EPS Recapitalization

Abstract

The Enhanced Polar System Recapitalization (EPS-R) program will provide continuous, protected, Low Probability of Intercept/Low Probability of Detection communications to tactical and strategic warfighters in the North Polar Region in benign and contested environments. EPS-R will develop and acquire 1) two Extremely High Frequency (EHF) payloads, using Advanced EHF's eXtended Data Rate (XDR) waveform, on hosted spacecraft, 2) upgrades/modifications to the existing Enhanced Polar System (EPS) Control and Planning Segment (CAPS) to provide command and control and XDR mission planning capability, and 3) upgrades/modifications to the existing EPS gateway to provide connectivity between polar and midlatitude users through the Global Information Grid. The EPS-R program is timed to prevent a gap in Arctic Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) coverage after EPS end of life. To ensure polar MILSATCOM continuity beyond FY 2025, the DoD has begun funding activities to bridge the gap between the current EPS program and future protected systems being planned for the late 2020s. The EPS-R program has examined performance, mission needs, schedules, and costs to avoid a mission gap. EPS-R intends to host the payloads on a Space Norway bus, which is scheduled to launch in CY 2022. EPS-R will reuse EPS Gateway and ground control elements to the greatest extent feasible. To meet the warfighter requirements for protected tactical and strategic polar MILSATCOM, RDT&E funding is required to continue program office and other related support activities that may include, but are not limited to studies, technical analysis, architectural development, acquisition strategy development, system requirements and system trades analysis, risk reduction activities, technology maturation, System Engineering, Integration and Test of all polar MILSATCOM segments and hosted payloads. Space acquisition must respond with speed and agility to emerging adversary threats. Space & Missile Systems Center (SMC) is transforming the organization and implementation of space acquisition to an enterprise approach, maximizing innovation and resiliency, leveraging international, commercial, and mission partnerships, and managing program/project priorities according to an integrated unclassified/classified enterprise space architecture. Expanding the appropriate acquisition authorities and contract mechanisms to deliver capability sooner, SMC will strategically execute experimentation, prototyping, risk reduction, and other efforts to develop new or repurpose capabilities. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver EPS-R capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 1206392F and 1206398F. In FY 2018, Midterm Polar MILSATCOM System was a New Start. As directed in the FY 2018 NDAA, Sec 825, amendment to PL 114-92 FY 2016 NDAA, Sec 828 Penalty for Cost Overruns, the FY 2018 Air Force penalty total is $14.373M. The calculated percentage reduction to each research, development, test and evaluation and procurement account will be allocated proportionally from all programs, projects, or activities under such account. This effort is in Budget Activity 4, Advanced Component Development and Prototypes (ACD&P), because efforts are necessary to evaluate integrated technologies, representative modes or prototype systems in a high fidelity and realistic operating environment.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2020
• Source ID: 643720_1206434F_4_3600_PB_2020

Tags

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering.
• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.
• Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Space
• Space - Satellites