(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Trine University is one of the local recipients of new military funding approved by the U.S. Senate this week.
Lawmakers passed the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, a wide-ranging defense bill that includes $23 million in funding for projects in Fort Wayne. Of that total, $5 million will go to Trine University for its Artificial Intelligence for Maritime Maneuver program. The project partners with Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane to develop low-cost, autonomous vessels powered by artificial intelligence for the U.S. Navy, while also supporting students and engineers in Indiana. The remaining $18 million is earmarked for construction of a new F-16 Mission Training Facility at the 122nd Fighter Wing at the Fort Wayne Air National Guard Base. The new facility is expected to improve pilot training and strengthen long-term military readiness. Indiana Senators Jim Banks and Todd Young both voted in favor of the bill, saying it boosts national security while supporting Hoosier jobs, innovation, and military infrastructure. The defense authorization now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law.