Blockchain-based, Highly Secure, Decentralized, and Immutable (DSI) Network System Protocol for Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL)

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Advanced Computing and Software;FutureG;Integrated Network Systems-of-Systems OBJECTIVE: Design and develop a secure blockchain-based system for manned aerial platform air-to-air and air-to-ground secure communication. DESCRIPTION: The manned aerial platform can share information two ways in combat across radio datalinks and other innovations to pass targeting data, conduct surveillance, and execute attacks; however, there is the problem of detectability by the adversaries. Radio frequencies emit an electronic signature, which can emit a potentially detectable radio frequency signal. Radio interference, jamming attempts, and electronic warfare are all obstacles to maintaining secure and undetected air-to-air and air-to-ground communication. Another important challenge is the lack of trust between communication networks that can negatively affect the activities and interaction, as well as leading to casualties, security breaches, and other irreversible consequences. To reduce the negative effects and influence of adversarial participants in the network interaction, the Navy requires the development and demonstration of a highly-secured, decentralized, permissionless, and immutable network system protocol to integrate with the manned aerial platform's Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL). The network privacy and security can be achieved for air-to-air and air-to-ground networks by mitigating the link attack and detecting malicious nodes, since it can achieve a consensus without introducing a third party. The main goal of this SBIR topic is to design and develop a low-latency and high-reliability communication blockchain-based network protocol, while taking into account the specifics of the network, the high dynamics of network topology changes and the exchange of large numbers of data. 1. Analyze the indicators of reliability, sustainability, and resource provisioning of the infrastructure facilities of the systems. The solution should maintain and not degrade current standards of bandwidth for IEEE KuBand (e.g., 548 Mbps upload and 1 Gbps download speeds). 2. Design and develop a model for the interaction of the technology in the system to ensure stable and reliable delivery of information, as well as when organizing interaction between objects of mobile edge computing and the infrastructure of the operator's network core. 3. Design and develop a complex mathematical model of the system, taking into account the interconnection of objects and channels for air-to-air and air-to-ground information transmission. 4. Evaluate performance of the developed framework for heterogeneous scenarios. PHASE I: Design, develop, and demonstrate a zero trust, blockchain-based, decentralized, permissionless, and immutable network communications method to integrate with the manned aerial platform's MADL that can sustain the minimum data rate of 1 Gbps. Provide simulation and experimental proof-of-concept demonstration on this blockchain-based communication's security relative to that without the blockchain protocol. The Phase I effort will include prototype plans to be developed under Phase II. PHASE II: Develop, build, demonstrate, and validate a prototype network communications method based on Phase I. Develop a network infrastructure and perform testing to explore the limits of operational reliability and latency. Experimentally demonstrate that the prototype meets or exceeds the performance specifications stated in the Description. Demonstrate the security superiority of this blockchain-based data link quantitatively relative to that of the conventional link without the blockchain protocol. Provide a production cost model. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Pursue commercialization of the technologies developed in Phase II for potential government and commercial applications. Government applications include rapid concept development and maturation for emerging military missions. There are potential commercial applications in Private sector use in telecommunication and local, urban communication that would benefit from this game-changing technology due to its blockchain-based, highly secure, decentralized, and immutable network system protocol for multifunction advanced data link. REFERENCES: 1. Vladyko, A., Elagin, V., Spirkina, A., Muthanna, A., & Ateya, A. A. (2022). Distributed Edge Computing with Blockchain Technology to Enable Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency V2X Communications. Electronics, 11(2), 173, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11020173 2. Osborn, K. The F-35 and F-22 can now speak the same language in stealth mode. The National Interest, July 8, 2021. https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/f-35-and-f-22-can-now-speak-same-language-stealth-mode-189379 3. Budman, M.; Hurley, B.; Khan, A. and Gangopadhyay, N. Deloitte's 2019 global blockchain survey. Deloitte Development LLC, 2019. https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/se/Documents/risk/DI_2019- global-blockchain-survey.pdf KEYWORDS: Blockchain; Highly Secure; Decentralized; Immutable; Network System; Protocol; Multifunction data link