AEROSPACE

Lucas Industries Barred From U.S. Contracts: The Navy has barred the British aerospace firm from any new government contracts since Lucas pleaded guilty in Los Angeles earlier this month to improper testing and inspections of parts for the Navy’s F-18 jet fighter. Last month, Lucas pleaded guilty to 37 counts of fraud and agreed to pay $18.5 million, a record criminal fine in the defense industry. The company produced jet engine transmissions in Park City, Utah, and in City of Industry. Lucas said it will “vigorously contest” the ban. Separately, the Justice Department said it is joining a whistle-blower case against Lucas, filed by a former machinist at the Park City plant. The suit alleges that all the Lucas transmissions were defective.