Boeing [NYSE: BA] has received a $75 million contract extension from the U.S. Air Force to continue risk reduction and system definition for the Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT).

The six-month contract extension began on January 7, 2009. This additional award brings Boeing's total TSAT contract funding to $793 million. TSAT will provide survivable, protected, high-capacity and Internet-like connectivity via satellite for Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance; Communications On The Move; and protected strategic communications. Boeing has used on-orbit technology produced for a commercial communications satellite services customer to demonstrate low-risk, flight-proven solutions for TSAT. These demonstrations showcased the maturity of Boeing's space-based packet-switching technology. Boeing also has built a single software program that will allow all of TSAT's space and ground systems to work together, eliminating the need for multiple software programs to run different operations. Boeing's TEAM TSAT consists of Cisco, Hughes, IBM, Harris Corp., Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., LGS Innovations, Raytheon, General Dynamics C4 Systems, L-3 Communications, BBN Technologies, EMS Technologies, SAIC, and Innovative Communications Engineering (ICE).