HERNDON, Va., 22 April 2009. For the development of highly secure communication systems, Objective Interface Systems Inc.'s (OIS's) ORBexpress is the first communications middleware ever to be evaluated under the Common Criteria security certification standard, according to a company official.

ORBexpress is undergoing this certification for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter's Communications, Navigation, and Identification (CNI) system, an advanced avionics system that must comply with rigorous security requirements. The certification of ORBexpress will save programs time and money by making it easier and faster to develop and certify secure systems using fully evaluated COTS communications middleware, explains a representative.

The CNI system, being developed by Northrop Grumman for the F-35's prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, is a crucial component for the success of the F-35's advanced warfighting mission. The CNI system needs the highest level of security to insure seamless and uninterrupted performance on the battlefield.

"As with any system involving national security, the F-35 needs to depend on certified software. Lockheed Martin is responding by selecting COTS products that are certified to the Common Criteria, the international standard for security evaluations," says Dr. Ben Calloni, fellow for security and sr. research program manager for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. "ORBexpress is the only communications middleware being certified to EAL-4+. By selecting it for the CNI project, we are demonstrating our commitment to building secure systems with evaluated products."