The Growing Threat to Air Force Mission-Critical Electronics : Lethality at Risk: Unclassified Summary

High-performance electronics are key to the U.S. Air Force's (USAF's) ability to deliver lethal effects at the time and location of their choosing. Additionally, these electronic systems must be able to withstand not only the rigors of the battlefield but be able to perform the needed mission while under cyber and electronic warfare (EW) attack. This requires a high degree of assurance that they are both physically reliable and resistant to adversary actions throughout their life cycle from design to sustainment.

In 2016, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a workshop titled Optimizing the Air Force Acquisition Strategy of Secure and Reliable Electronic Components, and released a summary of the workshop. This publication serves as a follow-on to provide recommendations to the USAF acquisition community.

High-performance electronics are key to the U.S. Air Force's (USAF's) ability to deliver lethal effects at the time and location of their choosing. Additionally, these electronic systems must be able to withstand not only the rigors of the battlefield but be able to perform the needed mission while under cyber and electronic warfare (EW) attack. This requires a high degree of assurance that they are both physically reliable and resistant to adversary actions throughout their life cycle from design to sustainment. In 2016, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a workshop titled Optimizing the Air Force Acquisition Strategy of Secure and Reliable Electronic Components, and released a summary of the workshop. This publication serves as a follow-on to provide recommendations to the USAF acquisition community. Table of ContentsFront MatterExecutive SummaryDiscussion of Selected Topics from the Restricted ReportConclusionsSummary of Findings and RecommendationsAppendixesAppendix A: Statement of TaskAppendix B: Summary from the Workshop ProceedingsAppendix C: SCRM Policy, Guidance, and StandardsAppendix D: SCRM-Specific NDAA/Public Laws (2009-2019)Appendix E: Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement Subparts Addressing SCRMAppendix F: Industry Test Standards for Component Integrity and Counterfeit DetectionAppendix G: Summarization of Relevant Past Reports on USAF and DoD Microelectronic Supply ChainAppendix H: AcronymsAppendix I: Committee and Liaison Biographical Information