Three local companies were awarded major defense contracts.

$72 million is expected to be installed all together over the next several years.

JARI made the announcement Wednesday along with its contract recipients, but the looming fiscal cliff could be creating some concerns about the future. 

"We've done some homework in the past, and we've got solid back log to take us through almost all of 2013, so our position is solid," Greg Platt of Kongsberg Protech Systems said.

"We also have relationships in Washington-area. I speak to people at the Pentagon. I speak to people at Capitol Hill to get a better sense of what's going on behind the scenes," President and CEO of CTC Ed Sheehan said.

Call it taking precautions or just being practical, but major defense contractors in the Johnstown-area are keeping a close eye on Capitol Hill. 

"Hopefully, our politicians can come together and do the right thing and work it out and forge a solution that enables our nation to stay fiscally sound and viable for the future," Platt said.

Just days from the New Year, the fiscal cliff still looms and defense contracts are bracing for what could if an agreement is not reached.

"We've braced ourselves for what we think, right now, is gonna be the worst situation for our business; and then hopefully it will be better than that and we'll see some growth," Platt said.

Here at home, it's all business.

$72 million in contracts were awarded to Kongsberg, Enterprise Ventures Corporation and Concurrent Technologies Corporation.

"It's a testament to the fact that there is a great pool of defense companies here," Platt said.

"It speaks to the quality of our work force. It speaks to the quality of the work CTC has done and continues to do," Sheehan said.

The possibility of reducing expenditures isn't slowing down production here, but rather giving hope for an even playing field. 

"My sense is that the worst case fiscal cliff scenario will not occur. I think everybody wants to avoid that," Sheehan explained.

"But even if we end up in that situation, I think we'll find a way through," Platt said.

As far as job creation goes, CTC said hiring could be a possibility, but maintaing and sustaining those jobs is a definite.