Virtual Event: Threat Detection and Incident Response Summit - Watch Sessions
Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

SecurityWeekSecurityWeek

Data Protection

BAE Releases New Cybersecurity System for F-16 Fighter Aircraft

Defense giant BAE Systems has unveiled Viper Memory Loader Verifier II (MLV II), a system whose role is to protect F-16 fighter aircraft against potential cyberattacks.

MLV II is the second version of a maintenance capability that should “reduce vulnerability to cyberattacks for F-16 aircraft”.

Defense giant BAE Systems has unveiled Viper Memory Loader Verifier II (MLV II), a system whose role is to protect F-16 fighter aircraft against potential cyberattacks.

MLV II is the second version of a maintenance capability that should “reduce vulnerability to cyberattacks for F-16 aircraft”.

F-16 aircraft cybersecurity systemThe system is used to load and verify software onto the fighter jet, ensuring that malicious software or files cannot get on the aircraft.

The system supports mission data files, flight and fault data, and third-party software. It supports over 100 F-16 onboard systems, including flight- and mission-critical components such as radar, engine control, navigation, communications, crash data recorders, and electronic warfare, mission and flight control.

“This new version of the product will include cyber-hardened aircraft mission capabilities, with an open system architecture that reduces lifecycle costs,” said Carl Huncharek, F-16 product line director for BAE Systems.

The company says MLV II, which is made in Fort Worth, Texas, is fully compatible with the F-16 fleet and it will be used on all new deployments, while existing equipment will also continue to be supported.

BAE says the cybersecurity system has been tested by the US and more than two dozen of its allies.

Related: CISO Conversations: Honda Aircraft, Bombardier CISOs Discuss Getting Started in Security

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Related: US Air Force Adopts Zero Trust to Secure Flightline Operations

Related: Passengers Exposed to Hacking via Vulnerabilities in Airplane Wi-Fi Devices

Related: Watchdog Urges More Action to Protect Planes From Hackers

Written By

Eduard Kovacs (@EduardKovacs) is a contributing editor at SecurityWeek. He worked as a high school IT teacher for two years before starting a career in journalism as Softpedia’s security news reporter. Eduard holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial informatics and a master’s degree in computer techniques applied in electrical engineering.

Click to comment

Daily Briefing Newsletter

Subscribe to the SecurityWeek Email Briefing to stay informed on the latest threats, trends, and technology, along with insightful columns from industry experts.

SecurityWeek’s Threat Detection and Incident Response Summit brings together security practitioners from around the world to share war stories on breaches, APT attacks and threat intelligence.

Register

Securityweek’s CISO Forum will address issues and challenges that are top of mind for today’s security leaders and what the future looks like as chief defenders of the enterprise.

Register

Expert Insights

Related Content

Application Security

Cycode, a startup that provides solutions for protecting software source code, emerged from stealth mode on Tuesday with $4.6 million in seed funding.

Artificial Intelligence

The CRYSTALS-Kyber public-key encryption and key encapsulation mechanism recommended by NIST for post-quantum cryptography has been broken using AI combined with side channel attacks.

Data Protection

The cryptopocalypse is the point at which quantum computing becomes powerful enough to use Shor’s algorithm to crack PKI encryption.

IoT Security

A group of seven security researchers have discovered numerous vulnerabilities in vehicles from 16 car makers, including bugs that allowed them to control car...

CISO Strategy

Cybersecurity-related risk is a top concern, so boards need to know they have the proper oversight in place. Even as first-timers, successful CISOs make...

ICS/OT

The overall effect of current global geopolitical conditions is that nation states have a greater incentive to target the ICS/OT of critical industries, while...

IoT Security

A vulnerability affecting Dahua cameras and video recorders can be exploited by threat actors to modify a device’s system time.

Compliance

The three primary drivers for cyber regulations are voter privacy, the economy, and national security – with the complication that the first is often...