Cross-domain information sharing for next generation interagency experimentation: possibilities and challenges

Abstract

Successful development of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) requires the coordinated efforts of government agencies and organizations that must work together to respond to aviation-related crises. Interagency experimentation is a powerful technique for achieving this coordination while refining NextGen concepts. To maximize the benefits of this experimentation, the participants must “play” from their preferred research laboratories and at the appropriate classification level. Cross-domain solutions, used for many years in the military and intelligence communities, offer possibilities for connecting the unclassified and classified laboratories in aviation experiments. A MITRE Innovation Program initiative entitled the NextGen Interagency Experimentation Hub is exploring the application of these cross-domain technologies. The project team is working with candidate cross-domain solutions in a multi-lab test environment while gathering lessons learned about deployed solutions. However, cross-domain solutions are costly due to the use of rigorous practices for developing secure software. Further, each cross-domain solution must pass through an approval process that often takes over a year and incurs additional costs. This paper is a compilation of selected results from the MITRE initiative that (1) presents the possibilities cross-domain solutions offer, (2) promotes understanding of the challenges involved in leveraging these solutions, and (3) provides recommendations and guidance for using them effectively in aviation-related interagency experiments.