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 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. 3) The Presidential and National Voice Conferencing (PNVC) capability is a critical element of the Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) System. PNVC is the Survivable Emergency Conferencing Network (SECN) replacement capability which provides anti-jam, anti-scintillation, survivable, and endurable voice communications through the AEHF satellite system for national and strategic users. There are several components being developed and procured by other organizations that must be synchronized to expeditiously field this capability. The PNVC Integrator is responsible for end-to-end integration of these components,to include requirements traceability, end-to-end system testing, site installation and checkout activities, training and technical manuals, network transition support, identification of deficiencies in overall PNVC system capability, and logistics support for PNVC components. The AFPEO/SP approved entry into the acquisition lifecycle as a post MS-A ACAT III Program of Record in January 2016. 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.

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2018
Source ID
0303601F_7_3600_PB_2018
Change Summary Explanation
Presidential and National Voice Conferencing (PNVC) Integrator received $9M in FY2016 for program activities.
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
  • Logistics Support
  • Satellite Communications
  • Satellite Constellations
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Training
  • Voice Communications

Readers

  • Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

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

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