DEFENSE

Hughes Aircraft Fined: A federal judge ordered Hughes Aircraft Co., a subsidiary of General Motors Corp., to pay a $3.5-million fine for conspiring to falsify tests on electronic military components. Hughes and a former supervisor at its microelectronic circuits division in Newport Beach were indicted last December on charges that they faked test results on electronic circuits used in the F-14, F-15, F-16 and F-18 jet fighters, the Phoenix missile and other systems. Hughes was convicted of one count of conspiracy while a company supervisor, Donald LaRue, was acquitted on all charges. Assistant U.S. Atty. George Newhouse said he was pleased with the fine.