L3Harris Technologies has achieved a critical milestone in advancing the U.S. Army’s next-generation satellite communications (SATCOM) capabilities by demonstrating interoperability between its Protected Tactical Waveform (PTW) modem and the Multi-functional Information Distribution System – Low Volume Terminal (MIDS-LVT). This step is part of the broader Protected Tactical Satellite Communications (PTS) initiative aimed at providing secure and resilient tactical communications in contested environments.
Protected Tactical SATCOM: A Strategic Imperative
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has prioritized the development of protected and resilient satellite communications to counter growing threats from peer adversaries capable of jamming or spoofing traditional SATCOM links. The Army’s PTS program is a key component of this strategy, leveraging the Protected Tactical Waveform—a jam-resistant waveform developed by MIT Lincoln Laboratory under sponsorship from the Space Force and DISA—to ensure assured connectivity for warfighters across all domains.
Unlike legacy SATCOM systems that rely on static frequency allocations and less robust modulation schemes, PTW offers dynamic spectrum access and advanced anti-jam features such as frequency hopping and beamforming compatibility. It is designed to operate over both military-owned satellites like Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) and commercial platforms such as Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS), enhancing operational flexibility.
MIDS-LVT Integration: Bridging Air-Ground-Tactical Networks
The recent L3Harris demonstration validated the interoperability between its PTW modem and the MIDS-LVT terminal—a widely fielded Link-16-capable radio used across air, ground, and maritime platforms for data sharing and situational awareness. This integration is significant because it enables tactical users to leverage existing MIDS infrastructure while accessing protected SATCOM links through PTW-enabled modems.
According to L3Harris officials, this successful pairing supports simultaneous operation of Link-16 networks alongside protected satellite communications over both WGS and commercial GEO satellites. The demonstration included over-the-air testing with live traffic flows to validate real-world performance in contested signal environments.
This dual-mode capability ensures that commanders can maintain command-and-control (C2) continuity even when line-of-sight or terrestrial networks are degraded or denied—an increasingly likely scenario in multi-domain operations against near-peer threats like Russia or China.
Technical Milestone within Increment 1 Program
The demo marks a key achievement under Increment 1 of the Army’s PTS program—a phase focused on developing terminal prototypes that can operate using PTW over existing DoD satellite constellations while maintaining backward compatibility with legacy systems. Increment 1 is managed by Program Executive Office Command Control Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T), with L3Harris among several vendors selected for prototyping contracts awarded in 2020–2021.
L3Harris’ prototype terminal includes a modular architecture supporting multiple waveforms—including PTW, legacy IP-based SATCOM protocols like DAMA/IW—and interfaces for integration into current tactical network nodes such as WIN-T Increment 2 systems. The company has also emphasized its use of open standards to ensure future extensibility toward emerging capabilities like Protected Tactical Enterprise Service (PTES), which will provide centralized mission planning and resource allocation across services.
Operational Implications for Joint Force Connectivity
The ability to integrate PTW modems with widely deployed terminals like MIDS-LVT has far-reaching implications beyond just technical interoperability:
- Joint Interoperability: Enables seamless comms between Army units using ground-based terminals and Air Force/Navy assets operating airborne MIDS platforms.
- Resilience in Contested Environments: Provides assured connectivity even under electronic warfare conditions where traditional SATCOM links may be compromised.
- Cost Efficiency: Leverages existing hardware investments while introducing new capabilities via software-defined upgrades rather than full system replacements.
This aligns closely with Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) goals—ensuring that sensors and shooters across services can share data rapidly through secure pathways regardless of domain or geography.
L3Harris Positioning Amid Competitive Landscape
L3Harris’ progress comes amid a competitive push among defense primes—including Viasat/Inmarsat Government Services, Boeing Defense, Hughes Network Systems, Raytheon Technologies—to provide modular terminal solutions aligned with PTS requirements. While many vendors are focusing on building new terminals from scratch or leveraging proprietary architectures, L3Harris’ approach emphasizes backward compatibility through modularity—allowing incremental upgrades without wholesale replacement of deployed infrastructure.
The company also brings experience from other protected comms efforts including its work on MUOS-compatible radios for the Navy and participation in Space Development Agency’s low Earth orbit transport layer programs. Its focus on open architectures positions it well for potential future phases of PTS development including Increment 2—which may incorporate additional waveforms such as XDR+ from AEHF follow-on satellites or mesh networking capabilities via proliferated LEO constellations.
Next Steps Toward Fielding
The successful demo sets up L3Harris for further evaluations under government-led testing events expected later this year at Aberdeen Proving Ground or Fort Huachuca. These will include environmental qualification tests (MIL-STD-810), cyber hardening assessments per RMF/Zero Trust frameworks, and field trials involving brigade-level exercises under realistic operational conditions.
If performance metrics are met during these evaluations—including throughput benchmarks under jamming conditions—the system could be approved for limited fielding starting FY2025 as part of Capability Set 25 deployments within select Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs).
Conclusion: Toward Resilient Multi-Domain Comms
L3Harris’ successful demonstration represents more than just a technical checkmark—it underscores an accelerating shift toward resilient communications architectures capable of surviving modern electronic warfare threats while enabling agile command-and-control across domains. As adversaries continue investing in space denial technologies—from directed energy weapons to co-orbital interceptors—the ability to maintain secure tactical comms via protected waveforms becomes not just advantageous but essential to mission success.
