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 completed the MTA rapid prototyping effort in FY 2023 by operationally demonstrating an anti-jam tactical communications capability using user-provided terminals. On 31 May 2023, the PTES Program Office successfully transitioned the program from an MTA into the Execution Phase of the Software Acquisition Pathway. PTES plans to reach Initial Operating Capability (IOC) to be demonstrated over WGS satellites in FY 2025 and Final Operating Capability (FOC) to be demonstrated in FY 2026 for worldwide PTW operations using up to all WGS satellites.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2025
- Source ID
- 643726_1206760SF_4_3620F_PB_2025
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