Crypto-Partitioning Aware PEP for Tactical Networks (CAPTAIN)

ABSTRACT: The USAF has identified the need for a ciphertext-side (CT-side) proxy to enhance the performance of military applications operating over a crypto-partitioned GIG environment. Such a capability is needed because the plaintext-side (PT-side) performance enhancing proxy (PEP) approaches that are currently employed suffer from one or more of the following limitations: (1) Poor performance enhancement capability; (2) Inability to support multiple applications; and (3) Lack of interoperability. To overcome these limitations and capability gaps of the state of the art for PEPs in tactical environments, Architecture Technology Corporation (ATC) proposes an innovative solution called Crypto-Partitioning Aware PEP for Tactical Networks (CAPTAIN). The CAPTAIN approach for application and network performance enhancement has the following benefits: it provides backward compatibility with existing COTS applications and existing network infrastructure; it is based on an open modular architecture that fosters multi-vendor interoperability and extensibility thereby lowering acquisition and operating costs; and it lends itself to a variety of product embodiments providing a wide range of price-performance alternatives to meet the needs of different tactical networks. BENEFIT: The CAPTAIN software product resulting from this effort will directly address the need of tactical military networks, such as the Airborne Network, that are increasingly adopting IP for network centric mission operations. In the civilian arena the CAPTAIN product will address the WAN performance acceleration needs of enterprises using IPSEC-based VPNs for interconnecting remote sites over the Internet.