Integrity and Authentication of Real-Time Data in Navy Combat Systems

Following Navy Objective Architecture and NESI guidance, most US Navy Surface Combat Systems are integrated using real-time publish-subscribe middleware based on the OMG Data Distribution Service specification (DDS). In order to harden the DDS framework, Real-Time Innovations (RTI) designed a set of Information Assurance extensions to the DDS standard and RTI product with necessary support for Authentication, Access Control, Confidentiality, Integrity, Non-repudiation, Data Tagging, and Auditing. We began the process at OMG to develop a Security addition to DDS, successfully issuing an RFP. RTI prototyped the main aspects of the system: plug-in interfaces, authentication, access control and encryption. In Phase II, RTI will implement the secure plug-in interfaces in its DDS product, and build a plug-in solution for each Information Assurance capability. The RTI solution will integrate the technologies typically used in Navy programs and will allow the Navy and Navy Primes integrate with program-specific security mechanisms.