Protected Tactical SATCOM
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 (SATCOM). To address this critical threat, and in pursuit of more precise solutions for disaggregated strategic and tactical SATCOM, U.S Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) and Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) initiated the Protected Anti-jam Tactical SATCOM (PATS) family-of-systems. The PATS integrated approach includes the Protected Tactical Satellite Communications (PTS) and Protected Tactical Enterprise Service (PTES) programs to mitigate adversarial jamming effects by using the Protected Tactical Waveform (PTW). The PTS program is the disaggregated tactical communications follow-on to the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) program. The United States Space Force (USSF) is developing the PTS system to provide tactical users increased protection with worldwide and polar, beyond-line-of-sight, Anti-Jam (AJ), low-probability-of-intercept communications in benign and highly-contested anti-access/area denial environments utilizing the PTW. The PTS system's on-board payload/signal processing, antenna design, and advanced beam-forming using a distributed, diversified, and agile constellation of hostable payloads and high capacity free-flyers enables reliable tactical SATCOM within close proximities to adversarial jammers. The system also employs interfaces consistent with USSF's on-going resilience initiatives enhancing mission assurance and interoperability. The program's modular, flexible, scalable, and protected tactical payload constellation architecture will increase resiliency through distribution across a larger number of space platforms (e.g., hostable, free-flyer, international partnerships). The PTES program (PE 1206760SF, Project 643726) establishes the ground infrastructure for PTS, which operationalizes the PTW. For the initial PTS phase, USSF is utilizing FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) for Rapid Prototyping (RP) authority and Section 815, Other Transaction Authority (OTA), to achieve an affordable, rapid, operational capability for the tactical warfighter. This strategy employs rapid payload development to progressively and incrementally deploy prototypes with residual capabilities demonstrated in an operational environment. These RP payloads demonstrate innovative AJ technologies with modular and scalable payloads to meet validated military needs for protected tactical communications. This includes technical baseline development, systems engineering trade analyses, internal/external system integration and development, candidate system architecture evaluations, risk reduction demonstrations, prototyping concepts development, system testing, and enabling technologies maturation. The PTS Engineering, Manufacturing, and Development (EMD) Phase will follow the PTS RP Phase to develop purpose-built "hub in space” satellites with full signal processing and switching capability that allows direct connectivity between users. The PTS RP and EMD Phases include a Space Segment, Ground Segment, and Gateway Segment. For the Space Segment, the USSF strategy utilizes a payload-centric focus to enable an affordable, resilient space architecture. This enables hosting and rideshare opportunities with other US government, commercial, International Partner (IP) satellites or integration onto a commodity satellite bus. For the Ground Segment, PTS develops satellite command and control and leverages the PTES RP activity for mission and key management planning. The PTS Gateway Segment enables tactical warfighters reach back to global DoD Information Network. The PTS user Terminal Segment, not included in this PTS acquisition, will be procured by the military services utilizing low-cost PTW modem upgrades enabled by the Air Force-Army Anti-Jam Modem (A3M) ACAT III program and the Navy Wideband Anti-Jam Modem System (WAMS) technology demonstration program. PTS also develops the National Security Agency (NSA)-certified and space-flight qualified production-ready Space Hub End Cryptographic Unit (ECU). Starting the ECU as a single, early risk-reduction effort targets a high-risk area of the PTS development and enables PTS program success. Space acquisition must respond with speed and agility to pacing and emerging adversary threats. Space System 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 PTS 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 PTS RP Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is $970.6 million. The PTS RP program is fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program. PTS activities are projected to be designated as Major Capability Acquisition programs in FY24. 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
- 643728_1206761SF_4_3620F_PB_2024
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