DISCRETION: First Field Demonstration of a Quantum Enabled SDN in the Context of a Military Exercise

The DISCRETION project aims at the development of a prototype of a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) integrating a Software Defined Network (SDN) solution providing quantum-safe secure communications capabilities, in a way that European Defence can benefit from the flexibility, security, and resilience that these technologies bring to the communication networks. DISCRETION integrates these disruptive technologies within a red-black network separation principle, in compliance with the doctrine of military network segregation. The encryption and protection of all data between red and black networks is realized through dedicated hardware hardened Cipher Machines (CM) using the keys obtained from QKD systems integrated by the SDN and a Key Management System (KMS). Both SDN and KMS were developed in DISCRETION in compliance with the ETSI GS QKD015 and QKD004 standards. We explore the Continuous-Variables (CV) QKD technology, which is currently regarded as one of the main building blocks for large-scale deployment of quantum cryptography, since it facilitates coexistence with traditional optical networks, using classical photonics platforms. In this work, we present a field live demonstration of the DISCRETION project in the context of the Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping using Maritime Uncrewed Systems (REPMUS 24) organized annually by the Portuguese Navy and NATO. We also show how Software Defined Radios (SDR) can be securely connected to the DISCRETION's system from various locations to get a set of keys generated and distributed by a CV-QKD Network and use them for encrypted communications in a mission. Finally, we show how we can use the quantum generated keys to feed CM to protect red side messages sent through unsafe black network connections.