2010 budget: Gates: industry unharmed by program cancellations.

• Author: Erwin, Sandra I.
• Position: WASHINGTON PULSE: NEWS FROM INSIDE THE BELTWAY

* Military weapons programs often are justified on grounds that the nation must protect its industrial base. But the industry has consolidated into a handful of giant firms, so program cancellations these days don't necessarily harm companies, contends Defense Secretary Robert Gates. "Most of these companies have multiple programs with us," he said in reference to his recent decision to terminate a handful of big-ticket weapon systems. What really helps companies, he said, is to get larger orders so they can...