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 efforts: 1) 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 existing user platforms and future concept terminals to provide more resilient and/or higher data rate satellite communications to warfighters. 2) The Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals (FAB-T) program replaces legacy Milstar Command Post Terminals (CPT) and will provide Extremely High Frequency (EHF), protected high data rate communication for nuclear and conventional forces to include Presidential and National Voice Conferencing (PNVC). FAB-T will provide this new, highly secure, state-of-the-art capability for DoD platforms to include strategic platforms and airborne/ground command posts via Milstar, AEHF, and Enhanced Polar System (EPS) satellites. FAB-T terminals will also support the critical command and control (C2) of the Milstar, AEHF, and EPS satellite constellations. In FY15, the Air Force continued development of the FAB-T terminal, Milestone C decision was approved on September 1, 2015. 3) The Presidential and National Voice Conferencing (PNVC) capability is a critical element of the Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) System. There are several components being developed that must be synchronized to expeditiously field this capability. In May 2015, the Air Force was designated as the end-to-end PNVC Integrator. The Defense Information Systems Agency will transfer $15M RDT&E to the Air Force for PNVC Integration. The Air Force will request an ATR for FY15 and/or FY16 funds for remaining FY16 requirements. This continuing effort was previously programmed and budgeted in DISA's PE 0303126K/Long-Haul Communications - DCS, PC01: Presidential and National Voice Conferencing Equipment and is not a New Start. 4) The Joint Terminal Engineering Office (JTEO) provides tri-service coordination of terminal development, acquisition and fielding activities. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2017
• Source ID: 0303601F_7_3600_PB_2017
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Acquisition
• Air Force
• Artificial Satellites
• Command And Control
• Communication Systems
• Contracts
• Data Rate
• Engineering
• Extremely High Frequency
• Frequency
• Line Of Sight
• Military Satellites
• Production
• Satellite Communications
• Satellite Constellations
• Systems Engineering
• Test And Evaluation

Readers

• Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

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