CALIFORNIA : BRIEFLY / AEROSPACE : Boeing to Take $225-Million Charge

Boeing Co. said it will take a $225-million third-quarter charge because of the limited market for its F-15 fighter, a mainstay in the air war in Kosovo. Boeing had projected orders for up to 24 of the planes this year but now expects to sell considerably fewer than that, a spokesman said. Boeing has stopped production at its F-15 plant in St. Louis. The charge against earnings comes on top of a $45-million charge taken in its second quarter after the company lost a bid to sell F-15s to Greece. In July, Israel followed Greece in choosing Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-16 fighters over the F-15. At $50 million to $60 million apiece, the F-15s are markedly more expensive than Lockheed’s single-engine F-16, analysts said. Seattle-based Boeing said it still expects revenue of $58 billion and an operating margin of 5% to 5.5% this year despite the F-15 charge and a new labor contract that its largest union approved Wednesday night. Members of the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers voted 86% in favor of the three-year pact that includes increases in wages and retirement benefits and improved job guarantees. Boeing shares fell 6 cents to close at $44.94 on the New York Stock Exchange.