Secure Communications Architecture Low Earth (SCALE)

We will describe a high TRL solution and then use that to simplify and reduce the delivered cost and the system latency through concurrent R&D in both an optical encryptor study and data models with an approved NSA Key Management process of our own design. We will iterate the design three times during Phase I with stakeholder input as defined by SDA and finally deliver a certifiable architecture with optimized and novel hardware tied to new policy for both NSA and RMF approval, ready for Phase II. Our team has been doing NSA certifications for decades, including space. We have sought out R&D partners specifically to leverage opportunities we see in the NSA certification process. The most advanced cryptographic product that the NSA ever made by itself is a secure telephone, as the engineers there knew how to make a call and not break it with crypto. Ever since then the discussion has been one of trying to integrate without breaking, or baking in security (with mixed results). There are four components in our proposal, Hardware (optics and electronics), networking, certification and optimization (rinse and repeat). Our subject matter experts and process will allow us to simultaneously optimize for the functional variables and bake in the security requirements that the NSA will require.