Sikorsky

Performance: » Load balancing within the SOLID cluster » Self-optimised routing in the SOLID network » Faster connection setup for VoIP scenarios

Security: » Holistic IT security concept for the SINA L3 Box S » Hardened, evaluated SINA OS system platform » Smartcard technology » Approval-compliant software and features SINA SOLID was the brainchild of an award-winning research partnership with the Ilmenau University of Technology. The first successes were achieved in 2010 and, after several years of development, SINA SOLID has reached product maturity. At the same time, secunet is awaiting the solution’s BSI certification for VS-NfD (restricted) use in the first quarter of 2016.

SINA SOLID improves the VPN approach by automatically configuring security associations. This means administrative resources can now be used elsewhere without increasing the system’s error rate. The SOLID cluster also guarantees reliability and a high throughput. Particularly large infrastructures can use SINA SOLID to simplify complex rules, all while maintaining IT security in the meaning of the BSI’s approval for VS-NfD (restricted) use.

International programs

(BSC/Sergei Sikorsky) In September of 2012, I was honored by being invited to speak to NATO’s Dr Manfred Wörner Circle. The subject was International Programs, and my remarks reflected experiences and conclusions gained in some 50 years of participating (and observing) a variety of such programs.

Today, three years later, it is interesting to review some of these comments and conclusions to see what has changed. As before, these remarks are strictly personal opinions.

Perhaps the single most important change is the fact that the world has become a slightly less comfortable place to live in. Radical Islamist terrorism is a growing problem. Russia and China are flexing their muscles. Europe now faces problems that will eventually force uncomfortable decisions and programs that will suddenly require funding that was never planned for.

All these factors will influence the preservation of current international programs. It is probable that military systems such as aircraft, will continue in service well beyond currentlyplanned retirement dates. The same companies that produced these weapon systems will generate a variety of up-grade proposals to modernize them and keep them relevant in tomorrow’s world.

The up-grading of current military systems will also be influenced by the relentless growth in the price of new weapons entering production. Military aircraft, for example, are increasing in price to such a degree that international programs are the only way to finance them. Despite this “cost-sharing”, I do not know of any major European or American program that has not suffered significant reduction in number of aircraft to be built, primarily as a result of cost overruns. International programs could benefit by sourcing platforms, systems, production and sustainment capabilities from acknowledged centers of excellence, and by spreading the cost over the entire life cycle, not just the individual phases. For instance, off-the-shelf acquisition of a platform by more than one Ally within the transatlantic community could easily be balanced by including other Allies in the multi-decade sustainment phase.

Commercial airliners are a different story. The major players, such as Airbus and Boeing, are fairly comfortable with thousands of aircraft on order. The international programs that these two aerospace giants have created continue much as before; the flow of American engines and equipment to Airbus and the flow of European engines and equipment to Boeing average over 15 billion Dollar annually. Though there may be cancellations from some airlines, there is every reason to expect the civil aviation industry will continue to grow and generate more international programs as a result.

A recent example is the opening of an Airbus-320 assembly plant in Mobile, Alabama. It will assemble the A-320 with aircraft parts that are being built in France, Germany, the UK and Spain.

As the Ruble weakens, western aircraft and equipment will become increasingly expensive to Russian customers. However, Russian aircraft and helicopters will become more attractive to countries able to pay in hard currency. Very probably, Russia will “turn inward”, reducing its import of western engines and equipment while developing domestic copies. Joint programs with China will increase. We should not underestimate Mr. Putin’s potential impact on international programs in Europe.