Raytheon to build secure military satellite communications terminals in $298 million deal
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass., 4 June 2014. Satellite communications (SATCOM) experts at the Raytheon Co. Protected Satellite Communications segment in Marlborough, Mass., will build jam-resistant, survivable SATCOM terminals for the U.S. military under terms of a $298 million contract announced this week.
Officials of the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Fla., are choosing Raytheon to build command-post versions of the Family of Advanced Beyond Line of Sight Terminals -- better-known as FAB-T -- which will upgrade ground and airborne Military Strategic and Tactical Relay (MILSTAR) command post terminals for use with modern military Advanced EHF satellites.
The contract modification contains options for Raytheon to handle low-rate initial production, full rate production and interim contractor support for FAB-T command post terminals.
FAB-T, like the MILSTAR SATCOM terminals they replace, are protected EHF SATCOM transceivers designed to provide top military commanders with worldwide low-probability-of-intercept-and-detection satellite communications. These terminals operate with EHF-capable satellites, which include the MILSTAR and the Advanced EHF spacecraft.
For the FAB-T program, Raytheon will provide a family of beyond line-of-sight SATCOM terminals with an open architecture with multi-mission capable, ground-based and aircraft qualified SATCOM capability.
On this contract Raytheon will do the work in Marlborough, Mass., and Largo, Fla. For more information contact Raytheon online at www.raytheon.com, or the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at www.wpafb.af.mil/aflcmc.
John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.