The French General Directorate for Armament (DGA) has awarded Airbus, through its subsidiary Airbus Cybersecurity SAS, the 25-year PARACOM contract to provide cybersecurity gateways for the networks of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans’ Affairs. The contract covers the design, development, production and long-term operational maintenance of the cybersecurity gateways. The award follows a competitive tender process.
The PARACOM gateways will be deployed across French armed forces sites as well as directorates and departments of the Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans’ Affairs. They will provide secure and filtered data exchanges between networks and information systems operating at different levels of classification or sensitivity. The gateways will be approved and certified for a range of data exchanges between “secret” and “unclassified” levels. The system is intended to provide controlled connectivity while supporting the increasing use of digital systems in military operations.
“This gateway strengthens the digital shield the French Armed Forces rely on to execute their missions,” said François Lombard, Director of Connected Intelligence at Airbus Defence and Space. “Since 2013, we have supplied French land forces with gateway solutions. Our high level of expertise within our cybersecurity teams in the field of multi-level data-sharing solutions reinforces our position as a leading player in cybersecurity in France.”
The gateways are designed for different deployment requirements. They can be installed at Ministry facilities or deployed in operational theatres. Several versions will be available, including configurations designed for installation in data centre racks and self-contained units intended for command posts.
The system can also be deployed in constrained tactical environments. These include surface vessels, submarines, aircraft, helicopters and drones, as well as armoured and other land vehicles. The ability to control and filter data flows is becoming increasingly important as military operations rely more heavily on interconnected digital networks. The PARACOM gateways are designed to help manage communications between systems with different security classifications while supporting operational requirements.
Airbus Cybersecurity SAS will be responsible for the gateway programme under the contract, covering the product lifecycle from design and development through production and long-term maintenance. The 25-year agreement provides for continued operational support over an extended period, allowing the cybersecurity infrastructure to be maintained throughout its deployment across the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans’ Affairs.
Airbus Defence and Space provides defence, aerospace and security technologies and services to customers worldwide. Airbus Cybersecurity develops cybersecurity products and services for government, defence and commercial customers, including solutions for protecting networks, information systems and critical infrastructure. The PARACOM programme builds on Airbus Cybersecurity’s experience in multi-level data-sharing systems and its work with the French armed forces since 2013.
