Satellite manufacturer Boeing has won a $317.7 million contract modification to build the 10th Wideband Global Satcom (WGS-10) global communications satellite for the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Department of Defense announced July 30.
   Boeing will produce, process, launch and provide on-orbit activation for WGS-10 from its facilities in El Segundo, Calif. Work on the satellite contract will continue through March 2018. The WGS-10 deal is an estimated $1.1 billion modification to a contract Boeing won in September 2011 to produce WGS-7, WGS-8 and WGS-9. Production of WGS satellites began in 2000. WGS-1, -2 and -3 are operational and in orbit.
   WGS-4 was launched in January and is being readied for operations. WGS-5, -6, -7, -8 and -9 are currently in production. Boeing is providing launch site activities and early on-orbit operations for WGS-8 and -9. The WGS satellite fleet aims to provide continuous communications for the warfighter through broadcast, multicast and point-to-point connections, supporting simultaneous X- and Ka-band service.