FABT FORCE ELEMENT TERMINAL

The Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals (FAB-T) Force Element Terminal (FET) program is a strategic initiative by the Air Force to modernize and enhance secure communication capabilities for strategic warfighters. This initiative focuses on replacing existing Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Milstar terminals with advanced Military Satellite Communication (MILSATCOM) terminals. The primary goal is to provide secure, protected, and survivable communications through airborne-based systems, ensuring both nuclear and non-nuclear communication capabilities are maintained globally. The FAB-T FET is designed to be interoperable with several satellite constellations, including Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF), Enhanced Polar Systems - Recapitalization (EPS-R), and Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS), utilizing Extended Data Rate (XDR) waveforms.

In FY 2025, the program plans to significantly increase production activities. The objective is to procure 18 terminals within the year, contributing to a total of 83 terminals over the program's duration. These include units specifically for installation on B-52 aircraft, with additional units allocated for training, labs, depots, and spares necessary for sustainment and integration activities. The increase in resources from FY 2024 to FY 2025 supports this expansion in procurement quantities and enhances testing capabilities through Radiation Lot Acceptance Testing (RLAT) for component hardening.

The program also emphasizes logistics planning and interim contractor support activities as part of its objectives. This includes procuring hardware bench-stock components essential for sustainment and addressing potential Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages that could impact cost and schedule. Additional efforts involve program office support, technical analysis, training, testing support, and resolving test deficiencies. The transition from development funding to production marks a significant phase in the program's lifecycle as it moves towards achieving its strategic communication goals.

The FAB-T FET program represents a critical investment in maintaining robust communication infrastructure for strategic military operations. By integrating advanced technologies and expanding production capabilities, the Air Force aims to ensure that warfighters have access to reliable and secure communication channels necessary for mission success in diverse operational environments.