Defense Department leaders have granted Raytheon a potential major contract boost along with a provisional green light to continue manufacturing the newest variant of the Aegis ballistic missile defense interceptor -- the Standard Missile-3 Block IIA which failed during its most recent flight test in January -- in order to keep the production line warm. On March 30, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen Lord directed the Missile Defense Agency in an acquisition decision memorandum to obligate...
