Secure communication products and solutions are needed to connect and provide transmission, processing, recording, monitoring, and dissemination functions for a variety of communication systems, such as:
- Secure data links to and from airborne, satellite and ground- and sea-based remote platforms for real-time information collection and dissemination to users
- Highly specialized fleet management and support, including systems integration, sensor development, modifications and maintenance for signal-intelligence and special-mission aircraft, as well as airborne surveillance systems
- Strategic and tactical signal intelligence systems that detect, collect, identify, analyze, and disseminate information
- Secure telephone and network equipment and encryption management
- Communication systems for surface and undersea vessels and manned space flights
Wireless Secure Communications System
Because recent developments around the world have shown the need to enable higher interoperability between the various Allied forces, the U.S. Army is engaged in a major upgrade to its military radio capabilities. Similarly, the need for an enhanced radio communications system to allow the various public emergency services (such as police, medical 911 services, and firefighters) has become more critical in recent years.
Altera provides high-level solutions to many military secure communication programs such as the joint tactical radio system (JTRS) for the U.S. Military, as well as in many handheld civilian public mobile radios. Software-defined radio (SDR) in embedded systems is now possible through the use of FPGAs. The underlying concept behind SDR is the ability to reprogram a modem so the waveform process (modulation/demodulation) can be updated in-system according to the situation. FPGAs are ideal for this application. Power and processing features are key requirements for the wireless world and Altera offers low-power solutions through its MAX® II, Cyclone® III, and HardCopy® II device families.
Wireline Secure Communications System
The key trend in high-speed military trunk communications (backbone) is the need for Gigabit-level communication (1, 5, 10, 40 Gbps). For the civilian requirement, these networks need strong encryption capabilities. Altera® Stratix® III and Stratix II GX FPGAs combine high-performance and high-speed I/O capabilities.
Encryption Technology Evolution
Given the computational capabilities of current embedded systems and applications in electronic warfare, the need for stronger encryption is imperative to keep communications secure. Stringent customer requirements imposed on the capability of the encryption engines enable stronger security and the ability to process rapidly-growing bit rates. At the same time, with the rapidly evolving electronic warfare capabilities, the encryption functions within these communications systems need to be reprogrammable in order to defeat any attempt to discover the encryption techniques used, or to upgrade if the encryption scheme may have been discovered. The Stratix III, Stratix II GX, and MAX II families provide embedded security features that protect the FPGA designs.
