Research and development funding for the big five defense contractors has fallen as overall Defense Department R&D has dropped, though small vendors have seen an increase in their share of the funding, according to a Center for Strategic and International Studies report released Monday. The share of R&D funds to the five contractors—Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and General Dynamics—has fallen from 57 percent of total R&D funding in 2009 to 33 percent in 2015, while funding for small vendors has risen from a 10 percent share in 2009 to 17 percent in 2015. While there has been a dip in total R&D funding recently, more funding is expected as the services invest in large contracts, such as the Air Force’s B-21 bomber. (Read the report)
Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich assumed command of U.S. European Command on July 1, taking over the key assignment as the U.S. and its allies contend with a resurgent Russia and a grinding war in Ukraine.
