[Satellite TODAY 01-17-12] Boeing has won a $377 million contract modification with the U.S. Air Force to continue work on its constellation of Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) satellites, the Pentagon confirmed Jan. 16.

   The firm, fixed-price contract runs through May 2013 and exercises an option under a previously negotiated contract for Boeing to produce, process, launch and activate a ninth WGS satellite.

   Three WGS satellites are now in orbit. Boeing is currently building three satellites as a prime contract with an additional three satellites being procured.

   The Air Force said it was currently finalizing a deal with governments from five countries to buy into the WGS wideband communications constellation as it prepares for the launch of the fourth satellite, WGS-4 on Jan. 19. WGS-4 is the first WGS Block 2 satellite to include a bypass that allows for transmission of large data files required for shuttling airborne intelligence data.