Securing ADS-B Communications through a Novel Authentication Framework

ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) is a transmission protocol for aircraft position sensing and reporting, required in air traffic surveillance. It plays a crucial role in enhancing flight safety, air traffic management, and situational awareness. However, the security and privacy of ADS-B is a growing concern due to potential vulnerabilities that can be exploited by malicious actors. This research paper presents a cryptographic solution to enhance the security of ADS-B. As existing regulations prohibit data encryption due to the broadcast nature of ADS-B, the proposed solution focuses on ensuring authenticity and integrity of transmitted information. The approach used in this paper combines symmetric and asymmetric cryptographic techniques to provide robust security mechanisms while minimizing computational overhead. The proposed scheme also ensures that the existing protocol structure remain preserved. The proposed scheme reduces the impact of compromised key pairs, enables efficient key distribution, and addresses diverse technological capabilities across regions. The proposed approach offers a practical solution to secure ADS-B transmission without compromising real-time performance.