVAC systems at DRS Technologies in Milwaukee. The project will develop small, light, and cooler drive systems that can react smoothly to temperature variations on ships.


• $3.4 million for the fan coil assembly of the future at DRS Technologies in Milwaukee. The project will create the fan coil assemblies that will give the Navy 25 to 50 percent more cooling capacity, while also reducing weight by 25 to 50 percent and lowering noise.


• $4 million for fire and blast resistant materials for force protection at Triton Systems in a joint venture with Marquette University to develop a spray on coating that will provide improved blast resistance while also reducing smoke and toxic fumes in the event of fire.

The funding measure was passed by the Senate and now goes to a House-Senate conference committee.