Boeing’s work on the family of advanced line-of-sight terminals (FAB-T) program for the Air Force is on track for delivery in 2008 after an estimated 18-month delay, according to Roger Krone, president of network and space systems with Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. Krone told reporters Monday at AFA’s Air & Space Conference in Washington that the program, which aims to develop a group of ground satellite communications terminals, hit cost overruns and delays for several reasons, including requirements creep and poor baseline management. To remedy the situation, remarked Krone, Boeing brought in more experienced program managers and has worked with the Air Force to add additional growth capability for the future Block 2 program. For now, Krone has high confidence in the Block 1 FAB-T program.
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…