US Navy nears award for new unmanned patrol plane

The U.S. Navy is nearing an announcement on a new unmanned surveillance plane to replace its aging P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft, a deal being contested by Lockheed Martin Corp, Boeing Co and Northrop Grumman Corp, defense sources said on Monday.

After several delays, Pentagon acquisition chief John Young and other top defense officials were due this week to review the Navy's Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) program, which is valued at over $3 billion in the longer term, according to two sources familiar with the program.

Defense officials are expected to approve the start of the development phase of the program that would pave the way for the Navy to announce the contract winner, possibly as early as next week, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

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