Northrop Grumman, SpaceX File Protests Over ULA
November 6, 2006

Advertisement

Services Print This Page Email This Page Archives Copyright Permissions Related Stories Air Force Gives Boeing $300 Million For Wideband Gapfiller Program Boeing Delta 4 Launches Military Weather Satellite Air Force To Develop Reusable Space Vehicle Boeing Delivers GPS 2R Satellite Boeing Gets Air Force Contract Worth $674 Million

Northrop Grumman Corp. and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) filed complaints with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission over pending approval of the United Launch Alliance (ULA).

The joint venture, which received preliminary approval in October, would combine the government launch vehicle operations of Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp.

SpaceX, which would be a competitor for U.S. government business, calls the ULA a monopoly in violation of U.S. antitrust laws.

Northrop Grumman does not compete in the launch vehicle market, but bases its protest on competition in the satellite manufacturing arena: Northrop Grumman claims that, during the formation of the ULA, Northrop Grumman would have to share confidential information with Boeing and Lockheed Martin that may work to the latter companies' advantage in future competition.

"Given that Northrop's confidential and competitively sensitive information is acknowledged to be at risk here," Northrop vice president and deputy general counsel Stephen Yslas wrote in the complaint, "we are therefore compelled to ask how it will be protected?"

Register Now for Digital Switchover:  What It Means for Broadcasters Webcast, Tuesday, December 16^th, 1:00 ET

Join Via Satellite and a panel of experts as they tackle this important and timely topic.  This live one-hour webcast will address how this government-mandated move will affect satellite service providers, satellite operators and hardware manufactures.  Discover lessons learned from other countries who have made the transition as well as what opportunities will be created post-switch.  No travel required.  Sign-up Today!

Add a Comment

Name:

Email:

Comments:

Please enter the letters or numbers you see in the image.

Your message will be reviewed before it is posted