Your perspective is interesting. I work in this industry and I would hardly have said Lockheed was the inevitable winner. The differences in the two offerings were striking. And the poster later on who cited "JSF fallout" is probably right, too.
Lockheed's chances are much better for MC2A and Aerial Common Sensor. And for political reasons and preservation of the industrial base, it makes much better sense to award Boeing MMA, which is primarily aircraft, and Lockheed one of the other two.
I'm glad to see Boeing won this contract..... I'm partial to them v Lockheed...
"...preservation of the industrial base..."
I think you may have hit on the major issue.
I think you hit it, its Boeing's turn. Lockheed has won the stealth fighter and joint strike fighter and is up to their neck in difficulties on both programs. Lockheed also just won the common missile and is currently in production on Theater High Altitude Anti Missile Defense. Boeing is fresh, having won most of their awards during the Clinton era. It seems that Lockheed is the main benefactor in a republican administration. (Just in general, the best design plays a big role, and how well the company is expected to handle the job is second. Boeing probably has many more "spare" engineers at this moment making it difficult for Lockheed to compete. As a former Lockheed myself, I am sorry that Boeing ever wins anything, but they have changed their corporate image a lot recently, and maybe it is doing some good.