Senator - Boeing soon to land $8-billion F-18 contract

ST. LOUIS -- An $8 billion contract the Navy soon expects to sign would call for Boeing Co.'s St. Louis-based defense division to supply 212 additional military aircraft over the next five years, U.S. Sen. Kit Bond said Tuesday.

The Navy officially has informed Congress of its intent to sign the contract, expectedly within 30 days, the Missouri Republican said during a St. Louis holiday visit.

The deal, the second phase of a multiyear deal, would call for production and delivery of the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet attack plane and the new E-18G, the details of which were not immediately available.

"Pound for pound, dollar for dollar the Super Hornet is the best tactical aircraft the Navy operates," Bond said in a statement. "This anticipated contract will keep the lines running and keep St. Louis working."

St. Louis is home to Boeing's Integrated Defense Systems unit.