Family of Advanced BLoS Terminals (FAB-T)

Abstract

The Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals (FAB-T) - Command Post Terminal (CPT), Force Element Terminal (FET), and Presidential and National Voice Conferencing (PNVC) Integrator programs - transitioned from AFPEO/SP to AFPEO/NC3 effective December 2018. The FAB-T CPT project replaces legacy Milstar terminals and will provide Extremely High Frequency (EHF), protected high data rate communication for nuclear and conventional forces to include PNVC. FAB-T will provide this new, highly secure, state-of-the-art capability for Department of Defense (DoD) platforms to include strategic platforms and airborne/ground command posts via Milstar and Advanced EHF (AEHF) satellites. FAB-T CPTs will also support the critical command and control (C2) of the Milstar and AEHF satellite constellations. In FY 2023, Project FAB-T CPT will be completed. The FAB-T FET project replaces the legacy Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Milstar system and provides secure, protected, and survivable communications for the strategic warfighter through airborne-based Military Satellite Communication (MILSATCOM) terminals. The FAB-T FET will provide the B-52 aircraft with worldwide nuclear and non-nuclear, survivable, anti-jam Low Probability of Detect (LPD)/ Low Probability of Intercept (LPI) data and voice communications. The FAB-T FET will be interoperable with AEHF, Enhanced Polar Systems - Recapitalization (EPS-R), and Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) satellite constellations utilizing Extended Data Rate (XDR) waveforms. FAB-T FET was designated as a Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) in Feb 2019. The total cost of the FAB-T FET Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is 496.4M, including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The program is fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program. Risk Reduction efforts accomplished in 2019 are not included in the MTA cost, and result in a total investment of $527.2M. The PNVC Integrator project 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 enduring 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 the capability. The PNVC Integrator is responsible for end-to-end integration of these components, to include requirements traceability, end-to-end system testing, configuration and checkout activities, training and technical manuals, network transition support, identification of deficiencies in overall PNVC system capability, enterprise, and life cycle support for PNVC components. The AFPEO/SP approved entry into the acquisition lifecycle as a post MS-A Acquisition Category (ACAT) Ill Program of Record in January 2016. Starting in December 2018, PNVC Integrator became responsible for the funding requests of all program elements related to the Defense Information Systems and Agency (DISA) components of the PNVC System in accordance with FY 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, Sec. 1661. In February 2019, the AFPEO/NC3 declared the PNVC Integrator an ACAT II Program based on the inclusion of DISA funding in the program budget. The FY 2023 funding request was reduced by 4.096M to account for the availability of prior year execution balances. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such programs funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In PY 0.723M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in CY 0.735M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element 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, 2023
• Source ID: 1203001SF_7_3620F_PB_2023
• Change Summary Explanation: The FY 2022 President's Budget submittal did not reflect FY 2023 through FY 2026 funding. Therefore, an explanation of the change between the two budget positions for FY 2023 cannot be made in a relevant manner.
• 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
• Contracts
• Data Rate
• Department Of Defense
• Developmental Tests
• Engineering
• Military Satellites
• National Security
• Procurement
• Product Development
• Satellite Constellations
• Software Prototyping
• System Of Systems
• Test And Evaluation

Readers

• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.
• Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

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