The B-52 aircraft deployed as part of the U.S. Air Force fleet are to be equipped with secure Extremely High Frequency Communication Systems to enable them to remain in contact with other elements of the military in space, in the air and on the ground.

The revolutionary EHF has been found to be more reliable and less susceptible to atmospheric conditions than other frequencies.

The Boeing Co. said Tuesday it received a $5.4 million initial contract to begin work on developing technologies required to integrate the new EHF satellite communication system on the U.S. Air Force B-52 fleet.

No timeline for having the system in place has been mentioned, but it may be some time before the B-52 aircraft get fitted out with EHF equipment.

The Extremely High Frequency system will enable the exchange of information through what the security industry calls the Family of Advanced Beyond line-of-sight Terminals. FAB-T is designed to enable communication with the B-52 from ground, air and space platforms.

Boeing said it had won authorization to begin work on the first of three contract increments that will entail planning, risk mitigation and development of system requirements.

Increment Two will cover the design and installation of the FAB-T communication hardware, the company said, while Increment Three will integrate the new system into the Global Information Grid.

Total contract value is expected to be more than $100 million, Boeing said.

Scot Oathout, B-52 program manager for Boeing, said the EHF upgrade is one of many upgrades being installed on the USAF B-52 fleet.

Once installed, the EHF and the rest of the improvements will enable crew on board the aircraft to be better aware of the situation around them and make the warplane more effective in the battlefield.

Tests on the new technologies at work in EHF have been going on for some time. In May, Boeing revealed a B-52 upgraded with the Combat Network Communications Technology. After the CONECT network-centric upgrade, a B-52 took flight and is now undergoing further tests at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

Other enhancements on the battle-ready jet include integration of the SNIPER advanced targeting pod on board. This involves extensive software upgrades on an 18-month schedule.

The EHF upgrade is one of several recent developments focused on increasing USAF performance in complex battle situations. This week Boeing completed tests on the U.S. Air Force's Global Positioning System satellite ground control system for the addition of a critical new security capability.

New software upgrades include what Boeing calls the Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module. SAASM is designed to protect GPS receivers against fake satellite signals sent by adversaries.

A growing incidence of cyberattacks on the West's defense and financial establishments was highlighted in recent studies.

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