Boeing files protest after $80 billion stealth bomber contract sent elsewhere

Boeing and Lockheed Martin have filed formal protests against the Pentagon's decision to give the contract for a new stealth bomber to Northrop Grumman.

The Daily Herald reports that after the Defense Department announced the contract last week, Boeing and Lockheed felt the selection process for the $80 billion project was "fundamentally flawed."

They filed a protest on Friday with the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

The companies claimed the selection process failed to properly reward the Boeing-Lockheed team's proposals to break the trend of ballooning defense program costs.

Northrop Grumman released a statement Friday that defended its bid and the Air Force's selection process.