Zero Trust Avionics Systems (ZTAS)

There are considerable challenges in designing the next generation of avionics systems in aircraft and spacecraft platforms. Security presents an eminent challenge. The most sensitive pieces of equipment on board are mostly electronics and hence the necessity for added protection against cyber-attacks and intrusions. Attacks on flight control and avionics systems may influence physical processes and flight dynamics through digital manipulations. These digital manipulations can be disastrous for safety critical systems. The modular distributed architectures for avionics offer considerable benefits for commercial and military aerospace platforms. The networked architecture of distributed embedded and avionics systems (i.e., communication between its distributed nodes) makes them vulnerable to cyber-attacks and intrusions. The vulnerabilities in the communication and control network of a safety critical system necessitate the development of detection, identification, and mitigation techniques to make the system more secure. To mitigate the risks for cyber-attacks and intrusions in safety critical flight control systems, there is a need for Zero Trust Avionics Systems (ZTAS). Given the increase in breaches and cyber-attacks on aerospace and defense systems, implementing a Zero Trust architecture (ZTA) for aircraft / spacecraft systems is inevitable. Zero trust architecture prevents various types of data breaches by eliminating the concept of trust from avionics systems architecture. Rooted in the principle of "never trust, always verify," ZT architecture can protect modern digital and embedded systems in flying vehicles. Seamless integration of cyber security features within avionics systems is crucial. Added ZT security components can impede avionics systems’ functionality. Well-defined approaches for simultaneously designing functionality and ZT cyber security for avionics are needed. These approaches should ensure system confidentiality/security and integrity while maintaining functionality.