The US Air Force and Boeing have completed intersegment tests of communications between a Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminal (FAB-T) and an Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite vehicle (SV2) payload, at Sunnyvale, California, US.

The tests demonstrated the ability of the FAB-T Nuclear Command and Control Network Communications System (NC2NCS) to communicate with the AEHF satellite payload.

The FAB-T NC2NCS terminals will support AEHF connectivity and provide backward compatibility for legacy payloads, such as Milstar, to communicate with B-2, B-52H and RC-135 aircraft.

The programme will also include replacements for existing ground-fixed, ground-transportable and airborne E-4B / E-6B command post terminals.

When fielded, FAB-T will provide the US with critical, protected wideband satellite communications via the AEHF system, a new class of secure satellites to support military forces.