...the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite. This first on-orbit test with the AEHF SV-1 satellite accomplished both extended-data-rate (XDR) and low-data-rate (LDR) communications using the FAB-T system.

"This critical test used an on-orbit satellite, proving the integrity of our FAB-T system and moving us closer to delivering this extremely important capability to our U.S. Air Force customer," said Paul Geery, Boeing vice president and FAB-T program manager. "We have conducted additional successful high-speed data tests as we work to complete the remaining software integration and prepare for functional qualification tests."

When operational, FAB-T will provide the Air Force with protected and secure wideband satellite communications to support command and control of U.S. nuclear forces. The system's advanced XDR capability offers Internet-like functionality and improved speed compared with earlier systems and software. The on-orbit testing, conducted late last year through February at Boeing's Systems Integration Lab in Huntington Beach, involved a Block 8 FAB-T and the on-orbit AEHF SV-1 satellite. As part of the testing, FAB-T acquired backward compatible LDR and XDR uplinks and downlinks. The terminal then logged onto the AEHF satellite and exchanged backward compatible LDR and XDR data with the Single Channel Anti-jam Man Portable and Secure Mobile Anti-jam Reliable Tactical Terminal used by the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy Multiband Terminal and Follow On Terminal, and the Air Force Minuteman Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network Program Upgrade terminal.

The demonstration also included AEHF Calibration Facility-Interim Command and Control terminal testing, during which FAB-T successfully transmitted and received data at 8 Mbps. The FAB-T system also demonstrated terminal rekey and rekey requests via crosslink, as well as Air Force report-back capability. Since the initial test with the on-orbit AEHF satellite, the FAB-T program has demonstrated, via a satellite simulator, 24 Mbps receive capability, Navy report-back functionality, and XDR Air Force report-back functionality. The series of tests has thoroughly demonstrated the key interfaces and functionalities used in FAB-T operations. FAB-T's success demonstrates progress toward functional qualification testing.

Boeing has also completed the fifth of 12 Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF satellites...

...the company is building for the U.S. Air Force. The spacecraft was built at the Satellite Development Center in El Segundo using the GPS IIF pulse-line manufacturing approach, which draws on commercial production line practices to build satellites faster and more efficiently. Of the five completed GPS IIF satellites, two are on orbit as part of the current 31-satellite constellation; both satellites are meeting mission requirements. Three satellites are in storage on standby for launch by the Air Force. The remaining seven are in various stages of pulse-line production and will likely be added to the constellation over the next three to five years as determined by the Air Force to ensure robust constellation availability.

The next GPS IIF launch is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2012. The satellite will be launched aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

All images are courtesy of Boeing.