Harris cryptographic component of AS/AJ modem receives NSA Type 1 Certification

Harris’s cryptographic component of anti-scintillation/anti-jam (AS/AJ) modem has received National Security Agency (NSA) Type 1 certification.

The KGV 90 component has been designed to provide essential cryptographic and frequency hopping capabilities for the Harris AS/AJ modem while the US Department of Defense (DoD) will utilise the modem in the event of a nuclear attack or other stressed environments.

Users can operate Anti-scintillation modem following a nuclear event, which could immobilise electronic communications systems.

Harris Government Communications Systems Aerospace Systems vice president Bill Gattle said, "NSA certification is a significant milestone in the progress of the PAAWNS program and provides Harris with a valuable discriminator in the protected wideband SATCOM market."

"It underscores our understanding of NSA requirements and the proven capabilities of the Harris Sierra II encryption module, which forms the core of the KVG 90," Gattle added.

Designed for the protected anti-scintillation anti-jam wideband netcentric system (PAAWNS) programme, the modem is extremely resistant to signal jamming and provides highest anti-scintillation data rates.

Currently, the US Army is installing the PAAWNS as part of two programmes including the AN/GSC-52 modernisation programme and the modernisation of enterprise terminals programme.

Both the programmes, with Harris as the prime contractor, have been designed to deliver next-generation military satellite communications as well as to serve as high-priority military communications and missile defence systems’ worldwide backbone.

The company has successfully demonstrated wideband protected communications, in 2012, over a Wideband Global SATCOM IV satellite in a contested environment.