Lockheed leads in defence research stakes

LOCKHEED HAS AGAIN topped the Pentagon's ranking of its largest research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) contractors in 1994.

The corporation pushed up its total of awards to above $2.6 billion, closely followed by merger partner Martin Marietta, in second place, with $1.8 billion.

Together, the two netted twice as much from RDT&E contracts than their nearest rival, McDonnell Douglas (MDC) at $1.7 billion. Earlier figures from the Department of Defense show MDC still ahead on 1994 prime contract awards, but Lockheed Martin is also on course to steal that lead.

Total RDT&E spending at $21.8 billion was marginally higher than in the previous year. Missile and space systems again accounted for around $5.7 billion of the outlay, but a strong growth from the aircraft sector pushed it into first place with $5.8 billion.

The number of non-US contractors among the top 500 grew from 13 to 19, headed by CAE of Canada ($215 million), GEC of the UK ($91 million) and Israel Aircraft Industries ($87 million).

Source: Flight International