Protected Tactical Enterprise Service (PTES)

Mission — PTW Over Commercial source

PTW over Commercial (PTWoC) Initial Operational Capability (IOC) is targeted for when Protected Tactical Waveform (PTW) operations are provided to users via a single Joint Hub over one commercial satellite, or International Partner (IP) satellite, including full Mission Management System (MMS) and Key Management System (KMS) support functions. PTWoC is expected to reach Full Operational Capability (FOC) after providing the ability to support geostationary, medium earth or highly inclined orbit PTW satellite communications from nine separate locations and for all equatorial longitudes. Highly inclined orbits are necessary in order to provide SATCOM coverage over the Earth's polar regions. Research, Development, Test & Evaluation funding is required for architecture development, acquisition strategy development, system requirements and system trades analysis, engineering, manufacturing, software development, and test and evaluation of PTES systems and segments. Initial PTWoC efforts are focused on providing additional, cost-effective SATCOM capacity to Joint and Allied warfighters via an international partnership with Luxembourg. Future efforts will focus on enabling Protected Tactical Waveform SATCOM operations over the O3b mPOWER Medium Earth Orbit constellation, as well as over commercial SATCOM constellations in other orbits.

Mission — PTES source

Protected Tactical Waveform (PTW) over Wideband Global Satellite (WGS) Initial Operational Capability (IOC) is expected in FY 2027. IOC will be achieved through Joint Hub (JH) installation at two WGS teleport sites at separate locations, which utilize one WGS satellite, in addition to nominal operations using the PTES Mission Management System (MMS) and Key Management System (KMS). Full Operational Capability (FOC) is projected for FY 2028, at which time PTES will provide worldwide PTW operations using JHs installed in at least eight different WGS teleport sites and utilizing ten WGS satellites. Research, Development, Test & Evaluation funding is required for continued architecture development, software development, and test and evaluation of PTES systems and segments.

Mission — Protected Tactical Enterprise Service (PTES) source

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 include a focus on jamming capabilities against military satellite communications (SATCOM). 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 communications for tactical warfighters via the Protected Tactical Waveform (PTW). This Program Element also provides for a capacity increase of non-PTW SATCOM for joint warfighters. The PTES Program began as a Rapid Prototyping activity under the Middle Tier of Acquisition authority in June 2018. Upon a successful Operational Demonstration of PTW Over Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) and satisfying MTA requirements, the program transitioned into the Software Acquisition Pathway in FY 2023. The PTES Program focused on getting PTW broadcasted over the WGS system, with a plan to later expand the capability over commercial satellites and the Protected Tactical SATCOM (PTS) system. PTES is comprised of these two efforts: Project 643726, PTW Over WGS (PTWoW) and Project 643733, PTW Over Commercial (PTWoC). The PTES Program developed a Mission Management System (MMS), Key Management System (KMS), and Joint Hub (JH) to enable transponded PTW over SATCOM. The JH is unmanned computing and communications hardware located at a SATCOM teleport that provides the PTW signal processing, reach-back network connectivity, and near real-time networked control to direct the connected terminals. Each JH requires site surveys, equipment purchases (modems, End Cryptographic Unit, etc.), equipment installation, and equipment testing. Production-representative PTW modems for user terminals were developed by the Protected Tactical Service Field Demonstration and will be separately acquired by each Service and by international partners. The Navy Wideband Anti-Jam Modem System, the Air Force-Army Anti-Jam Modem, and other stakeholders rely on PTES to provide PTW ground infrastructure. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver the 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. 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.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (4)