MILSATCOM Terminals

Abstract

The Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) Terminals program develops and fields equipment enabling users to communicate via legacy and future systems to include Milstar, Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF), Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Follow-On (UFO), Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS), Defense Satellite Communication System (DSCS), Enhanced Polar Systems (EPS), and other military and commercial satellites, to support tactical Air and Space Expeditionary Force requirements and maintain essential connectivity for strategic forces. Program RDT&E currently includes the following program efforts: 1) Concept development work to identify commercial/military technology solutions to improve MILSATCOM terminal capabilities for the warfighters. Focus includes, but is not limited to, increasing throughput, facilitating sustainability, reducing footprint on user platform and future concept airborne terminals in support of the Global Information Grid (GIG). Funding in FY13 continues support for Advanced Development activities. 2) The Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals (FAB-T) program will provide Extremely High Frequency (EHF) voice and data MILSATCOM for nuclear and conventional forces as well as airborne and ground command posts with connectivity to Milstar, AEHF, and EPS satellites. FAB-T terminals will also support the command and control (C2) of Milstar, AEHF, and EPS satellites. In FY12, a competitive acquisition was introduced for development in accordance with a new acquisition strategy. In FY13, the Air Force will continue development of the FAB-T terminal. 3) The High Data Rate - Radio Frequency (HDR-RF) Ground Terminal program will provide the high data rate SATCOM connectivity needed to support the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) community with High Bandwidth High Throughput (HBHT) capability. HDR-RF Ground Terminals will be used for Command & Control, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C2ISR), and will support the full spectrum of operations from humanitarian support/disaster relief to a major theater war. HDR-RF Ground Terminals will be interoperable with WGS satellites to support Air Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (AISR) data rates up to 274Mbps and provide quad band (C-, X-, Ku- and Ka-band) SATCOM. HDR-RF Ground Terminals will be interoperable with legacy tactical terminals and operate worldwide with existing military and commercial satellites. The user of HDR-RF Ground Terminals is to support ISR Missions. HDR-RF funds support Phase II modem wave porting efforts supporting modem qualification with multiple waveforms, test and evaluation, program office support, system engineering and other related activities. No funds requested in FY 13 4) The Joint Terminal Engineering Office (JTEO) provides tri-service coordination of terminal development, acquisition and fielding activities. Funding in FY13 continues support for JTEO activities. 5) The High Data Rate Airborne Terminal (HDRAT) will develop a high data rate SATCOM terminal solution in support of AISR platforms and other supporting activities. As a minimum, HDRAT will provide for secure Ka/Ku high data rate satellite links (over commercial and government owned assets) and line-of-sight communications supporting airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (AISR) platforms. This program will provide AISR platforms with antenna solutions, modem assemblies, and the appropriate waveforms capable of supporting high resolution sensor data and C2 links at speed up to 274 Mbps (platform and mission dependent). To support technical risk analysis, the Terminals Program Office (TPO) shall provide the Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) study team data on risks, mitigation techniques, contractual activities designed to mitigate those risks, and on-going high speed airborne waveform development efforts not limited to Global Hawk. No FY 13 funds required due to termination of the program in FY 12. 6) Global Broadcast Service (GBS) provides warfighters with a worldwide, seamless, high throughput broadcast information service to support today's and tomorrow's mission. The Receive Suite (RS) provides Special Operations use of GBS in operational areas; capabilities include reception of voice, data, imagery, and video.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2013
• Source ID: 0303601F_7_3600_PB_2013
• Change Summary Explanation: FY11 Other Adjustments: +$119.7M - Congressional reprogramming from MILSATCOM Terminals (PE33601F) Procurement (OPAF & APAF). -$4.181M - Congressional General Reduction. FY12 Other Adjustments: -$2.148 for Congressional General Reductions; $42M Congressionally Directed Transfer for FAB-T Alternative will be executed from project 672489 within this program element. FY13 Other Adjustments: -$2.429M reallocation for higher Department priorities; -$27M due to FAB-T revised development schedule.
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Acquisition
• Air Force
• Airborne
• Artificial Satellites
• Bandwidth
• Command And Control
• Cost Analysis
• Data Rate
• Engineering
• Extremely High Frequency
• Frequency
• Line Of Sight
• Procurement
• Radio Frequency
• Satellite Communications
• Surveillance
• Test And Evaluation

Readers

• Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.
• Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Space
• Space - Satellites