Boeing officials say the company has reached an agreement with the Justice Department for misconduct related to the Air Force’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program and the Darleen Druyun affair. In a statement, Doug Bain, Boeing senior vice president for law, says the company “will accept responsibility for the conduct of its employees and make additional commitments regarding ongoing compliance.” Boeing and Lockheed Martin—the injured party in the EELV deal—already have made up. The two companies have been pursuing joint arrangements for Air Force launch services and the new Small Diameter Bomb.
The Air Force plans to add external weapons pylons on the B-1B bomber, both to increase the number of aircraft that can test hypersonic missiles and expand the Lancer’s loadout as USAF transitions to the B-21 bomber.