When Boeing lost the U.S. Air Force Long-Range Strike Bomber competition in 2015, the consequences for the company's military aircraft unit, and its defense business in general, looked dire. There were no remaining U.S. combat aircraft competitions, and even the Air Force T-X trainer contract looked like a long shot. Worse, the military unit's long-running but highly profitable fixed-wing legacy platforms were winding down, with few hopes for export wins or resumed U.S. procurement. C-17 production ended last year. Military rotorcraft production is trending downward, too. Eighteen months later, the situation looks quite different. Boeing's St. Louis facility is in a much better place, with new orders for the F-15 and F/A-18 and the prospect of more export and domestic orders. Best of all, there are now long-term goals that could keep the unit alive and healthy for the long run.
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