The Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom AFB, Mass., has just delivered the first Boeing-built FAB-T terminal to the B-2 program office for integration testing on the stealth bomber. FAB-T, which stands for family of advanced beyond-line-of-sight terminals, will enhance the ability of the B-2 to pass and receive large amounts of voice messages, data, imagery, and video securely via extremely high frequency satellite links. The first terminal is an engineering development model. Additional terminals will be delivered over the course of the next few months, including one to support flight testing on the B-2 this spring. This delivery comes on the heels of a successful demonstration in December during which a FAB-T successfully sent and received text over an operational Milstar satellite. FAB-T is destined for Air Force airlift, bomber, ISR, and special-mission aircraft as well as ground command sites. Initially the system will be installed on B-2, B-52, E-4, E-6, and RC-135 aircraft to support nuclear command and control. (Hanscom report by Chuck Paone)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.