Posted: Mon, Apr 5, 2004, 8:26 AM ET (1226 GMT)
The Air Force is expected to lift a launch vehicle contracting ban against Boeing within the next few weeks, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday. According to the Journal report, Air Force and Boeing officials are wrapping up an agreement to lift a ban issued last July that prevents the company from competing on military launch contracts. The final deal, which could be announced within the next few weeks, would require Boeing to reimburse the Air Force for its investigation costs — no more than "several" million dollars — and keep the military updated on the company's compliance with new ethics policies. The Air Force issued the ban as punishment for the misuse of proprietary Lockheed Martin documents during the initial EELV competition in the 1990s; the Air Force also reassigned to Lockheed Martin seven launches previously awarded to Boeing. The Air Force is expected to award the next batch of EELV launch contracts, known as "Buy 3", later this year.

Related Links:

•  Wall Street Journal article (subscription required)
•  Reuters article