Jay Clemens
The U.K. defense ministry has selected Airbus to provide data protection technology for the British version of the Lockheed Martin-built F-35 fighter jet and other military aircraft, Defense News reported Sunday.
Andrew Chuter writes the Airbus local key management system technology will work to store, protect and distribute encrypted data on F-35, Airbus-built Voyager A330 inflight refuelling jet and Lockheed’s Hercules C-130J airlifters during operations set to kick off in 2018.
“I see no reason why we cannot offer this technology to other F-35 users,†said Phil Jones, head of cybersecurity operations for Airbus’s defense segment in the U.K.
The data protection technology is designed to receive and package cryptographic keys in order to load them on an aircraft’s end crypto units with the use of a mobile device, according to the report.
Jones said the technology could also apply to other missions such as maritime applications in surface ships and submarines, critical infrastructure and industrial control systems, Defense News reports.
