Northrop Grumman has protested that a Pentagon study of ways to keep aircraft manufacturers in business (by dividing production of the Joint Strike Fighter between Boeing and Lockheed Martin) should have included a share of the program for Northrop Grumman. The company notes that the Pentagon previously rejected Northrop Grumman's plan to merge with Lockheed Martin because this would leave only two tactical aircraft manufacturers. The Pentagon expects to eventually build 6,000 JSFs, and that this program will comprise 50% of tactical aircraft funding by 2009 and 100% of it by 2012. In that year, the JSF will amount to 50% of all military aircraft funding.--Stephen V Cole