Lockheed Martin Corp said on Monday it had filed a protest against the US Navy's decision last month to award a multibillion-dollar patrol plane contract to Northrop Grumman Corp.
A Lockheed spokeswoman said the company decided to file the protest with the US Government Accountability Office after receiving a briefing from the Navy showing that the Lockheed proposal met the Navy's technical requirements and cost significantly less.
Northrop beat out Lockheed and Boeing Co to win an initial contract valued at $1.16 billion. Navy officials said the deal would be worth at least $3.74 billion in the longer term.