Ephemeral Security Overlay for GPS

ABSTRACT: In this work, an ephemeral security technique for keying military GPS receivers will be developed. This work will not modify the existing GPS cryptographic structure, but rather develop an overlay for providing keying information to a receiver in a manner that makes all security information ephemeral, eliminating the permanent storage of CPI within the receiver. Existing and emerging battlefield networks will be leveraged to provide a method of securely distributing keys to a GPS receiver. This technique requires a security overlay over the tactical or strategic communication network where the security overlay will provide access control based on advanced key distribution, mutual authentication, location-based access and biometric techniques. The security overlay will provide secure transmission of encrypted, black keys to military receivers through all types of tactical or strategic communication networks, including mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). Additionally, concept of operations (CONOPS) and Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) needed to support the ephemeral overlay technology will be explored.; BENEFIT: A successful implementation of the proposed system would greatly reduce the cost and overhead associated with the development and manufacture of military GPS receivers. Removing the permanent storage of CPI from the receiver would remove the burden placed on receiver manufacturers by the strict security policies associated with SAASM receivers and open military receiver development to a wide range of non-traditional contractors.