The US Department of Justice is apparently prepared to clear Lexington, Massachusetts missile maker Raytheon Co’s acquisition of Texas Instruments Inc’s defense business (CI No 3,072) on the condition that Raytheon opens up its microwave circuit chip technology to competitors to avoid a monopoly situation. The DOJ says the technology used in aircraft radar’s is essential for the completion of some $3bn worth of contracts to be awarded over the next five years, Raytheon is arguing the technology only yields a few million dollars a year and shouldn’t stand in the way of the $2.95bn acquisition. The Wall Street Journal speculates that Raytheon doesn’t want to go to court because it plans to acquire the Hughes Electronics arm of General Motors Corp (CI No 3,159).