Boeing, IBM join for warfare work

Boeing Co. and IBM Corp. will collaborate on Defense Department and intelligence projects to promote a network-centric approach to warfare. Officials from the companies announced the new partnership, which builds on the existing relationship between the two companies.

The military is "moving away from ships, moving away from planes, moving away from tanks" and moving toward information technology as the critical area for future development, said Jim Albaugh, president and chief executive officer for Boeing's integrated defense systems.

Boeing and IBM have 12 programs under way already, four in intelligence and eight with DOD, Albaugh said. Company officials declined to identify the programs.

The 10-year partnership will include specific projects and ongoing research and development, said John Kelly, IBM senior vice president.

"Our vast research community will be applied to this partnership in many areas," he said.

The partnership is in part a response to the military's ongoing emphasis on network centric warfare, he added. The two companies want to help the government bring commercial technology to bear as quickly as possible, he said.