Secure Communications Interoperability Protocols (SCIP)
Abstract
The concept of NATO Network Enabled Capabilities, (NNEC) including network-ready communications systems requires a fundamental shift in the paradigms and policies used by NATO and the NATO nations. Enabling these concepts down to the tactical mobile user community will be a challenge. Gone are the days where a single nation brings a combat-ready brigade to a NATO sponsored engagement. Modern brigade-level NATO deployed forces may consist of contributions from many nations. This can be highlighted by the fact that one nation might provide command and control capabilities, another logistics, a third special operations, etc. If communications equipments are purchased from multiple sources in multiple nations, and used in-theatre by the nations contributing to a multinational NATO Response Force formation, (brigade, battalion or corps) there are some inherent issues that require resolution to enable efficient network-ready interoperable communications systems. Adding to these issues are the requirements for secure communications and key management. Which nation or entity will provide the security authority in the deployed segment? Will it be the nation supplying command and control, security, logistics, or some other? Or will it be a NATO entity such as NATO HQ, JFHQ Lisbon, JFC Naples, JFC Brunsum, SHAPE, NAMSA, etc.? Who will be responsible for the in-theatre distribution of cryptographic keying material for the operation? When working with coalitions, how does one define communities of interest such that there is appropriate isolation of operations between different coalitions? Can capabilities be eliminated when a coalition member ceases to be friendly? Efficient net-ready interoperable communications systems are one of the core enabling capabilities for future effective NATO engagements. The Secure Communications Interoperability Protocols (SCIP) represent the next generation NATO interoperability protocols for flexible high grade secure end-to-end (voice and data)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA521169
Entities
People
- John S. Collura