Pentagon Eyes Buying Fewer Lockheed Copters and More From Boeing

  • New King Stallions may be cut back to buy modified Chinooks
  • Review prompted by Senate and House Armed Services panels

Sikorsky King Stallion heavy-lift cargo helicopter.

Photographer: John MacDougall/AFP via Getty Images

Lock
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The Pentagon is assessing whether the Marine Corps should scale back its $31 billion program to buy new King Stallion helicopters from Lockheed Martin Corp. and opt for a combination with a modified version of the latest-model Chinooks built by rival Boeing Co.

Officials from the Pentagon’s acquisition, sustainment, research and operational test offices are evaluating and expanding on a preliminary review completed in May by the Pentagon’s independent cost assessment office at the urging of lawmakers.