Intelligent Automation, Inc. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: N142-102

Description

IFF transponders in the market currently are too large, heavy and power hungry for today’s smaller UAS. Crypto appliqués for secure Mode-5 operation are also too large and heavy for small UAS. Thus there is a need to minimize the SWaP of the IFF transponder and crypto appliqués to support secure/ encrypted IFF modes on UAS. There is currently no Mode-5 ready IFF transponder available that has the embedded crypto and key retention/cold-fill capabilities in a small volume. Additionally supporting Modes 1, 2, 3/A, C, 4, S and ADS-B In/Out (UAT included) from the same volume is challenging. Under the proposed effort, we will perform the final development and NSA certification of a Mode 5 and ADS-B capable micro IFF transponder, which includes continued interface with NSA and NAVAIR with regards to integration and protection of the encrypted Mode 5 capabilities, including tamper resistance and compliance with Information Assurance Security Requirements Document (IASRD) requirements supporting certification of the type 1 encryption device. We will also refine and implement platform-specific integration requirements including electrical interfaces and environmental specifications.