An adaptive security architecture for future aircraft communications

Overview & Synopsis

This paper presents an original and adaptive security architecture for the future connected aircrafts. A secure system topology for the embedded network is proposed with regards to network and system constraints, service priorities and regulatory recommendations. The design of a new component called Security Manager (SecMan) is explained in details and all its processes are formalized for a better understanding of the proposal made in this paper. A performance study is done in order to assess the advantages of this adaptive security policy within some critical aircraft communication scenarios. The adaptive security architecture will be applied for a satellite-based system architecture of an industrial project titled "FAST " (Fiber-like Aircraft Satellite Telecommunications). The project is co-funded by the Aerospace Valley pole and the French government (Direction Générale de la Compétitivité, de l'Industrie et des Services - DGCIS, Fonds Unique Interministériel - FUI). The FAST satellite system aims at providing bi-directional satellite communication services on commercial aircraft worldwide. Many partners take part in the project, both from industry (EADS Astrium, Axess Europe, Vodea, and Medes) and academy (CNRS/LAAS, ISAE, ENAC, Telecom Bretagne).