The Space Force has awarded Northrop Grumman $398 million for the Enhanced Protected Tactical Satellite Communications-Prototype effort, the service announced today.

Enhanced PTS-P is being designed with advanced antennas and space-based processing of the Protected Tactical Waveform to improve SATCOM capabilities in highly contested environments.

“Enhanced PTS-P represents another important step in delivering more resilient, protected communications capabilities to the joint force,” said Erin Carper, acting Space Force portfolio acquisition executive for satellite communications and positioning, navigation and timing. “This capability will help ensure tactical users can operate with greater confidence in contested environments.”

Launch for the prototype is not expected until after the start of fiscal year 2030, according to Space Systems Command.

Enhanced PTS-P will inform future PTS efforts, including PTS-Resilient.

The Space Force is requesting in FY-27 $449.4 million for its Protected Tactical Service program, $299.1 million of which would go to PTS efforts, according to documents submitted with the budget request. PTS would include Enhanced PTS-P and PTS-R.

The remaining $150.4 million would be used for PTS-Global, a program designed to bridge the gap until a more assured capability is fielded.

Both programs will include space, ground and gateway segments, according to the document.

Viasat, Northrop Grumman, Astranis Space Technologies, Intelsat General Communications and Boeing were awarded up to $4 billion in July for PTS-G.

PTS-G's X-band and Ka-band satellites are expected to complete production, integration and fielding in the first half of fiscal year 2029.