Securing Aviation from the Quantum Threat

Copyright 2025: Forward Edge-AI, Inc.

Whitepaper White Paper

The aviation industry approaches a critical cybersecurity tipping point. Once considered a distant theoretical concern, quantum computing is now advancing rapidly toward real-world deployment. Upon reaching cryptanalytically-relevant capabilities, quantum systems will render legacy encryption protocols—including RSA, ECC, and Diffie-Hellman—useless within minutes. Core aviation systems, from air traffic management to cockpit communications, remain dangerously underprotected.

Modernization programs such as the FAA's System Wide Information Management (SWIM) and the ICAO Cybersecurity Action Plan have made progress, but major vulnerabilities persist. Key protocols like ADS-B and CPDLC still transmit data without robust encryption or authentication, leaving them exposed to spoofing, jamming, and man-in-the-middle attacks. Reliance on traditional public key infrastructure (PKI) compounds the problem by introducing brittle, quantum-vulnerable elements into critical aircraft and airport systems.

A clear roadmap is provided for aviation stakeholders to move from fragile, PKI-based systems to post-quantum-secure networks anchored by Isidore Quantum® (Isidore). Given the urgency of FAA mandates, ICAO coordination requirements, and escalating national security concerns, proactive adoption must be treated as a strategic imperative.

Q-Day is not a myth. It is a countdown. The question facing aviation isn’t whether quantum disruption will occur—but whether we’ll be ready.

Aviation has become one of the most technologically integrated sectors in the global economy. From real-time air traffic control to predictive maintenance, flight planning, and cockpit communications, nearly every facet of modern aviation depends on digital systems secured by cryptography. However, the very encryption algorithms that safeguard aircraft systems today—namely RSA, ECC, and Diffie-Hellman—are rapidly approaching obsolescence in the face of quantum computing.

Quantum computers, once limited to academic research, are progressing rapidly and now present a serious and immediate risk to global digital security. Machines built on quantum principles leverage superposition and entanglement to break cryptographic algorithms that classical systems would need centuries to crack. Upon the arrival of a cryptanalytically-relevant quantum computer (CRQC)—a milestone referred to as “Q-Day”—aviation systems relying on existing cryptographic protections will face instant and widespread exposure.

The implications are severe: unencrypted or unauthenticated aviation protocols like ADS-B and CPDLC could be hijacked in real time; SWIM and SATCOM data streams could be decrypted retroactively via "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" (HNDL) strategies; and certificate-based PKI systems—already strained under operational complexity—will collapse under quantum attack vectors.

Despite warnings from the NSA, NIST, ICAO, and the FAA, the aviation industry has yet to implement a viable strategy for transitioning to post-quantum cryptographic standards. Current proposals remain largely theoretical, depend on fragile PKI architectures, or lack interoperability with legacy avionics systems.

Thus, this white paper defines the quantum threat to aviation, outlines the vulnerabilities in existing systems, and introduces Isidore as the operational solution. Engineered in collaboration with the NSA and compliant with CNSA 2.0, Isidore eliminates certificate-based encryption entirely, providing zero-trust, AI-enhanced, quantum-resistant protection across airborne and ground-based communication systems.

The paper serves three purposes:

1.To educate aviation executives, policymakers, and security professionals about the scale and urgency of quantum-induced cyber risk.

2.To expose the architectural shortcomings of traditional PKI-based encryption models within aviation systems.

3.To propose a path forward—centered on Isidore—for deploying post-quantum cybersecurity at scale across the aviation ecosystem.

The threat is no longer theoretical. Q-Day is coming. The time to act is now.

The Problem

Reliance on digital systems, once a hallmark of efficiency in aviation, has evolved into a critical vulnerability. Core technologies such as Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B), Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC), and the FAA’s System Wide Information Management (SWIM) continue to function with outdated or entirely absent encryption protocols. Vulnerability extends beyond conventional cyber threats to include an accelerating and irreversible quantum risk.

Global dependence on public key infrastructure (PKI) forms the core of the vulnerability, with encryption algorithms like RSA, ECC, and Diffie-Hellman serving as its foundation. Security within these algorithms stems from the complexity of factoring large integers or solving discrete logarithms—challenges that quantum computers, powered by Shor’s algorithm, will solve in mere minutes. Upon becoming operational, quantum machines will leave such encryption methods—and the critical systems they safeguard—exposed and unprotected.

The risks are multifold:

•ADS-B spoofing and signal injection due to lack of authentication.

•CPDLC hijacking through man-in-the-middle attacks using software-defined radios.

•Harvest Now, Decrypt Later (HNDL) strategies by nation-state actors targeting encrypted SWIM data and SATCOM links.

•PKI-related key compromise, manual provisioning burdens, and certificate chain failure in high-availability flight environments.

Without a credible, deployable post-quantum encryption strategy, aviation remains a high-value, soft-target sector vulnerable to cascading system failures, loss of public trust, and potential national security consequences.

For over four decades, the aviation industry has depended on cryptographic systems designed for a pre-quantum world. At the core of these systems lie public key encryption protocols such as RSA, ECC, and Diffie-Hellman—all of which are mathematically vulnerable to the quantum algorithms now being weaponized by global adversaries.

Quantum computers—unlike classical machines—exploit the principles of superposition and entanglement to solve problems once thought intractable. Shor’s algorithm, for example, can break RSA-2048 and ECC-P384 encryption in seconds once a CRQC comes online. The NSA, NIST, and allied cybersecurity agencies now forecast that such capabilities could emerge as early as 2026.

The urgency is not hypothetical. The aviation sector faces an acute “cryptographic cliff” for three reasons:

1. Aviation protocols are inherently insecure:

•ADS-B, used in over 200,000 aircraft globally, broadcasts location and velocity data unencrypted and unauthenticated, making it vulnerable to spoofing, jamming, and false aircraft injection.

•CPDLC, now mandated across Europe for high-altitude traffic, has no built-in security and is vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks with low-cost SDR hardware.

•SWIM, the FAA’s data-sharing backbone, manages real-time flight, weather, and surveillance data—but still relies on PKI-based TLS, which will become obsolete in the quantum era.

2. Adversaries are already harvesting encrypted aviation traffic:

•Nation-state actors are conducting HNDL campaigns to collect ADS-B, SATCOM, and SWIM data now, with plans to decrypt it later using quantum computing. This includes:

•Air traffic control messages

•Maintenance logs and firmware payloads

•Pilot-controller exchanges and GPS correction signals

3. The window to act is closing rapidly:

•Over 38,000 commercial aircraft and 24,000 military aircraft globally must undergo quantum-proofing within the next 24–36 months to maintain secure operation.

•The FAA’s NextGen and ICAO’s Global Aviation Cybersecurity Strategy lack practical mechanisms for post-quantum migration at scale.

•Meanwhile, only 17% of surveyed airlines and air traffic management organizations report having begun post-quantum cryptographic assessments.

If action is not taken, the operational impact will be catastrophic. Flight safety could be undermined by spoofed navigation signals, ATC networks could be hijacked by adversaries, and sensitive data from black boxes, flight plans, and maintenance systems could be exfiltrated and decrypted with quantum tools. In a worst-case scenario, adversaries could issue false clearances, mask hostile aircraft, or compromise command-and-control systems in unmanned airframes.

According to NIST, over 20 billion connected devices—many in aviation—will require cryptographic overhaul by 2027 to remain secure. The cost of inaction is measured not just in dollars, but in lives and strategic parity.

The aviation industry has historically excelled in managing kinetic safety risks. However, it now faces a digital threat that is silent, asymmetric, and globally scalable. Without immediate action, the trusted cryptographic foundation of aviation could disintegrate—leaving a multi-trillion-dollar industry exposed at 30,000 feet.

The Solution

To meet the quantum security challenge head-on, the aviation industry requires a transformative departure from conventional encryption architectures. Isidore, developed by Forward Edge-AI in partnership with the National Security Agency (NSA), delivers precisely that: a CNSA 2.0-compliant, AI-enhanced, post-quantum encryption platform engineered for air, land, sea, and space domains.

Unlike legacy PKI systems—whose certificate chains, manual key loaders, and static algorithms are both operationally cumbersome and quantum-vulnerable—Isidore was designed from the ground up to eliminate reliance on PKI altogether. It replaces fragile trust models with autonomous, certificate-free encryption that is secure today and quantum-resilient tomorrow.

Core Features and Architecture:

1. Quantum-Resistant Cryptography

•Implements NSA-endorsed CNSA 2.0 algorithms, including:

•CRYSTALS-Kyber (FIPS 203): For quantum-secure key encapsulation.

•CRYSTALS-Dilithium (FIPS 204): For post-quantum digital signatures.

•Provides long-term security against both classical and quantum adversaries.

2. Autonomous Key and Channel Management

•Implements ephemeral keying to eliminate manual provisioning and centralized certificate authorities.

•Features automated rekeying, key zeroization, and key recovery functions—all without operator input.

•Removes the need for Key Management Infrastructure (KMI) and Controlled Cryptographic Items (CCI)—reducing human error and accelerating deployment.

3. AI-Enhanced Threat Detection

•Integrates machine learning models trained on 8 trillion Microsoft threat signals.

•Detects behavioral anomalies in CPDLC, SWIM, ADS-B, SATCOM, and onboard avionics in real time.

•Enables a cyber-immune response engine that can isolate, mitigate, and adapt to zero-day threats autonomously.

4. Platform Agnostic and Protocol Compliant

•Seamlessly integrates with aviation standards including:

•ARINC 429, ARINC 653, ARINC 664

•CPDLC, ADS-B, SWIM

•Ethernet, SATCOM, Wi-Fi, MIL-STD-1553

•Designed to function across legacy, mixed-mode, and NextGen systems with minimal retrofit burden.

5. Compact, Energy-Efficient Design

•Physical footprint: credit card-sized (2.5g)

•Power consumption: 7W, suitable for space-constrained or power-sensitive avionics environments.

•Data throughput: 58 GB/s, outperforming traditional HAIPE/IPSec solutions that consume 70W for 2 GB/s throughput.

Strategic Advantages for Aviation

Operational Readiness and Validation

Isidore is not a prototype. It has been field-tested in:

•DARPA maritime drone communication systems

•SpaceX-launched CubeSat

•SCADA/ICS installations at NSA Fort Meade

•Military base operations for low-probability-of-detection encryption

Isidore has been validated and integrated by enterprise and government partners including Microsoft, Lumen Technologies, Cubic Corporation, and Rogue Space Systems, with over 150,000 units in the procurement pipeline.

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Evidence and Support: Operational Validation of Isidore

Isidore is not a theoretical concept—it is a field-tested, fully deployable encryption solution developed in partnership with the NSA and rigorously validated across multiple mission-critical domains. This section presents the empirical data, real-world applications, and comparative metrics that establish Isidore as the most viable post-quantum encryption platform for the aviation sector.

1. Proven Performance in High-Risk Operational Environments. Isidore has undergone operational testing and deployment in environments that demand the highest levels of security, resilience, and performance:

•U.S. Department of Defense: Used in secure UAV command-and-control links requiring low latency and high throughput in denied communications environments.

•DARPA and Rogue Space Systems: Integrated into CubeSat constellations to secure space-to-ground communications, demonstrating viability under extreme power and size constraints.

•NSA Fort Meade: Installed and tested in SCADA/ICS labs to encrypt data-in-transit for critical infrastructure systems with legacy OT protocols.

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Performance Metrics: Outclassing Legacy Encryption Solutions

2. Artificial Intelligence for Real-Time Cyber Defense. Isidore’s embedded machine learning engine, trained on over 8 trillion Microsoft threat signals, provides anomaly detection and autonomous risk mitigation—capabilities absent in traditional cryptographic devices. In one demonstration involving simulated ADS-B spoofing, Isidore successfully:

•Detected anomalous broadcast patterns

•Quarantined the unauthorized signal

•Rekeyed communications autonomously within 3 seconds, without human intervention

This capability directly addresses ICAO and FAA mandates for data-driven risk management and continuous situational awareness in aviation cybersecurity policy frameworks.

3. Cross-Domain Validation and Adoption Momentum

•Isidore’s cross-sector relevance and adoption track record further validate its scalability and readiness:

•Federal agency certifications in progress to align with NSA CNSA Suite 2.0, FIPS 203/204 standards

•Used in classified missions involving SATCOM and MIL-STD-1553 tactical data links, two of the most common avionics communication mediums.

In contrast, other post-quantum solutions—such as software-based VPN patches or experimental QKD systems—either lack operational readiness or are cost-prohibitive and incompatible with mobile or disconnected systems.

5. Strategic Alignment with Federal and International Mandates

•Isidore enables compliance with emerging aviation and cybersecurity policy mandates:

•FAA NextGen Cybersecurity Strategy Pillars: System protection, zero-trust architecture, and data-driven governance

•ICAO Cybersecurity Action Plan (CyAP): International interoperability, secure digital communication channels, and incident management frameworks

•NSA CNSA 2.0 Mandate: Required for all National Security Systems by 2026

Isidore stands not only as the technically superior solution but also as the most strategically aligned encryption platform for the aviation community navigating the transition to post-quantum security.

Call to Action

The quantum era is no longer speculative—it is imminent. Within the next 24 to 36 months, quantum-capable adversaries will possess the means to break the cryptographic foundations protecting the global aviation system. ADS-B broadcasts, CPDLC commands, SWIM data streams, SATCOM links, and flight deck communications—all are vulnerable unless immediate steps are taken to modernize their security posture.

Isidore offers the aviation community a credible, field-tested solution that meets NSA, FAA, and ICAO cybersecurity mandates while delivering quantum-resistant, zero-trust encryption across legacy and NextGen systems.

The risks are clear. The technology exists. The opportunity to act is now.

We call on aviation stakeholders—government regulators, commercial carriers, OEMs, defense contractors, and airport authorities—to take the following actions:

1.Assess Your Cryptographic Risk Profile:
Conduct a comprehensive audit of current encryption protocols in use across your aircraft, ATC, and data systems. Identify all systems relying on RSA, ECC, or Diffie-Hellman-based encryption.

2.Initiate Post-Quantum Transition Planning:
Establish internal task forces aligned with FAA and ICAO post-quantum transition frameworks. Set milestones for phasing out vulnerable PKI infrastructure.

3.Deploy Isidore for High-Risk Communication Channels:
Prioritize deployment on ADS-B, CPDLC, SATCOM, and SWIM interfaces. Leverage Isidore’s autonomous keying, low power requirements, and protocol-agnostic design to secure data-in-transit without redesigning core systems.

4.Engage in Industry-Wide Collaboration:
Partner with Forward Edge-AI and its strategic collaborators to share threat intelligence, testing frameworks, and secure integration pathways for Isidore across your networks.

5.Future-Proof Your Compliance and Competitive Edge:
Position your organization as a leader in aviation cybersecurity by aligning with CNSA 2.0 and FAA/ICAO directives before they become enforceable mandates.

Isidore delivers zero-trust, post-quantum encryption that seamlessly secures aviation communications, aligns with FAA and ICAO mandates, and eliminates PKI vulnerabilities before Q-Day arrives.

Conclusion

Q-Day is not a distant possibility—it is a scheduled inevitability.

The global aviation sector is approaching a pivotal inflection point—one defined not by airspace modernization or fuel innovation, but by cryptographic survival. Quantum computing is accelerating faster than regulation, faster than retrofit cycles, and faster than the industry’s current pace of cybersecurity reform. As a result, the communications systems that once propelled aviation into the digital age now risk becoming its greatest liability.

ADS-B, CPDLC, SWIM, and SATCOM channels—integral to global flight operations—remain exposed to adversaries armed with quantum capabilities. Traditional defenses like RSA and ECC will fail under quantum attack, and the public key infrastructure built upon them will collapse. The consequences of inaction are not merely hypothetical: they include the loss of signal integrity, operational trust, and, in worst-case scenarios, passenger safety and national security.

The aviation industry has a rare opportunity to act before a systemic failure forces reactive, costly, and disruptive intervention.

The path forward is clear:

•Recognize the threat.

•Replace vulnerable encryption.

•Retain the trust of regulators, operators, and the flying public.

With Isidore, aviation doesn’t just survive the quantum era—it leads it.

Transition to Quantum-Resistant Cryptography

Isidore was invented by the NSA and licensed to Forward Edge-AI to improve and manufacture. The Isidore device is compliant with CNSA 2.0 and offers a robust solution to the challenges discussed here.

Isidore incorporates CNSA 2.0-approved algorithms, such as CRYSTALS-Kyber for key encapsulation and CRYSTALS-Dilithium for digital signatures. A notable feature of Isidore is its autonomous key and channel management system. This system facilitates periodic rekeying, key recovery, and zeroization without manual intervention, ensuring continuous security and reducing the risk of key compromise. Such automation is crucial for maintaining secure communications in dynamic and high-risk environments.

Isidore also operates on a zero-trust model, meaning it does not inherently trust any device or user, regardless of their location within the network. This approach ensures that every access request is authenticated and authorized, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access and lateral movement by potential adversaries.

Designed to be protocol, device, and network agnostic, Isidore can be integrated into existing critical infrastructure without significant modifications. Its plug-and-play design allows for rapid deployment, enabling organizations to enhance their security posture promptly in response to evolving quantum threats.

Isidore also incorporates a highly performant Rules Engine to detect and address known threats, and Machine Learning algorithms to learn the patterns of daily life, detect anomalies that may signal a novel attack, execute a cyber-immune response, and recover stronger because it has learned from the previous attack.

Founded in 2019, Forward Edge-AI, Inc. delivers compelling mass market solutions at the forward and humanitarian edge to enhance the safety and security of the free world. Forward Edge-AI

We partner with our clients throughout their journey to transform how they do business, address the complexities of technology choices, and deliver results fast. Our services include data modernization, integration, and engineering, designed to supercharge data workflows for maximum efficiency, security, and insights.

Contact: Brandon@Forwardedge-ai

Appendix

1.Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). (2023). Top 10 Routinely Exploited Vulnerabilities in Aviation Environments. U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
​https://www.cisa.gov

2.Fortinet & Forrester Consulting. (2018). Independent Study Pinpoints Significant Aviation Cybersecurity Risks. Fortinet, Inc.

3.Forward Edge-AI, Inc. (2025). Securing Critical Infrastructure with Quantum-Resistant Cryptography. Isidore 480 Technical Specifications White Paper.

4.Forward Edge-AI, Inc. (2025). Quantum Reckoning: Securing Finance Before the Collapse. White Paper on Financial Cryptography Threats.

5.Forward Edge-AI, Inc. (2025). Isidore Commercial Overview and CIM. Investor Communication Memorandum, Version 040925.

6.Forward Edge-AI, Inc. (2025). NSIN ICS/SCADA Pitch Deck. Prepared for National Security Innovation Network (NSIN), Contract FA864923P0006.

7.Forward Edge-AI, Inc. (2025). FEAI Quantum IPO Crossover Introduction. Presented to William Blair & Company.

8.National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2022). Migration to Post-Quantum Cryptography: NISTIR 8105 and SP 800-208. U.S. Department of Commerce.
​https://csrc.nist.gov/publications

9.National Security Agency (NSA). (2022). Commercial National Security Algorithm Suite 2.0 (CNSA 2.0) and Quantum-Resistant Algorithms Update.
​https://www.nsa.gov

10.World Economic Forum & Accenture. (2025). Embracing the Quantum Economy: A Pathway for Business Leaders. Insight Report, January 2025.
​https://www.weforum.org/reports

11.IBM Security. (2023). Cost of a Data Breach Report. IBM Corporation.
​https://www.ibm.com/reports/data-breach

12.U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). (2023). M-23-02: Migrating to Post-Quantum Cryptography. White House Memorandum.
​https://www.whitehouse.gov