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A Vermont company has been awarded government contracts worth $3.7 million to develop a stress detection system for the U.S. Navy's aircraft, authorities said.

Microstrain Inc., of Williston, which makes gauges to measure stress loads on everything from artificial knee joints to highway bridges, is developing a specialized wireless sensing node to monitor aiframe fatigue on Navy aircraft.

"This ground breaking technology will generate significant growth within our firm, creating new jobs for engineers, computer scientists, and electrical technicians," said Steve Arms, the company's president. "We expect to double in size from our current level of 30 persons to over 60 within the next two years."

U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, who got a live demonstration of the sensor technology Thursday, announced the award of the contracts, which he helped obtain as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and its defense subcommittee.

"The hardworking, highly trained employees of Microstrain are another example of how high-tech firms are diversifying and expanding Vermont's economic landscape," said Leahy, D-Vt. "This innovative system will help the Navy keep more aircraft in the air more efficiently, improving safety factors for our fliers."