A Boeing company executive told Reuters that it’s making less EA-18G military aircraft until Congress increases the orders. In fact, after 2016 the company plans to shut down the St. Louis production line of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers. This could affect Boeing’s operating results as sizable part of the revenue is derived from the U.S. government. Also, according to aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia, another essential factor that’s having a bearing on Boeing’s defense arm is Lockheed Martin‘s top fighter aircraft, the F-35, which is endangering the existence of Boeing’s F-15, F-18, and C-17.

Two companies vying with SpaceX for a NASA commercial crew program – Boeing(BA:US) and Sparks, Nevada-based Sierra Nevada Corp. – - may also find themselves relying on Russian engines, because of their plans to use Atlas V rockets, said Marcia Smith, a former director of the space studies board at the National Research Council and now editor of Arlington, Virginia-based spacepolicyonline.com. Even so, mutual dependencies in space may make this one area that’s immune to disagreements on the ground. “The Russians are making money off these sales,” said Marco Caceres of the Fairfax, Virginia-based Teal Group. “It would make sense from a political standpoint to snub us, but from a financial standpoint, it’s not so good.”

SpaceX’s prices are so low that they could upend the price structure the Air Force has used in sending military satellites into orbit. “What we do know is that if you look at a SpaceX heavy launcher like a Falcon 9 or a Falcon heavy, it’s at least 50 percent cheaper than a comparable vehicle by Boeing or Lockheed,” said Marco Caceres, senior analyst at the Teal Group Corp. in Fairfax, Va. “We’re talking at least $50 million cheaper per vehicle so it’s a significant cost saving for the Air Force.”

Virginia-based Teal Group analyst Joel Johnson said the move could help American firms to put themselves in a position to benefit if a broader softening of sanctions is agreed. "It allows some US companies to get a foot in the door and restore relations that they have not had for over 20 years," Johnson said.

Top aviation-industry analyst Richard Aboulafia said Wednesday that Boeing’s 777X program could give the jet-maker a significant lead over rival Airbus in the decade ahead. But he also warned that Boeing management is running big risks with a “penny-wise and pound-foolish” strategy of squeezing its labor unions and suppliers. Stan Deal, Boeing vice president in charge of the supply chain, later defended the company’s pressure on suppliers to cut their prices. Aboulafia said the 777X is a winning concept in a size and performance category where Airbus doesn’t yet have a competitive candidate. “Airbus faces a real challenge to respond to 777X. They are going to have to find $12 billion or so to do something,” he said, adding that failure to do so could result in “a permanent Boeing advantage.”