Technical Network-Based Security Architecture(TNSA) for Military GPS Information Assurance

ABSTRACT:This proposal is fully responsive to this Air Force SBIR programs objective to develop a network-based security overlay for military GPS receivers that provides enhanced security for GPS Critical Program Information (CPI) while relieving GPS receivers from burdensome protection measures. The Information Assurance (IA) architecture employed by the current SAASM and MGUE receivers impose significant increase in the size, weight, power and cost (SWaP-C) of these receivers due to the need to store the CPI permanently (or for long-periods) in the receivers themselves and hence the need for expensive (SWaP-C) anti-tamper (AT) measures to protect the CPI. In this SBIR program, Mayflower proposes to develop an innovative system architecture termed TNSA which will minimize the exposure of the CPI, namely GPS cryptographic algorithms and keys, needed for cryptographic processing of Y-Code and M-Code signals by taking advantage of the tactical network infrastructure which is likely be tightly integrated with the GPS navigation systems in the military applications in the near future. Mayflower will perform feasibility analysis of the proposed TNSA system concept in the Phase I program, perform a trade-off between the proposed security system architecture with other candidate security overlay concepts. Mayflower will also develop a preliminary plan for detailed design, implementation and demonstration of the selected TNSA system configuration on a prototype hardware platform in a follow-on Phase II program. BENEFIT:The proposed TNSA technology development will result in a MGUE receiver architecture and concept of operation that will reduce the cost of the MGUE significantly while improving the security of the Information Assurance components.