Pentagon chooses Lockheed for largest-ever contract

WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon chose Lockheed Martin Corp. over Boeing Co. on Friday to build its high-tech, next-generation fighter jet, a contract that will be worth at least $200 billion, the largest in Defense Department history.

Air Force Secretary James G. Roche announced Lockheed was the winner of an $18.9 billion engineering and manufacturing development contract that eventually is expected to lead to the go-ahead to build 3,000 supersonic F-35 jets with radar-evading capabilities.

Roche wouldn't release details of why Lockheed was picked but said during the review process its proposal "emerged continuously as the clear winner." He applauded both companies' efforts and said they will be briefed in detail on the decision in coming weeks, he said.

The F-35 will replace the aging fighter jets of the Air Force, Navy and Marines, albeit with modifications to fit the needs of each branch. It also will be used by Britain's Royal Air Force and Navy, which want 150 of the planes. Britain has committed $2 billion toward development.

The first planes are to be delivered in 2008.

Lockheed and Boeing waged a long and costly advertising and lobbying campaign for the contract, which establishes Lockheed as the nation's sole fighter jet manufacturer.

Lockheed, based in Bethesda, Md., has said the contract would add up to 9,000 jobs at its Lockheed Martin Aeronautics division in Fort Worth, Texas, which currently employs 11,000. Employees there gathered to watch the announcement and burst into cheers when Lockheed was chosen.

"This is a great day for Fort Worth and America," said Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, adding that the plane will give U.S. enemies "new reason to pause."

Bond may push for law

Chicago-based Boeing had predicted it would add 3,000 new jobs for its Seattle facility and another 3,000 engineering jobs and 2,000 production jobs at its St. Louis plant.

Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., said the Pentagon was wrong to place the future of America's air defenses with just one company. Bond and fellow Missouri lawmakers have said they may push legislation that would require the military to split production between the companies to keep Boeing in the fighter business.

"It would be a national security disaster if we allowed that repository of unique engineering know-how to be scattered to the four winds," Bond said.

Analysts said Boeing may be in a better position to weather the contract loss. It is developing an unmanned combat aircraft that could be highly lucrative and, unlike Lockheed, it has a commercial airline business. It also has contracts with the Pentagon to continue building F-18s and F-22s until 2011.

The Defense Department gave Boeing and Lockheed $660 million each in 1996 for research and development of prototypes that could take off quickly, land vertically and on carrier decks, throw off radar and provide all the high-tech cockpit gadgetry demanded by modern warfare.

The plane is designed to replace the Air Force's F-16 and A-10, the Navy's F/A-18 and the Marine Corps' AV-8B Harrier.