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 Jan. 7, 2009. This additional award brings Boeing's total TSAT contract funding to $793 million.

"Boeing and our TSAT partners are committed to supporting the U.S. Air Force to move this important program forward," said Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager for Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems. "This contract extension continues the team's work to ensure our men and women in uniform will be able to make rapid decisions based on current, comprehensive information."

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).

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of Military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32.1 billion business with 71,000 employees worldwide.