UXS AUTHENTICATION AND KEY EXCHANGE REQUIREMENTS FOR MULTIDOMAIN OPERATION AND JOINT INTEROPERABILITY

Within the Joint All Domain Command and Control (C2) sensor network and the Navy’s Project Overmatch, unmanned systems (UxS) are a shared capability that extends reach and capacity of the military force to enhance tactics in contested spaces. This has increased research into interoperable network frameworks to securely and efficiently C2 distributed UxS forces. To date, antiquated technologies, stove-piped and proprietary business practices limit or obscure the pursuit of emerging industry techniques that provide security features required for today’s modernized force—leaving more questions than facts. Moreover, UxS power and processing limitations and constrained operating environments prohibit the use of existing modern communications protocols. However, developments in message layer security (MLS), a secure and efficient group communication protocol, could be the ideal choice for UxS teaming. This thesis documents results gathered from a qualitative study that finds MLS the best option for UxS group security and efficiency. It also documents the integration of MLS into the ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and Naval Information Warfare Pacific CASSMIR unmanned surface vehicle (USV). The implementation provides a concept of operation to demonstrate the use of MLS to provide secure and efficient C2 and exchange of data between the UAV and USV in a multi-domain ad-hoc network configuration. The experiments conducted are in a virtual environment and the physical UxS.

Department dc:contributor.department

Computer Science (CS)

Grantor dc:publisher

Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School

Year dc:date.issued

2022

Authors dc:creator

• Leon, Andre
• Britt, Christopher J.

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Monarrez, Aurelio Jr.
• Hale, Britta

Statement dc:rights

• This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10945/70738

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:calhoun.nps.edu:10945/70738