Boeing [NYSE: BA] has been awarded a one-year, $250 million Missile Defense Agency (MDA) contract for Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) maintenance and operations support, ensuring the United States' only defense against long-range ballistic missiles remains ready for operational service.

The contract, awarded Feb. 2, includes an option for 2010 and covers operator and maintainer training, supply chain services, on-site engineering support and technical data development.

"Boeing has led the missile defense industry team from inception to operation," said Terry Kunkel, director, GMD Operations and Sustainment for Boeing. "This contract recognizes the GMD team's unmatched performance and builds upon the progress of this vital national Security program."

GMD, an integral element of the global ballistic missile defense system, consists of interceptors in underground silos, radars, command and control facilities, communications terminals and a 20,000-mile, fiber-optic communications network. The program has more than 400 partners and suppliers with operations in 36 states and operational sites in Alaska, California and Colorado, as well as the Sea-Based X-Band (SBX) Radar system.

MDA recently announced it will solicit competitive bids for future GMD operations and sustainment support no later than 2011. As an industry leader in performance-based logistics, Boeing is well positioned to compete for and win additional GMD support contracts.

"We rely on talent from across Boeing and our industry teammates to bring the best value, the lowest risk and highest performance to our customer," said Kunkel. "With 11 performance-based logistics programs currently under contract, we have the necessary experience to support the Missile Defense Agency today and in the future."

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 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.