10.29.01

Cantwell Praises Boeing Strength and Diversity as Defense Department Awards JSF Contract to Lockheed Martin

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) today issued the following statement after the Defense Department announced that it has awarded the initial engineering and manufacturing phase of its Joint Strike Fighter contract to Lockheed Martin. Gen. John P. Jumper, U.S. Air Force chief of staff, briefed Senator Cantwell about the decision in a telephone call this afternoon.

(Senator Cantwell's statement)

"Today's announcement is a disappointment for Boeing and Washington state, but it does no lasting harm to either the company or our state economy.

"Boeing is the United States' premier aviation contractor and a strongly diversified company, with outstanding design, engineering and production capabilities in its military, commercial and space divisions. Recent analyst predictions show strong growth in Boeing's defense business over the next several years, regardless of any work on the Joint Strike Fighter contract, and Boeing has several other military contracts under way that promise long-term benefits to the company and the nation.

"Boeing engineers, who are among the world's best and brightest, are already working on the next generation of weaponry, including sophisticated unmanned aircraft for combat, and the defense appropriations bill currently moving through Congress includes funding for several different Boeing military contracts.

"Boeing is likely to become the primary subcontractor to Lockheed Martin for work on the Joint Strike Fighter, so a significant amount of revenue from this program would translate into paychecks for Boeing workers over the next few years.

"Given Boeing's strong record of cost controls and quality design and production on its many defense contracts, I am confident the Pentagon will find ways to use Boeing's proven expertise to help keep this project on schedule and under budget.

"Finally, my congratulations to Lockheed Martin and its employees on their successful bid for the Joint Strike Fighter contract."