Honeywell and ESA announce public-private partnership for satcom security

LONDON - Honeywell in Phoenix and the European Space Agency (ESA) have announced a collaboration to enhance satellite communication security through the development of Honeywell's Quantum Key Distribution Satellite (QKDSat). The initiative, supported by the United Kingdom Space Agency, is part of a broader effort to address vulnerabilities in data exchange for critical industries.

The partnership will involve a multinational consortium led by Honeywell in the UK. The group includes Redwire in Belgium, Craft Prospect in the UK, and other space engineering firms in Austria, Canada, Czechia, and the UK. Together, they aim to bolster defenses against data breaches for sectors such as finance, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure.

“Data breaches can cost companies millions of dollars, and the stakes are even higher for military or critical infrastructure organizations because any loss of confidential data can have serious national security concerns,” said Matt Milas, president of Defense and Space at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. “A quantum-safe network equipped with QKDSat can reduce the number of security breaches and safeguard confidential data.”

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QKDSat will function as a secure node within Honeywell’s Quantum Space & Terrestrial Applications for Telecommunications Encryption (Q-STATE) network. The system uses quantum technology to generate randomized keys and detect potential interception, enabling immediate termination of compromised communication channels.

The ESA emphasized the importance of the project for European and Canadian industries in a competitive telecommunications market.

“By developing end-to-end systems that extend to in-orbit validation, the QKDSat Project is supporting the success of European and Canadian industry in the highly competitive global telecommunications market while also de-risking partners’ investments so that they can continue to answer market needs,” said Laurent Jaffart, ESA director of Connectivity and Secure Communications. “The European Space Agency is proud to be able to partner with Honeywell and continue this strategic initiative to drive successful operational deployment and ultimately commercial adoption.”