Five Lockheed Martin programs were mentioned in Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ roundup of major program moves (see above) for the Fiscal 2010 budget—the VH-71 Presidential helicopter, the F-22, F-35, Littoral Combat System, and Transformational Satellite (still in competition with Boeing)—and the news was not generally good. Asked to comment, the company said it’s “assessing the impact of [Gates’] decisions on all affected programs. As we move forward with the budget process, Lockheed Martin will continue to support our customers and work to deliver affordable solutions that meet their strategic and operational needs.”
The Air Force has spent more than two years studying cancer risks to Airmen who work with the service's intercontinental ballistic missiles. Now lawmakers in Congress are placing fresh scrutiny on the issue and have prepared legislation that would direct the service to clean silos and launch facilities.