Boeing wins 12 billion dollar Pentagon contract

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon on Wednesday awarded Boeing a 12-billion-dollar contract to help modernize B-52 weapons systems over eight years.

"The contract provides for the acquisition and sustainment activities needed to support B-52 weapon system modernization," the Department of Defense said in a statement.

On Tuesday Boeing said it had been awarded a separate three-year, 5.3-billion-dollar contract with the US Navy to build 124 fighter jets.

Under the terms of the agreement, Boeing from 2012 to 2015 will deliver to the US Navy 66 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and 58 EA-18-G Growlers.

The Growler is a carrier-based electronic warfare craft that replaces the EA-6B Prowler.

Boeing's shares were up over one percent in after-hours trade on Wednesday's announcement.

Boeing is currently battling Europen rival Airbus to win a 40-billion-dollar US military project to renew its fleet of tanker planes.