Boeing makes another logistics buy

Boeing Co. has made its second acquisition in the past 30 days designed to strengthen its foothold in the logistics command and control market.

The Chicago defense and aerospace giant said today that it will acquire Federated Software Group, a St. Louis company whose engineering and software systems help track and distribute military equipment and personnel. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Last month, Boeing said it was acquiring Tapestry Solutions Inc., a company with technology tools the Defense Department uses to improve the tracking and distribution of military equipment, spare parts and personnel.

"Both acquisitions are key moves in our strategy to significantly expand our presence in the logistics and command and control marketplace with existing, mature contractors and customer relationships," said Dennis Muilenburg, president of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems' Global Services and Support unit, in a statement.

Federated Software Group is the integrator for a number of command and control systems and provides engineering services tailored for government contractor and billing systems, Boeing officials said. One of its clients ? the Air Force's Air Mobility Command ? uses its applications to track equipment and personnel involved in airlift and aerial refueling operations. The U.S. Transportation Command also uses the company's applications to track its global operations.

After the acquisition, Federated Software Group, which has 150 employees, will become part of Boeing's Global Services and Support unit. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the year, Boeing officials said.

Boeing ranks No. 2 on Washington Technology's 2008 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.