Legacy aircraft must be updated with the latest technology to meet modern mission requirements and counter ever-evolving threats. Data storage systems, also known as data-at-rest (DAR) solutions, are expected to provide the latest commercial capabilities to address the many requirements of military aircraft.
Network attached storage (NAS) devices address these needs offering many benefits to military aircraft applications. This white paper introduces and explores these advantages.
Network attached storage
Network attached storage devices are used in modern aircraft to provide data storage on Ethernet networks, and legacy aircraft are undergoing upgrades that typically include the addition of Ethernet networks. Aircraft NAS devices should be equipped with removable memory cartridges (RMCs), which can transport map and mission data to the aircraft. After the mission, the RMCs can transport sensor and maintenance data from the aircraft back to a ground station for analysis.
Since unmanned aircraft have no crew on board to protect the Network attached storage from an adversary, the top-secret data must be protected with National Security Agency (NSA) approved encryption. That encryption can follow either of two options from the NSA –Type 1 encryption or Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) encryption. Each type of encryption is NSA-approved, and each has distinct advantages. As a developer and manufacturer of Network attached storage devices using both NSA CSfC and Type 1 encryption, we have compiled a list of factors to consider when deciding between these two NSA-approved programs view here. This list allows the user to adapt it to their program with its unique requirements and then make their own decision.
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