Posted: Wed, Jun 25, 2003, 11:38 AM ET (1538 GMT)
A top Air Force official said Tuesday that he was willing to enact sanctions against aerospace companies that violate procurement rules, a subtle reference to an ongoing investigation of Boeing and its EELV contract bid. Peter Teets, Air Force undersecretary for space, told reporters Tuesday that the military was willing to punish companies that engaged in industrial espionage by preventing them from bidding on space-related contracts. The comment was a reference to an Air Force investigation of claims that Boeing obtained proprietary Lockheed Martin documents and used those documents to prepare its bid for EELV launch contracts the Air Force awarded in 1998. Teets did say that he "hopes" the investigation clears Boeing of those allegations, Space News reported. Teets added that the Air Force will award a "small" contract later this month or next month for between one and four EELV launches, including one for a National Reconnaissance Office satellite the military wants in orbit by mid

Related Links:

•  Space News article (subscription required)
•  Reuters article