Finance & Business World

The U.S. Defense Department is moving the Boeing EA-18G Growler to full production, Boeing said Monday.

Boeing’s EA-18G program, which is based in St. Louis, will now begin building 22 aircraft per year for U.S. Navy, the Pentagon said.

The news represents a $386 million modification to a previously awarded contract, according to the Pentagon.

The EA-18G is derived from the F/A-18F aircraft and includes electronic attack capabilities.

Work will be performed in Baltimore (46.5 percent); Bethpage, N.Y. (22.7 percent); St. Louis (13.5 percent); Melbourne, Fla. (5.5 percent); Fort Wayne, Ind. (3.7 percent); Thousand Oaks, Calif. (3.7 percent); Wallingford, Conn. (2.6 percent); Nashua, N.H. (1.1 percent); and Westminster, Colo. (0.7 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2012.

Chicago-based Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) is prime contractor on the Growler. The team also includes Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and General Electric Aircraft Engines.

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