The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing [NYSE:BA] a $142.5 million fixed-price-incentive-fee contract for three additional Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. This action authorizes modernization and production of GPS-IIF satellites numbers four through six, and the production of long-lead parts for IIF satellites seven through nine.

Boeing currently is building the first three GPS IIF satellites with options for up to twelve.

With the first satellite scheduled for a mid-2006 launch, the GPS-IIF series will have improved anti-jam, increased accuracy, higher integrity and secure operational military codes, according to Boeing.