Defense Communication
Strategy
&
Communication Infrastructure
Hilmi Sanusi
Institut Sains Angkasa
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Defense Communication through
Satellites: WHY?
 Better mobility
 Satellite as relay
 Higher bandwidth
 Multimedia content
 More information can be transferred
 Better tactical ability
 Longer distance
Defense Communication through
Satellites: CONS
 Counter measure
 Jammed using Frequency Interference
 Eavesdropping
 Signal interception
 Weather…..
 Rain attenuation (Ku – band)
Satellite Communication: Definition
The Needs of Secured Communication
 Satellite Communications Must Be Secure
 Satellite uplink commands must be encrypted
and authenticated to assure legitimate
control of the satellite and its operation.
 Sensitive and classified communications via
satellite must be encrypted to protect them
from interception and compromise.
The Needs of Secured Communication
in Military
 Satellite Communications Encryption
satellites must employ authenticated and
encrypted command links, and encrypted downlinks
 Develop Standard to authenticate satellite
command links and services
 Hierarchy of controlling the authenticated
command links
Satellite Communications Encryption
 Provides the end-to-end security and
integrity of such message exchange
 A data protection mechanism
 Develop own encryption method
 Where & How to implement
Network or Data-link layer
Hardware / reconfigurable encryption
Modulation scheme (CDMA for counter measure)
 Different encryption for different purposes
Biometric??? (to differentiate access)
Goals for Secured Satellite
Communication
 Best possible use of limited bandwidth
 High link utilization
 Conservation of power
 Prioritization of traffic
 Tolerant of intermittent connectivity
 High forward/return link asymmetry
Data integrity and Data Security
Standard
 Should create appropriate standard to ensure
the security of the data
 The encrypt and decrypt data should maintain
the same fidelity
 At least follow the standard of the
Consultative Committee for Space Data
Systems (CCSDS ) or International
Organization for Standardization (ISO) for
Aircraft and Space Vehicles
VSAT . . .
 Provides secure solutions through VSAT
Interception, Monitoring and logging systems.
 Authentication
 Wireless Local Loop – WLL
Coverage
Better control of the network