PTES

Abstract

The global threat of electronic warfare attacks against space systems will expand in the coming years in both number and types of weapons. Threat development will very likely focus on jamming capabilities against dedicated military satellite communications (MILSATCOM). To address this critical threat, the Space Force is developing the Protected Tactical Enterprise Service (PTES) ground system to provide worldwide, anti-jam, Low Probability of Intercept (LPI) communications for tactical warfighters. PTES will use the Protected Tactical Waveform (PTW) to provide anti-jam communications via military and commercial satellite systems for tactical users in all Services. Initially, PTES will utilize the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) system and may be expanded later to include commercial satellites and the Protected Tactical SATCOM (PTS) system. The PTES program is developing a Mission Management System (MMS), a Key Management System (KMS), and Joint Hubs to enable PTW via transponded WGS satellites, with future extension to commercial SATCOM. Production-representative PTW modems for user terminals were developed by the Protected Tactical Service Field Demonstration (PTSFD) and separately acquired by each Service and by international partners. To meet the warfighter requirements for protected tactical MILSATCOM and the capability gaps identified in these studies, RDT&E funding is required for architectural development, acquisition strategy development, system requirements and system trades analysis, and engineering, manufacturing, developing, testing and evaluating PTES systems and segments. The PTES Rapid Prototype addresses an operational need in the Pacific region by achieving Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in FY 2024. IOC provides ground elements for PTW over WGS and consists of PTES installation at two WGS Gateway sites utilizing one WGS satellite. The Navy Wideband Anti-Jam Modem System (WAMS), the Air Force-Army Anti-Jam Modem (A3M), and other stakeholders rely on PTES to provide PTW ground infrastructure. The Space Force is utilizing FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act, Middle Tier of Acquisition for Rapid Prototyping authority to deliver a PTES Operational Demonstration meeting IOC threshold capabilities in FY 2022. At Full Operational Capability (FOC) PTES will provide worldwide PTW operations using up to all WGS satellites. Space acquisition must respond with speed and agility to 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 repurpose existing capabilities. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver PTES weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 1206392SF and 1206398SF. The total cost of the PTES Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is $332 million, including RDT&E prototype units. The PTES Rapid Prototype Middle Tier Acquisition effort 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, 2023
• Source ID: 643726_1206760SF_4_3620F_PB_2023

Tags

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering.

Technology Areas

• Microelectronics
• Space