PTES Software, Third-Party Terminal Used As Part of Space Force Project

Boeing has successfully integrated software elements of its Protected Tactical Enterprise Service as part of a pathfinder programme run by the US Space Force.

PTES performs ground-based processing of data transmitted in the US military’s jam-resistant Protected Tactical Waveform, which permits secure tactical communications to take place using WGS (Wideband Global Satcom) spacecraft without any modifications. Eventually, the same functionality will be possible with satcom data that uses commercial spacecraft.

The capability Boeing developed involved the company’s proprietary software integrated onto a third-party terminal, and was conducted in a virtual environment. The demo validated the capability of Boeing’s cryptographic key management system to interface with a ground terminal optimised for PTW, as well as proving that the company’s network-management software and mission-planning components would all work within these systems.

“This incremental system demonstration provides valuable feedback from Space Force operators and other members of the user community, reducing development and integration risk, while ensuring system capabilities are adaptable to change,” Troy Dawson, VP of Government Satellite Systems, stated.

“The Space Force and our industry partners are employing continuous integration, rapid prototyping and agile development across the PTES program to ensure successful deployment of this critical capability, at mission relevant-speed,” Charlotte Gerhart, Space Systems Command’s Tactical SATCOM division chief, added. “A great deal of coordination and real-time collaboration is required for industry teammates to achieve a successful integration event like this one. To fulfil our vision of digital dominance, the Space Force is building on these types of accomplishments to continue developing the most advanced mission-enabling technology to counter the threat.”