The publication reports that Boeing (NYSE: BA), L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL), Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) and Raytheon (NYSE: RTN) invested $4.1 billion combined in R&D during 2013.
William Lynn, DRS Technologies‘ chief executive, said the company is working to sustain its R&D programs, according to the article.
âYou canât spend too much, but we try to balance protecting our margins and protecting our future, and we try not to stray too far in one direction or the other, â Lynn added.
âWeâre willing to take some short-term decline in margins, modest, to protect our longer-term competitiveness.â
Callan believes that the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency should bolster its technology programs to encourage private-sector investment in the area.