Provide COMSEC key acquisition, 24/7, directly from source (NSA), to enable efficient loading capability to F-22 to enhance mission generation rates.

Background. The benign fill keying process required for the F-22 is very cumbersome and makes sortie production vulnerable to availability of non-maintenance COMSEC personnel and their equipment. The resulting unpredictable delays waste resources and can cause late takeoffs or even canceled sorties putting our warfighters and their missions in peril. A system is desired to provide required COMSEC key material to the flight-line as quickly and efficiently as possible to improve mission effectiveness. Ideally, the goal would be to have 24/7 access to required keys, both on the flight line as well as remote/austere locations. Currently, keys are held by NSA and distributed, on demand, to Installation COMSEC, then provided to Maintainers through a Secure data transfer to a Secure Key Loader (SKL) with NSA certified cryptologic capabilities.

Scope: F-22 crypto management modernization does not involve modification to the jet - it is for getting key material to the flight line efficiently when and where needed, and is based on a previous concept of developing an NSA approved wireless link to the current SKL. Emphasis on 24/7 key acquisition / access from NSA via satellite / wireless / secure comm is vital for the F-22 fleet.


Request funding for implementation of a secure wireless key management solution for the F-22 fleet/community.