Boeing and
Mitsubishi Electric Corp. (MELCO) officials announce their
desire to further broaden the cooperation between the two companies by
signing an agreement that includes space-based communications, air
traffic management, multimedia, navigation, space and communications
services, launch services and space infrastructure markets.

In the launch services segment, the agreement includes up to six
Boeing Delta launches and names the Boeing Delta team as MELCO’s
preferred non-Japanese launch service provider.

“The success we’ve had in an extremely competitive market is a
testament to the work our team has done to prepare the Delta IV for
operation next year,” said Gale Schluter, vice president and general
manager of Boeing Expendable Launch Systems.

The agreement includes one firm Delta IV launch service order, up
to five launches options and extends from 2002 to 2007.

The new agreement is indicative of the partnerships the Delta IV
program has been forging in the global marketplace.

“Over the past five years, Boeing has established a great working
relationship with MELCO which has been evident in key programs such as
Connexion by Boeing(SM), the long term relationship with Boeing
Satellite Systems, and other space related activities,” said Dr.
Hiroshi Kimura, general manager, Space Systems Division of MELCO. “As
a result of our partnership, we have been able to enter into this
launch service agreement and announce the Delta Launch Services team
as our preferred non-Japanese launch service provider.”

“By bringing an affordable service to our customers, we’ve been
able to develop long term partnerships with many of the world’s
leading communications companies including MELCO,” Schluter said. “And
because we’ve matched our vehicle’s capabilities, costs and services
to market needs, we are penetrating markets that we have not been able
to address in the past.”

The Delta IV family includes five variants capable of lifting
4,000 kg to 13,000 kg to geostationary transfer orbit. The vehicles
are capable of launching single, dual or multiple satellites in either
4-meter or 5-meter payload accommodations.

Subject to approval from both companies, the new launch service
agreement is expected to be finalized later this year.

The Boeing Company, with headquarters in Seattle, is the largest
aerospace company in the world and the United States’ leading
exporter. It is the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial
jetliners and military aircraft, and the largest NASA contractor. The
company’s capabilities in aerospace also include rotorcraft,
electronic and defense systems, missiles, rocket engines, launch
vehicles, and advanced information and communication systems. The
company has an extensive global reach with customers in 145 countries
and manufacturing operations throughout the United States, Canada and
Australia.