[Satellite Today 01-28-09] Boeing 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), Boeing announced Jan. 27.
    The six-month contract extension began Jan. 7 and brings Boeing’s total TSAT contract funding to $793 million.
Boeing is in competition with a team led by Lockheed Martin for the multi-billion dollar TSAT contract. Lockheed Martin spokesman Stephen Tatum confirmed that his company was also was awarded a six-month contract extension from the U.S. Air Force.
    TSAT is intended provide protected, high-capacity data connectivity via satellite for U.S. airborne intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, communications-on-the-move and protected strategic communications.