Six Madison area companies will share $16 million in federal funds for defense projects. The money is in an appropriations bill that's received approval of Congress and awaits President Bush's signature.

U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, had identified the projects as priorities for funding.

The allocations are:

$2.4 million for Spectrum Brands, Madison, to develop a battery pack for the military and homeland security.

$2.4 million for Orbital Technologies Corp., Madison, to develop and test a reusable engine that could be used in rocket-powered planes and low-cost launch vehicles.

$2.4 million for ConjuGon, Madison, for work on a new technology to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria to treat soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, in the battlefield.

$2.4 million for Platypus Technologies, Fitchburg, to develop liquid crystal sensors to monitor the environment for toxic agents.

$1.6 million for BioSentinel, Madison, to develop a small sensor to rapidly detect and measure botulinim toxin, and to work on a drug to counter botulinim neurotoxin.

$4.8 million for Fairbanks Morse Engine, Beloit, to improve the fuel efficiency and reduce maintenance of the main propulsion engines used in naval ships.