Innoflight, Inc. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: Current space COMSEC end units are quite large (not suitable for nanosats, cubesats), bas

Description

Current space COMSEC end units are quite large (not suitable for nanosats, cubesats), based on 1980"s technology, and do not take advantage of modern protocols or data standards. They are also predicated on unique communications equipment and built to only meet the Space-Ground Link System specification, which is not at all designed to be compatible with modern interfaces or networking solutions. Furthermore, not only are these units bulky and dated, they are extremely limited in configurability and require unique drivers and software protocol stacks to be written and added for practically every adaptation of a radio or processing device that interfaces to it. As a result, the cost to implement a secure communications system can be rather severe. The overall objective of this SBIR project is to develop a highly miniaturized and"smart"COMSEC end unit that is an independent and configurable subsystem with built-in Command and Data Handling (C & DH) features for Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) constrained aerospace applications. The solution will replace much more expensive, larger and specialized communication packages used on aerospace systems. In addition, the use of Type 1 AES256-GCM Suite B cryptography means compatibility with less expensive and more readily available ground COMSEC systems. The driving application is DoD Space missions due to the policy requirement for the command and control link to be encrypted with NSA Type 1 encryption; however, the plan is develop and certify a COMSEC product for at least dual-use to include space and DoD missile applications.