Research compiled as part of our ongoing monitoring of military contracts awarded to local companies shows that six companies were awarded a combined total of $3,556,910 in military contracts this month. The contracts were for a variety of components essential to the “war on terror” including various flight instruments, components used in missile guidance systems, and electrical components used in armored vehicles. The contracts were awarded to the following companies:

• L-3 Communications, an aerospace corporation, received a total of $1,738,278 in contracts for the Navy and the US Army Aviation & Missile Command including two contracts for components used in aircraft missile systems.
• Eaton Aerospace, an aerospace corporation, received a total of $794,068 in contracts in for the Navy and Air Force. All three contracts were for components used in military aircraft.
• Smiths Aerospace, another aerospace corporation, received a $517,009 contract for navigational instruments.
• Evans Tempcon received a $225,410 contract for a motor vehicle cooling system.
• Borisch Manufacturing, a company that has a long history of enthusiastically making components for military vehicles and artillery, received a $185,215 contract for electrical control equipment through Tactical Command in Rock Island.
• RSL Electronics received a $96,930 for radio and television broadcasting equipment through Tactical Command in Rock Island.

While our research tracking military contracts awarded since the start of the “war on terror” has indicated that local companies have made millions of dollars since the start of the war, this amount is miniscule compared to the millions of dollars that corporations such as Halliburton, L3 Titan, Blackwater (founded by West Michigan native Erik Prince), CACI, General Dynamics, Raytheon, and others have made from the “war on terror.” These national corporations are the focus of a new film, Iraq for Sale, that will be playing this month in Grand Rapids on October 8 and October 9 at the Wealthy Street Theatre. As a means of increasing awareness and making the link between national war profiteers and Grand Rapids, Media Mouse will be distributing a packet outlining some of the major local companies doing work for the military.