Air Force awards cryptologic deal

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 6 (UPI) -- General Dynamics has been contracted by the U.S. Air Force to update information-security capabilities, modernizing the security of sensitive information.

U.S. company General Dynamics said its C4 Systems business unit was awarded the contract from the Air Force Cryptologic Programs Systems Group.

Under the six-year, $30 million deal, General Dynamics will develop the next-generation technologies for the Air Force's Remote Re-Key Modernization program.

The RRK program authorizes Air Force personnel to remotely manage cryptographic keys -- which hold electronic instructions that secure sensitive data, video and images -- to control encryption equipment.

"Once in place, the RRK technologies will enable those watching our nation's airspace to more quickly respond to operational changes anywhere in the system, anytime," John Cole, General Dynamics C4 Systems vice president of information assurance, said in a statement.

"To optimize and streamline the design and development phase, we're applying our proven and extensive set of cryptographic and key-management processes and technologies."