January 2025 – Northrop Grumman Corporation has achieved a significant milestone in its Protected Tactical Satcom (PTS) programme. The company announced the successful assembly and testing of its Protected Tactical Satcom Rapid Prototype (PTS-P) payload. This advanced payload has now been delivered to Northrop Grumman’s Gilbert, Arizona facility, where it will undergo integration with an ESPAStar-HP bus and next-generation digital processing subsystem.
Built in collaboration with the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command, the PTS-P prototype is designed to establish a new benchmark in secure, anti-jamming satellite communication technologies. This modular and scalable system is set to underpin a next-generation satellite architecture that ensures reliable tactical communication in the most contested environments.
Unmatched Resilience Against Jamming
Northrop Grumman’s PTS solution leverages seven generations of expertise in secure satellite communications, featuring advanced onboard processing and specialised antenna arrays. The system autonomously identifies and neutralises sophisticated jamming attempts, providing tailored, uninterrupted communication pathways to each user. This capability ensures warfighters remain connected, even under adversarial pressure, delivering critical mission success in real time.
A Foundation for Strategic SATCOM
The PTS programme builds on Northrop Grumman’s proven heritage in Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) technologies. These systems, crucial to national security, are designed to withstand extreme threat environments, ensuring the continuous delivery of vital data. The company’s extensive four-decade experience in on-orbit operations has informed the development of the ESS Rapid Prototype, which completed a key technology demonstration in December 2023.
Towards Operational Readiness
Northrop Grumman’s ongoing partnership with Space Systems Command highlights the company’s commitment to advancing the U.S. Space Force’s mission of maintaining assured communication capabilities. With the integration of the PTS-P payload and the ESPAStar-HP bus underway, the system is progressing steadily towards operational deployment.
This latest achievement underscores Northrop Grumman’s position as a leader in protected satellite communications, enabling seamless, secure, and resilient connectivity for the warfighter in an increasingly contested space domain.
SOURCE: NORTHROP GRUMMAN. IMAGE CREDIT: © NORTHROP GRUMMAN: Northrop Grumman’s Protected Tactical SATCOM Rapid Prototype payload completed testing and assembly prior to space vehicle integration.
