Muratsuchi Calls for Feds to Fund California-Built Military Aircraft

Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, D-Torrance, joined aerospace officials today to call on Congress to include Southern California-built military aircraft in next year's budget, to save up to 20,000 jobs.

"A budget is a statement of our national priorities," said Muratsuchi, who is a member of Gov. Jerry Brown's Military Council. "We need to continue to emphasize to our elected representatives that national security is a top priority that jobs in the aerospace industry is a top priority in California."

The Boeing F/A-18 (Super Hornet) and EA-18G (Growler) programs, with support from Moog manufacturing, will end in 2016 without additional orders, according to Muratsuchi. The programs support 60,000 jobs nationwide and 20,000 in California, he said.

"The South Bay was built on the aerospace industry," Muratsuchi said. "I know from talking to folks from Manhattan Beach in Gardena down through Palos Verdes, which is my district, I always meet a current or former aerospace engineer or employee."

Boeing is the contractor for the Super Hornet and the Growler, and Moog manufactures the electro-mechanical system that controls the wings of the aircraft.

The Growler conducts electro-magnetic attack missions for the U.S. Navy. The Super Hornet is a twin-engine fighter that can carry air-to-air and air- to-surface weapons.

--City News Service