Boeing Completes Communications and Air Traffic Management Upgrade for US Air Force AWACS Fleet

SEATTLE, June 16, 2009 – The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] announced today that it has completed satellite communications and air traffic management upgrades on the U.S. Air Force's 32 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) surveillance aircraft as part of the Integrated DAMA/GATM (IDG) program.

The satellite communications upgrade, known as Demand Assigned Multiple Access (DAMA), provides multiple channels for voice and data, which improves each AWACS aircraft's ability to communicate with other AWACS aircraft, platforms and ground stations.

The Global Air Traffic Management (GATM) upgrade helps AWACS aircraft operate more efficiently in congested airspace worldwide, especially in Europe and the U.S. East Coast corridor, by allowing them to fly closer to other aircraft. The enhancements include a collision avoidance system, which sounds an alert and provides a message to the AWACS flight crew to climb or descend as needed.

"The IDG program has been a tremendous success, and through outstanding teamwork with our government and industry partners, we were able to complete the modifications and put these important capabilities in the hands of the Air Force several months ahead of schedule," said Kelly Freebairn, Boeing IDG program manager.