Hughes Aircraft Sues British Firms: Los Angeles-based...

Hughes Aircraft Sues British Firms: Los Angeles-based Hughes Aircraft Co. filed a federal suit accusing General Electric Co. of Britain and four related firms of sabotaging its bid to develop radar for the European Fighter Aircraft program sponsored by Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain. The suit, which seeks $600 million, charges the British companies with breach of contract and misusing confidential technical information. Hughes and British GE (unrelated to the U.S. company General Electric) teamed up to bid for the radar project in 1986. Hughes dropped out after its British partner bought Ferranti Defense Systems, the company that made the only competing bid.