GPS satellite gets a digital twin to ensure cyber security
Artist’s rendering: U.S. Air Force
The U.S. Air Force is using a digital replica of a GPS IIR satellite to detect any cyber-security issues, reports Air Force Magazine.
Booz Allen Hamilton created the “digital twin” of the Lockheed Martin-built Block IIR GPS satellite — and then tried to hack the system.
“The satellite itself was on orbit,” BAH Vice President Kevin Coggins told Air Force Magazine. “So we built this digital model … and then we went looking for vulnerabilities. We did [penetration] testing and we saw what we could discover.”
The project is in response to a congressional mandate to test GPS for cyber vulnerabilities. Testing areas include the satellite, ground control stations and the radio-frequency links between them. BAH then conducted “man-in-the-middle” attacks on the communication links to identify potential weaknesses between the satellite and its ground control station.
The 12 Block IIR legacy satellites, launched between 1997-2004, were designed for a 7.5 year lifespan, but it will be years before they can be decommissioned.
About the Author: Tracy Cozzens
Tracy Cozzens has been with GPS World magazine in varying capacities since 2006, wearing many hats during her tenure. She has worked in government, for non-profits, and in corporate communications, editing a variety of publications for audiences ranging from federal government contractors to teachers.
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