The Challenge
MIL-STD-1553 secure communication is of growing interest by key stakeholders such as the DoD, USAF and Navy. The need for secure MIL-STD-1553 is a result of 1553’s wide deployment in aerospace and industrial applications, and how well-suited it is for propagating various types of cyber attacks. MIL-STD-1553B is vulnerable for various reasons including:
- MIL-STD-1553B was never designed with security in mind
- MIL-STD-1553B controls sensitive systems such as munitions management and engine controls.
- Current MIL-STD-1553B buses connect between highly connected LRUs (line replaceable units; e.g., radars, sensors) and mission-critical computers.
Unsecure 1553 can impact mission readiness and endanger airborne staff and sensitive information. The BRM1553D-SnS is the world’s first MIL-STD-1553 IP core incorporating best-of-breed security measures at the most competitive price.
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Sital Safe and Secure vs. Alternative 1553 Cyber Solution
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How to Secure 1553
For defining its MIL-STD-1553 solution, Sital has drawn from its market leadership in MIL-STD-1553B FPGA IP cores and years of developing secure databus solutions for real-time automotive networks.
This research and experience led us to realize the three most important attributes for a secure 1553 solution:
- Detection Coverage: Analyze all message types, including BC-to-RT, RT-to-BC and RT-to-RT transfers.
- Robustness: Zero false positives
- Scalability: A solution that can easily and cost effectively fit into existing architectures and new designs with minimal changes.
There are additional important attributes such as resource requirements but they are secondary to the “big 3”.
What is BRM1553D-SnS?
Sital’s patented BRM1553D-SnS is the world’s first secure MIL-STD-1553 IP core.
The BRM1553D-SnS is based on Sital’s widely adopted BRM1553D core. Using enhanced physical layer monitoring, Sital Technology’s Safe and Secure (SnS) technology provides continuous real time authentication, along with capability to detect and locate intermittent and continuous open or short circuit faults in 1553 buses.
The SnS authentication sensor verifies that terminals are receiving messages from the correct transmitting BC or RT. This is necessary to ensure the integrity of messages received by MIL-STD-1553 BCs, RTs and Monitors. This capability enables the SnS sensor to provides the required security against “spoofing” (impersonation) attacks that can result in devastating results for mission execution or flight safety. This allows a BC or RT to reject (ignore) a non-authenticated received message.
SnS wire fault detection provides advance warnings of intermittent open and short circuit faults. If not detected and repaired early, such faults can become continuous fault conditions in MIL-STD-1553 buses, stubs, couplers, connectors, bus terminators or equipment. Early detection and location determination allows repairs to be made sooner and reduces troubleshooting and repair times. The result is increased aircraft availability, lower repair costs and improved mission readiness.
With its design for scalability and low cost, the BRM1553D-SnS is capable of protecting an entire databus with a single instance.
BRM1553D-SnS Features
- BC, RT and MT implementations
- Protect the entire databus with a single instance
- Detect and protect against cyber attacks originating within the LRU or targeting other LRUs
- Robust and reliable with zero false positive detections
- Detect, classify and locate intermittent or continuous open or short circuit wire faults in 1553 buses, stubs, couplers, connectors or equipment.
MIL-STD-1553 IP Core with Safe and Secure (SnS)
Development Kit
1553 Cyber Attacker
Avionic Databus Cyber Protection
Sital Safe and Secure Technology for MIL-STD-1553 and ARINC-429
Testing Serial Databus Wires During Flight
Safe and Secure (SnS) MIL-STD-1553 USB PhysiMux Tester
