Posted: Wed, Feb 9, 2005, 8:37 AM ET (1337 GMT)
The Air Force will issue a new batch of Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) launch contracts before the end of this fiscal year, the Wall Street Journal reported late Tuesday. According to the report, the Air Force intends "to run a competition" before the current fiscal year ends on September 30 for a batch of up to 20 launches, valued at about $200 million each. This "Buy 3" contract phase had been expected for some time, but had been delayed because Boeing has been suspended from bidding on launch contracts since mid-2003. The report is the strongest indication yet that the Air Force appears willing to lift that ban in the near future. Boeing CEO Harry Stonecipher said yesterday that the upcoming sentencing of former company CFO Michael Sears will be a "watershed moment" that may clear the way for a resolution to current investigations and a lifting of the ban.

Related Links:

•  Wall Street Journal article (subscription required)
•  Washington Post article
•  Los Angeles Times article