A leading U.S. aircraft developer designs and maintains one of the world’s most advanced long-range, low-observable bomber platforms. This aircraft is meticulously engineered to penetrate heavily defended airspace and enable global operations with minimal support. It is designed to execute high-stakes missions in the most demanding operational environments. Built for decades of service, the aircraft relies on onboard systems that deliver reliability, security, and survivability.
The Challenge
Supporting a long-service, low-observable aircraft creates unique demands for onboard data storage. The integrator required a network attached storage (NAS) solution that could protect highly classified data-at-rest (DAR) and operate within strict size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints. The system also had to support net-centric airborne architecture and allow multiple subsystems to securely access and store mission data.
Equally important, the storage solution had to minimize program and schedule risk. It needed to provide National Security Agency (NSA)-approved encryption out of the box, meeting certification requirements without additional integration or testing. Any storage solution for the aircraft had to accommodate future capacity growth. It also needed to ease the burden of client software maintenance without major redesign or aircraft downtime.
