Boeing’s [BA] Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals (FAB-T) development program has completed the functional qualification testing phase for the protected wideband satellite communications system, according to a company statement.

Boeing said its tests verified operational capabilities required for the ground and airborne terminal types specified in the Air Force FAB-T development contract. FAB-T command post terminals will be installed in fixed and mobile ground installations as well as aboard E-4B airborne operations center and E-6 airborne command post aircraft. Advanced wideband terminals (AWT) will be installed on B-2 and B-52 bombers and RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft.

The Air Force’s N404, a Boeing 707 test aircraft, tests FAB-T terminals. Photo: Boeing.

Boeing is finishing work under its current FAB-T development contract. Key upcoming milestones include the completion of functional and physical configuration audits, information security certification and an extended battery of tests to verify the system’s reliability.

FAB-T is to provide nuclear-survivable terminals capable of using multiple waveforms and communicating with both legacy Milstar and next-generation Advanced EHF (AEHF) satellites. Boeing and Raytheon [RTN] are the companies vying for the FAB-T contract. The Air Force has a critical need date of for delivery of a command post terminal with a Presidential and National Voice Conferencing (PNVC) capability by no later than fourth quarter fiscal year 2015. The Air Force expects to make its source selection in January and wants initial operational capability (IOC) by FY ’19 (Defense Daily, Oct. 21).