Protected Tactical Enterprise Service (PTES)

Protected Tactical Enterprise Service (PTES) aims to develop a software-intensive ground system to provide worldwide, anti-jam (AJ) protected communications for tactical warfighters. This program is a part of the U.S Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) and Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) initiative to mitigate adversarial jamming effects by using the Protected Tactical Waveform (PTW). The specific objectives include developing the Mission Management System (MMS), Key Management System (KMS), and Joint Hub Variants (JHs) to enable PTW via transponded WGS satellites and commercial SATCOM with JH Variants. Additionally, the program aims to achieve Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in FY 2024 for PTW over WGS and Full Operational Capability (FOC) in FY 2026 for worldwide PTW operations using up to all WGS satellites.

Furthermore, Program PE 1206760SF plans to segregate funding allocated to develop the capability to deliver PTW to the warfighter by leveraging commercial satellites under Project 643733, PTW Over Commercial. The program's efforts include architectural development, acquisition strategy development, system requirements and system trades analysis, and engineering, manufacturing, developing, testing and evaluating PTES and PATS systems and segments. The program also aims to rapidly respond to implement system resiliency and situational awareness necessary to operate in the contested space domain through activities such as studies, technical analysis, experimentation, prototyping, etc.