Boeing is already under contract to build the first three satellites for the WGS system, a multi-spacecraft constellation designed to provide improved communications support for America's war fighters. Boeing is working to have the first WGS satellite ready for launch in June 2007.

"The Wideband Gapfiller Satellite constellation will be a key element of a high-capacity SATCOM system, and provide a quantum leap in the communications capabilities for the war fighter. Authorization to begin developing the fourth satellite in the Wideband Gapfiller Satellite system will allow for improved effectiveness of our deployed forces and ultimately save lives," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Steve Hargis, the WGS program manager.

"Boeing has leveraged a wealth of experience and capability for WGS, including extensive investments in the digital signal processors, phased array antennas and the 702 satellite bus," said Michael Gianelli, vice president of Navigation and Communications Systems for Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems. "Together, these capabilities enable the tremendous capacity and operational flexibility our nation requires. We are very pleased to be in a position to provide additional WGS capabilities to meet the government's growing needs for additional bandwidth."

A single WGS satellite provides a huge leap in capability over the current Defense Satellite Communications System satellites, with more communications capacity than the entire constellation currently on station. The WGS satellites address a critical bandwidth shortfall. The satellites provide two-way, point-to-point, multicast and broadcast communications that may potentially support what is known as "communications-on-the-move" for troops in the field.

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