Ramona Adams
Viasat and the U.S. Air Force have jointly completed a production readiness review of an cryptographic module for military handheld devices and unmanned systems that transmit sensitive and classified data.
The embeddable Mini Crypto module passed the assessment and is slated to enter low-rate initial production, Viasat said Wednesday.
Mini Crypto is designed to help accelerate the development of small form factor unmanned military platforms that require secure connections to classified networks.
The module also works to support secure data dissemination to government personnel; boost the security of command and control links critical to weaponized systems; and provide a protected backhaul link for classified data to multiple U.S. government agencies.
“Viasat’s Mini Crypto represents a huge step in expediting the implementation of encrypted communications for tactical unmanned systems, sensors across the battlespace and development of systems that can be more easily shared with allies in the field,” said Ken Peterman, president of Viasat’s government systems business.
Heidi Beason, Mini Crypto program manager at the Air Force, said the military branch expects the module to help forward-deployed warfighters protect unmanned platforms, sensors and communication devices as well as secure sensitive data without the need for additional equipment.
The module is based on Viasat’s programmable and embeddable PSIAM cryptographic technology.
