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	Director, Operational Test & Evaluation
	FY98 Annual Report

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2010

The Navy Extremely High Frequency (EHF) Satellite Communications Program (NESP) terminal connects ship, shore, and submarine platforms to the Milstar satellite constellation. The NESP terminal supports survivable, endurable, and flexible worldwide command and control communications to strategic and tactical Naval forces through all levels of conflict. The NESP terminal provides minimum essential secure communications in stressed environments that require anti-jam and low-probability-of-intercept capabilities. NESP will enable our forces to maintain information superiority through all levels of conflict, enhancing full-dimensional protection to our warfighters by capitalizing on the unique capabilities of the Milstar satellite system.

There are three different configurations of the NESP terminal corresponding to ship, shore, and submarine platforms. Although each terminal has the same basic capabilities, their antennas and other peripheral equipment vary by platform. In addition to communicating with the Milstar satellites, the NESP terminals can operate with Fleet Satellite EHF Package on satellites 7 and 8 and with UHF Follow-On (UFO) EHF packages on UFO satellites 4 through 10.

In keeping with the 1992 restructuring of the Milstar program, the NESP terminal is being upgraded to add a tactical medium data rate capability to the existing strategic low data rate capability. The maximum low data rate is 2.4 kbps, while the maximum medium data rate is substantially higher at 1.544 mbps. The existing NESP Navy terminals will be upgraded with a medium data rate appliqué to achieve the combined low/medium data rate Milstar capability. However, to satisfy terminal requirements beyond upgrading the existing NESP terminals, the Navy has initiated a new Follow-On Terminal Program. In addition to providing low/medium data rate extremely high frequency communications, the Follow-On Terminal will support super high frequency systems and the Global Broadcast Service satellites. The submarine terminals are undergoing medium data rate upgrades, which include modification for a new mast and 16" antenna, as well as the addition of super high frequency and Global Broadcast Service capabilities.

The NESP low data rate terminal IOT&E was comprised of three operational tests:

• The first operational test, OT-IIA in June 1988, supported the Milestone IIIA decision in September 1988.



• The second and third operational tests, OT-IIB and OT-IIC (conducted in September 1990 and August 1992, respectively), supported the Milestone IIIB decision in April 1993.

Since the NESP IOT&E occurred before the first Milstar satellite was on orbit, Navy Fleet Satellites supported the three IOT&E events. Two follow-on operational tests were conducted after the first Milstar satellite was in orbit.

• OT-IIIA (August and September 1994) and OT-IIIB (June, July, and September 1996) verified the NESP terminal performance with an in-orbit Milstar satellite. OT-IIIA addressed unresolved issues and deficiencies observed in the prior tests while OT-IIIB addressed low data rate anti-jam and low probability of intercept performance.

Phase II LDR System IOT&E. The NESP terminal participated in the Phase II Low Data Rate System IOT&E Dedicated Asset Test (DAT II) conducted by AFOTEC in March 1997. DAT II addressed communications connectivity over networks using the cross-link between the Flight 1 and Flight 2 Milstar satellites, as well as issues unresolved in Phase I Low Data Rate System IOT&E.

Milstar Intersegment Tests 4000/6000. Army, Navy, and Air Force terminals participated in the Milstar Intersegment Tests conducted in July 1997 and August 1998. In these medium data rate focused developmental tests, the Service terminals were connected to the Milstar Flight 3 satellite payloads at the contractor's facility in Sunnyvale, CA. The Army's low/medium data rate capable Secure, Mobile, Antijam, Reliable, Tactical Terminal (SMART-T) and the NESP terminal, equipped with an medium data rate appliqué, participated in both low and medium data rate tests, while the Air Force Command Post Terminal participated in the low data rate tests. These tests examined the compatibility and interoperability of the NESP terminal with both Milstar payloads. The tests included low and medium data rate acquisitions, simultaneous network operations, interoperable network and point-to-point calls, antenna and network control functions, and Year 2000 rollovers.

Milstar System Test 8000. Milstar Flight 3, the first medium data rate capable Milstar satellite, is expected to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Station, FL, in April 1999. After on orbit payload checkout is completed, NESP terminals will participate in combined service testing to demonstrate the compatibility and interoperability of the NESP terminal with the Milstar Flight 3 low and medium data rate payloads on orbit. The tests will include satellite acquisition, simultaneous network operations, interoperable network and point-to-point calls with Army, Navy, and Air Force terminals, and antenna and network control functions.

The medium data rate OT&E for the NESP terminal is scheduled for 3QFY99 and will evaluate the operational performance of the appliqué terminals. The test will be conducted using on shore and at sea terminals, and will include Army terminals to demonstrate Service interoperability. Follow-on tests will be conducted to address further system upgrades and issues that are not fully resolved during this test.

The submarine Follow-On Terminal operational test schedule will be integrated into the overall Milstar and NESP terminal test schedules to the greatest extent possible consistent with submarine terminal progress. Current plans are to conduct submarine terminal testing jointly during FOT&E for the NESP ship and shore terminals in 3QFY00. Operational test of the NESP follow-on terminals is scheduled to begin 3QFY03.

The NESP TEMP is being updated and should be approved prior to Milstar System Test-8000 in April 1999. The overall test approach is sound. However, the Navy will need to take a more aggressive approach in planning, resourcing, and coordinating future tests if they plan on taking advantage of opportunities to conduct joint Service terminal and on-orbit satellite tests at the earliest possible time. An aggressive approach will result in more comprehensive tests at lower total cost than would otherwise be possible.