Cubic completes CME demonstration

Cubic Global Defense and Draken International have completed a live flight demonstration of the Cubic Miniature Encryptor (CME) in Lakeland, Florida, the company announced on 29 October. 

The CME performed airborne encryption of the P5 Combat Training System (P5CTS) on tactical fighter aircraft. The CME encryption solution increases security for advanced air combat training and supports P5CTS pod and ground station encryption compatibility with the Joint Strike Fighter’s P5 Internal Sub-system. 

Cubic used two Draken fighter aircraft to carry the encrypted P5 pods during the demonstration. The engineers at the P5CTS Live Monitor ground station could track the aircraft for the full duration of the flight, including taxi, takeoff and landing using the CME. The TSPI data and uplinked manual kill notification were successfully passed across the P5CTS encrypted data link. 

The company further verified backwards interoperability of the CME through an unmodified P5CTS Live Monitor ground station and an unencrypted pod on a third aircraft. The encrypted system could thus see and relay the unencrypted data from the P5 pod. The unencrypted system could relay, but not ‘see’ the encrypted P5 pods.

The P5CTS provides real-time and post-mission training for surface-to-air, air-to-ground and air-to-air combat missions by displaying and recording mission data, live-air picture, and relaying Time, Space and Positioning Information (TSPI) between participating aircraft during training. It features GPS-enabled, aircraft-mounted airborne instrumentation ‘pods’ plus ground stations that help aircrew conduct, monitor and control air combat training and post-flight debriefing.

The CME can encrypt sensitive information including complex fighter tactics, offering an immediate layer of security protection. It is interoperable with the JSF P5CTS, making it backwards and forwards compatible with P5CTS ranges.

Michael Knowles, vice president and deputy general manager of air ranges, Cubic Global Defense, said: ‘The CME is a migration path for upgrades to air combat training system ranges, and encryption is one of the incremental upgrades needed to develop a true live, virtual and constructive training capability.’