Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS)

Abstract

ESS will meet the requirements for strategic communications and capability gaps identified in the Protected Satellite Communications Services (PSCS) Analysis of Alternatives (AoA), the Protected Follow-on for Resiliency (PAFR) Study and the Strategic Tiger Team. The ESS architecture and functionality will be designed in accordance with the United States Strategic Command's signed ESS Concept of Operations and the Joint Requirements Oversight Council's validated Capability Development Document (CDD) satisfying the legacy Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) strategic requirements and mission performance with enhancements for increased resiliency and cybersecurity. The ESS system continues and adds to the strategic Satellite Communications (SATCOM) mission of the AEHF program by providing space and mission control segments for worldwide and arctic DoD strategic, secure, jam-resistant, communications for ground, sea, and air assets. ESS will support strategic mission requirements to provide the National Command Authority (NCA) and Combatant Commanders with highly-reliable, secure Military Satellite Communications. ESS will support a strategic need date in FY 2032 in all operational environments and will be compatible with the existing architectures. The ESS system will satisfy emerging requirements using modular open system approaches to support incremental enhancements. Space Segment Prototyping: For more rapid and resilient strategic capability risk reduction, the ESS Program Office is executing its approved Space Segment acquisition strategy that leverages Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) authorities from the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for rapid prototyping, while maintaining the continuity of the AEHF strategic mission. Ground Resilient Integration & Framework for Operational NC3 (GRIFFON): GRIFFON is the Ground Segment and the System of Systems (SoS) Integration (SoSI) component of the ESS System. Ground acquisition focuses on modular program elements that decompose scope, avoid "vendor lock", and create opportunities for competition amongst industry while aligning with Enterprise capabilities. GRIFFON is comprised of three components: Ground Integration & Framework (GIF), SoSI, and Software Applications. GIF involves the development of the Framework and operational environments on Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) principles and is capable of on-boarding and hosting external mission applications and services. The SoSI ensures all ESS segments and external entities work together to accomplish the mission. The Software applications suite is the development of mission unique applications to be on-boarded into the software pipeline including In-Band command and control (C2), Strategic Mission Planning, Mission Control, and Test and Evaluation. End-Cryptographic Unit (ECU): Initiatives for the ESS Cryptographic Segment are focused on the development, integration, and testing of National Security Agency (NSA)-certified End-Cryptographic Units required for secure strategic communications encryption in the ESS payloads, bus, and payload test terminals in accordance with the approved ECU acquisition strategy and schedule. Space acquisition must respond with speed and agility to pacing and emerging adversary threats. Space Systems Command (SSC) has transformed 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, SSC will strategically execute experimentation, prototyping, risk reduction and other efforts to develop new or re-purpose existing capabilities. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver ESS weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 1206392SF, 1206398SF. The total cost of the ESS Space Segment Rapid Prototype Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is $1,029.9 million. The ESS Space Segment Rapid Prototype is fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program. 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, 2024
• Source ID: 643725_1206855SF_4_3620F_PB_2024

Tags

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering.
• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

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