Govt. wants Lockheed, Boeing to cooperate

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. Defense Department wants Lockheed Martin Corp. and Boeing Co. to work together so it can save money on government contracts.

The Wall Street Journal says both companies want to become the sole provider for the government's launch program.

Air Force Secretary James Roche said in a recent speech he'd like to create some kind of team operation that would force the two companies to work together.

Roche told the Journal such a cooperative arrangement would reduce overhead, marketing and other costs.

The two companies have invested more than $3.5 billion in the next generation of rockets and the first versions are set for testing next month.

Working together may not be easy. The two companies currently are involved in litigation over Boeing's acquisition of proprietary Lockheed rocket program documents in the 1990s.