WASHINGTON, July 8 (Reuters) - The Pentagon plans to

assess Boeing's ( BA ) improvement plans and Justice Department

deal before determining what impact the planemaker's plan to

plead guilty could have on its government contracts, a U.S.

defense official told Reuters on Monday.

A guilty plea potentially threatens the company's ability to

secure lucrative government contracts with the likes of the U.S.

Defense Department and NASA.

The official added the Pentagon will conduct the review "to

make a determination as to what steps are necessary and

appropriate to protect the Federal Government" under federal

contracting regulations.