DARPA chooses Rockwell Collins’ cybersecurity technology to secure new defense platforms

Rockwell Collins was recently selected by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to apply its mathematics-based development processes to protect DARPA defense platforms against potential cyberattacks.

Rockwell Collins’ methods were developed in conjunction with DARPA’s High Assurance Cyber Military Systems (HACMS) program, which helps protect cyber platforms by eliminating specific classes of system vulnerabilities.

Rockwell Collins worked in tandem with communications and technology researchers from Galois, Data 61, HRL, and the University of Minnesota to develop its architectural analysis, secure microkernel, and automatic generation of its application code. The company said the technology uses mathematical reasoning to ensure the absence of vulnerabilities that can be exploited in a cyber attack, which improves the safety and security of critical electronic systems in both military and commercial platforms.

“In today’s highly connected world, land, air and sea platforms can fall victim to cyber attack,” John Borghese, vice president for Rockwell Collins’ Advanced Technology Center, said. “HACMS provides peace of mind and high assurance that these systems are resistant to a cyber attack.”

The company recently demonstrated the technology in Sterling, Virginia, by securing platforms from an unmanned helicopter, a small unmanned air vehicle, and an enhanced soldier vision helmet.