Boeing touts satellite’s enhanced battlefield communication capabilities

Aerospace company Boeing is touting the enhanced battlefield communication capabilities of its newly unveiled Protected Wideband Satellite (PWS) design.

Boeing said the PWS features the company’s Protected Tactical SATCOM Prototype (PTS-P) payload hosted aboard the U.S. Space Force’s Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS)-11 spacecraft.

“The Protected Wideband Satellite combines significantly upgraded WGS capability with PTS-P’s automated anti-jam features,” Boeing Space Mission Systems Vice President Michelle Parker said. “This capability sets the stage for future generations of protected wideband systems that can operate in both legacy transponded and new onboard processed modes.”

Boeing noted military satellite communications (MILSATCOM) and anti-jam capabilities underpin the PWS design. Both programs are based on the company’s 702X software-driven technology enabling real-time and automated beam-forming for improved stand-off performance and signal protection.

“The joint force is relying on us to deploy capabilities that enable secure communications in a prolific jamming environment,” U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command’s Tactical SATCOM Division Chief Charlotte Gerhart said. “We also need mission-relevant speed and affordability while being mindful of the evolving threat in the battlefield. The Boeing PTS-Prototype payload hosted on WGS-11 is an exciting leap forward for new warfighter capabilities.”

The program is scheduled for launch next year, with on-orbit testing slated for 2025. After the on-orbit demonstration, the PTS-P payload will be available to transition for operational use, according to Boeing.