FAB-T Completes Design Review

Boeing said it has completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for its Family of Advanced Beyond line-of-sight Terminals (FAB-T) satellite communications program.

The company said its Terminal Test team established log on, downlink, and uplink connections with a Milstar 6 satellite, which it described as a first step toward implementing Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite Extended Data Rate (XDR) capability.

The CDR was conducted Oct. 28-30 for senior military, government and industry officials.

FAB-T includes software-defined radios, antennas and user-interface hardware. The system is capable of hosting multiple waveforms that accommodate data rates in excess of 300 megabits per second. Once operational, FAB-T will provide secure beyond line-of-sight communications via several satellites that support military forces.

Boeing said it expects to begin deliveries of engineering development modules to the Air Force this year for FAB-T Increment 1, which incorporates airborne operational requirements for the Milstar and AEHF satellite systems.