State officials have spent the weekend attempting to assess the economic impact of the Pentagon’s decision to award the Joint Strike Fighter to Lockheed Martin of Fort Worth, Texas; not Boeing. Boeing is the major manufacturer in St. Louis, employing approximately 14,000 workers. Losing the Joint Strike Fighter contract not only means it won’t be adding thousands of jobs to St. Louis, it means a reduction of jobs as current jet fighter production runs out the next few years. State Economic Development Director Joe Driskill says the state will work with Boeing to help it secure contracts for foreign sales of the F-15 and F-18, both made in St. Louis. Driskill says it’s time to look forward after absorbing a big blow.
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