AEROSPACE & DEFENSE

Navy Hires D.C. Law Firm in A-12 Dispute: The service has awarded a $7.8-million contract to Arnold & Porter, a large Washington law firm, for legal work in the A-12 attack-jet lawsuit filed against the government by McDonnell Douglas and General Dynamics. The contract indicates that the Navy is getting ready to capitulate in the legal fight but must first obtain a second opinion before going to Congress with a settlement, which could be as much as $3.5 billion. Attorneys at the firm did not return calls. By some estimates, the defense companies and the government are collectively spending $80 million annually litigating the charge that the Navy improperly canceled the firms’ A-12 contract.