As for Comanche, the Army assured legislators its next effort to buy a reconnaissance helicopter would use a modified commercial rotorcraft costing much less.
An early indication of who might be ahead came earlier this year when BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman won in a five-way competition to supply the military services with infrared countermeasures for their rotorcraft.
The Army needs a better way for its low-flying rotorcraft to cope with such missiles, which are growing more agile and precise even as they become available around the world to any malcontent with enough money.
Part of that need will be met in the future by a new generation of rotorcraft, including the revolutionary MV-22 tiltrotor that combines the vertical agility of a helicopter with the speed and range of a fixed-wing plane.
By pursuing such initiatives while developing the full sales potential of existing product lines like the V-22 Osprey and CH-47 Chinook rotorcraft, Boeing may be able to grow military earnings even as defense demand softens in the years ahead.