Protected Tactical Service (PTS)

The Protected Tactical Satellite Communications (PTS) program is employing a multi-phase strategy to progressively and incrementally deploy prototypes with residual capabilities demonstrated in an operational environment. For the initial PTS Prototype (PTS-P) 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. These prototyping payloads (PTS-P) demonstrate innovative Anti-Jam (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-P projects have successfully completed delivery of prototype payloads meeting program objectives and transitioned to the PTS-R/P Major Capability Acquisition pathway in 2024. Launch, on-orbit checkout, and test/training utilization of the PTS-P payloads is ongoing. The Enhanced PTS-P is an MTA-RP additional effort continuing the strategy to rapidly deliver incremental capability, accelerating Initial Operational Capability (IOC)-like delivery by two years with purpose-built "hub in space” satellites utilizing full signal processing and switching capability allowing direct connectivity between users. The PTS-Resilient (PTS-R) project will follow Enhanced PTS- P in FY28 and is intended to be a Program of Record to provide the full PTS-R CDD capability for the PTS Family of Systems (FoS), adding additional AJ and resiliency capability and further connectivity to the Protected Tactical Enterprise Service (PTES) ground segment. In a June 2025 ADM the milestone decision authority directed the program to cancel PTS-R source selection and rapidly acquire a PTS-P with enhancements as an incremental step towards the full operational capability of PTS-R. PTS-R EMD start is deferred until FY28. Pivoting effort to develop and deliver PTS capability to the Enhanced PTS-P thrust beginning in FY26.

In CY 2022 the Space Warfighting Analysis Center (SWAC) identified gaps in protected SATCOM capabilities relative to existing and planned capabilities against current and predicted user needs, with consideration of current and emerging challenges to both operating environments and system deployment. SWAC developed a Force Design (FD) to address these gaps, realigning capabilities and disaggregating mission sets. Protected Tactical SATCOM - Global (PTS-G) is a key and enabling capability of the USSF Force Design (FD) that bridges the gap between the more focused capabilities provided by Protected Tactical SATCOM - Resilient (PTS-R), and the broadly-available but also the lower assured access capabilities provided by existing / emerging MILSATCOM and commercial services. PTS-G also augments current and future warfighter capability with increased global capacity. PTS-G is a moderate degree of assured access communications across military Ka-band and X-band using a disaggregated and proliferated sets of lower-complexity satellites. Space Systems Command (SSC) will develop the PTS-G space and ground systems to provide worldwide assured-access communications for tactical warfighters. PTS-G will consist of space vehicles utilizing military Ka band and X band payloads (PTS-G-Ka and PTS-G-X), and ground infrastructure (system controller/hub with gateways), and will connect to existing Protected Tactical SATCOM Family of Systems ground infrastructure (mission management system and cryptographic key management system) developed under the PTES program, as well as integrating legacy SATCOM waveforms. PTS-G will consist of multiple satellites that can provide either X-band and/or mil Ka-band transponded capability while also supporting the utilization of the PTW Waveform. PTW modems for user terminals will be acquired by each Service and by international partners. Initially, PTS-G will provide capabilities in select regions. PTS-G will target a solution that can provide worldwide coverage. PTS-G will be interoperable with the PTES program to perform management and cryptographic key management for PTW users, but PTS-G will procure and install the associated PTES Joint Hubs and other ground infrastructure to operate the satellites, anchor the data, and perform O&S. In addition, the PTS-R system will be integrated with components of PTES and will be complementary to PTS-G.