Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that the U.S. Air Force has placed the first Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellite into operation over the Pacific region. The Boeing-built satellite transitioned to operations on April 16, following extensive satellite and ground system tests conducted by the government with support from Boeing engineers.

“The successful launch, checkout and handover of WGS-1 went smoothly and is a testament to the great work of the combined government and contractor team,” said Brig. Gen. Susan Mashiko, commander of the Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing at the Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles. “The performance of this first WGS satellite is nothing short of exceptional.”

WGS is the first operational SATCOM system supporting the government’s transformational communications architecture. Each satellite has the capacity to transmit information at rates of more than three gigabits per second. This is more than 10 times the capacity of the government’s Defense Satellite Communications System, known as DSCS. During operational testing last month, the government successfully transmitted a record-breaking 440 megabits-per-second communications test signal through the satellite. WGS-1 was launched Oct. 10, 2007, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Base, Fla., aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch vehicle.

“WGS-1 is the highest capacity Department of Defense communications satellite on orbit,” said Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager, Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems. “WGS-1 is now providing essential support to military operations overseas, and Boeing looks forward to launching the second and third WGS satellites in the coming months.”

WGS is also the world’s first satellite to incorporate multi-beam X-band communications through phased array antennas, and the first satellite capable of cross-banding signals between X-band and Ka-band.

The operational testing of WGS also demonstrated the satellite’s compatibility with a variety of ground-based terminals, validating WGS planning, management and control concept of operations (CONOPS). The CONOPS validation tests were conducted with extensive human and software interactions between geographically dispersed planning, management, and control centers.

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and its TEAM TSAT industry partners have successfully demonstrated the readiness of the advanced electronics that will be used in the Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT).

Tests of the TSAT Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) demonstrated the microchip’s functionality, speed and suitability for spaceflight. The tests, completed in late 2007 at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, simulated the most challenging radiation environment TSAT will experience during operation.

“The success of these tests emphasizes TEAM TSAT’s strategy of transitioning proven operational terrestrial technology to space,” said Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems. “This accomplishment demonstrates TEAM TSAT’s world-class engineering and our commitment to designing and delivering solutions that fully meet the U.S. Air Force’s requirements.”

These successful risk-reduction tests are the result of more than 10 years of partnership between Boeing and IBM. The TSAT ASIC chip is the fourth generation of IBM terrestrial ASIC technology qualified for space use. The first appeared in 2001 in a Boeing-built satellite-based mobile communications system.

“IBM has a strong history of positive investments in the field of microelectronics,” said Anthony Yu, vice president, IBM Systems & Technology Group. “This renowned expertise and commitment to research and development has been a cornerstone in our collaboration with Boeing over the past decade and complements our drive for innovative products and services.”

TEAM TSAT used ASIC chip designs that represent the most challenging functions required of TSAT. The tests simulated the harsh environment of space with a cyclotron, a type of particle accelerator that accelerates electrons using a high-frequency alternating charge.

Boeing’s TEAM TSAT consists of Cisco Systems, Hughes, IBM, Harris Corp., Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., LGS Innovations, Raytheon, General Dynamics C4 Systems, L-3 Communications, BBN Technologies, EMS Technologies, SAIC and Innovative Communications Engineering. The team submitted its TSAT Space Segment proposal to the Air Force on July 30, 2007. The Air Force is expected to announce the winner of the multibillion-dollar contract later this year.