Boeing completes TSAT security test phase

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. company Boeing has completed security testing of its Transformational Satellite Communications System.

The company said in a statement Wednesday it had "successfully demonstrated the communications and transmission security architecture of its proposed Transformational Satellite Communications System -- TSAT."

"During recent tests, Boeing used TEAM TSAT partner General Dynamics C4 Systems' Advanced INFOSEC Machine -- AIM -- to demonstrate how TSAT will send and receive encrypted messages once operational," the company said.

"This is exactly the kind of teamwork that provides our U.S. Air Force customer with the best value," said Howard Chambers, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems. "TEAM TSAT already has achieved extensive risk reduction success over the past three years. The mature, established embedded encryption programming in the AIM technology will further reduce certification risk and increase TSAT's adaptability to real-life scenarios."

"The tests, conducted at General Dynamics' facilities in Scottsdale, Ariz., supported the Defense Department's Crypto Modernization Initiative -- CMI -- to transform and modernize information assurance capabilities. The demonstration also showed key capabilities such as uploading and reprogramming algorithms over the network as well as other security functions," Boeing said.

"Our goal is to give the war fighter a high level of information security, availability of operation and protection against denial of service," said John Cole, vice president of Information Assurance for General Dynamics C4 Systems. "We are combining our space cryptographic solutions and embedded AIM technology to develop a fully re-programmable, CMI-compliant, High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryptor -- HAIPE -- for space to support TSAT's mission needs.

"TEAM TSAT also used Cisco Systems' Internet protocol router to encrypt multiple channels," Boeing said.

Boeing said TEAM TSAT "consists of Cisco Systems, Hughes, IBM, Harris Corp., Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., LGS Innovations, Raytheon, General Dynamics C4 Systems, L-3 Communications, BBN Technologies, EMS Technologies SAIC and Innovative Communications Engineering -- ICE."

"The Boeing team submitted its proposal to the Air Force on July 30. The Air Force is expected to announce the winner of the multi-billion-dollar TSAT space segment contract in January 2008," the company said.