Defense contractors compete for huge bomber contract

I guess this is all big business for somebody else to understand, but I can't understand why Boeing and Lockheed would be together, rather than independent. All have the technology and financial wherewithal.

Fantastic, but I wonder how they got this one through the obama side of the house... We need to expand our military big time as it is so low now, I don't hardly see how we can defend our selves.

In the 50s the so patriotic defense contractors scared the hell out of DOD and the incumbent president claiming that the Soviets had a bid gap over the US in the missile dept. Once many billions were spent then it was the bomber gap and more billions were sent down to buy B-1s and the so expensive B-2s. And so they better start a new missile gap scare, after all they got to get even richer.

They still hadn't nobody answered my question as to why Boeing & Lockheed are together in this bid.

To answer your question Preacher, M-O-N-E-Y !
The development costs are going to be staggering.
It's not uncommon for 2 companies to team up for a large project.
Boeing & Lockheed teamed up before on the F-22, so a new team for a new bomber is old hat to them.
Northrop-Grumman is going to have an advantage in stealth tech. for large aircraft, so B&L have to overcome that too.

A takeover might be possible, but N-G have plenty of irons in the fire too.
I think it would all depend on how much $$$$ the company bets on it's future over that contract.