Defense firms will benefit from further U.S. spending increases.(SOUTHERN CALIF.)

Kiplinger California Letter, The, March, 2008

Defense firms will benefit from further U.S. spending increases. Among projects being expanded: Unmanned aerial drones, robotics, defense communications and defenses against Internet attacks. But others face cuts: The F-22 fighter, V-22 Osprey, stealth bomber, Joint Strike Fighter plus submarine contracting and space weapons work.

Boeing won't succeed in quashing Northrop Grumman's contract for aerial refueling tankers. Appeals to Congress and the Pentagon will fall on deaf ears as Northrop, based in Century City, begins work with EADS, which builds Airbus planes and is Boeing's biggest rival.