Architecture-Based Security for UxVs

Current fleet objectives include increased use of unmanned and autonomous systems, including a variety of vehicles. Such systems are attractive due to their potential to increase effectiveness with reduced cost, size, and risk exposure for personnel. Realizing this vision requires better methods of assuring the security of these software-intensive systems, to prevent use of these systems from creating new risks, such as that of adversaries taking control of our systems and using them against us.

Navy acquisition has applied Open Systems Architecture principles to improve affordability of system development, test, evaluation, and upgrade. This paper explores extension of such principles to improve security of unmanned systems within affordable costs. The paper illustrates the proposed principles in terms of a case study on development of a secure architecture for unmanned surface vehicles that support anti-submarine warfare missions.