12 Feb 02. Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA – news) said on Tuesday it expects toannounce an agreement in the near future with the U.S. Defense Departmentfor a multiyear contract for C-17 military transport planes.
The agreement could come “within days, or in a worst-case scenario, acouple ofweeks,” said Jerry Daniels, president and chief executive officer ofBoeing’sMilitary Aircraft and Missile Systems unit.
The aircraft, which carries troops and cargo, has been used in Afghanistan.Theplane is also able to perform airlift missions.
Under the fiscal 2003 budget, the Air Force plans a multiyear procurement of60additional C-17s to cover both long-range and in-theatre airliftrequirements,budgeting $3.8bn to procure 12 planes in the fiscal year starting Oct. 1.Some industry analysts valued the sale of 60 C-17s at more than $10bn.
Shares of Boeing rose 13 cents to $43.13 in late afternoon trade on the NewYorkStock Exchange.