PTES

Abstract

PTES will deliver a software-intensive ground system to provide worldwide, AJ protected communications to warfighters who are currently unable to operate through interference by using the PTW. PTES delivers the foundational ground system to enable PTW-based protected communications for all PATS capabilities in a incremental approach by operationalizing the PTW over WGS and later for PTW Over Commercial and the future PTS system. In this Project, the PTES ground system will provide an operational AJ communications capability using PTW service over the existing WGS system. This effort also includes the development of PTES program elements such as the MMS, a KMS, and JHs, which will be extensible to PTW via transponded commercial satellites. This effort informs, supports, and reduces risk to future PATS development that will provide the PTW service using commercial satellites and purpose-built PTS with onboard PTW processing. The development for PTW over WGS in this Project, 643726, segregates efforts established in FY 2024 as a new Project, 643733, for the PTW Over Commercial increment of PTES. This new Project continues FY 2023 efforts begun in Project 643726 for the next instantiation of the PATS architecture to enable PTW service through commercial satellites with processing that will occur on the ground. PTES will develop the MMS and KMS software, and the JH hardware. A JH is the unmanned computing and communications hardware located at a SATCOM Gateway which will provide the PTW signal processing, reachback network connectivity, and near-real-time networked control to direct the connected terminals. The JHs will require installation at large SATCOM Gateways and the system will be integrated and tested with PTW-capable modems that will be separately procured by the Navy, Air Force, and Army. In addition, the KMS and JH End Cryptographic Units (ECU) must be certified by the National Security Administration (NSA). The ECUs are required to generate transmission security (TRANSEC) and cover for all channels/data flows, encrypt/decrypt waveform messages, securely receive/store key material from NSA's Key Management Infrastructure, as well as to synchronize and process key streams for hundreds of simultaneous users. Driven by emerging threats in the Pacific theater, PTES will complete the MTA RP effort with an operational demonstration of an AJ tactical communications capability using user-provided terminals in support of any Service or formation in Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) or any operationally-relevant environment in FY 2023. A future acquisition pathway will continue PTES development to reach IOC for an early operational prototype over WGS in FY 2024 and FOC in FY 2026 for worldwide PTW operations using up to all WGS satellites.

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Document Details

Document Type
Project
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2024
Source ID
643726_1206760SF_4_3620F_PB_2024

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

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

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Space
  • Space - Satellites

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