Mercury Systems has announced a strategic collaboration with Nightwing, a cybersecurity firm spun off from Northrop Grumman, to integrate robust zero-trust security architectures into mission-critical aerospace and defense platforms. The partnership aims to deliver embedded cyber resilience at the hardware and software level across Department of Defense (DoD) programs.
Strategic Context: Hardening the Digital Backbone of Defense
The digital transformation of military platforms—from avionics suites to C4ISR nodes—has dramatically expanded the attack surface for adversaries. Embedded systems in aircraft, satellites, unmanned vehicles, and missile systems are increasingly targeted by nation-state actors seeking to disrupt or degrade U.S. and allied capabilities.
Recognizing this threat landscape, Mercury Systems—a key supplier of secure processing modules and edge computing solutions—has teamed up with Nightwing to embed cybersecurity at the silicon level. Their joint solution is designed to support zero-trust principles aligned with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) frameworks such as SP 800-207.
Nightwing’s Cyber Resilient Platform: AI-Enabled Zero Trust
At the core of this collaboration is Nightwing’s Cyber Resilient Platform (CRP), which integrates artificial intelligence (AI)-driven behavioral analytics with real-time threat detection mechanisms. The CRP functions as an embedded security layer that continuously monitors system integrity, flags anomalous behavior, and can autonomously respond to cyber intrusions—even in disconnected or contested environments.
This capability is particularly critical for airborne platforms or forward-deployed systems that cannot rely on persistent connectivity for cloud-based security operations centers (SOCs). By embedding CRP directly into Mercury’s ruggedized processing hardware—such as their RappidEdge™ mission computers—the solution provides local autonomous response without external dependencies.
Integration into Mercury’s Secure Processing Ecosystem
Mercury’s portfolio includes open-architecture compute modules compliant with standards like SOSA™ (Sensor Open Systems Architecture) and CMOSS (C5ISR/EW Modular Open Suite of Standards). These platforms are widely used in airborne ISR pods, electronic warfare suites, radar processors, and missile guidance systems.
The integration of Nightwing’s CRP into these modules enables:
- Secure boot verification using cryptographically signed firmware
- Runtime monitoring of memory access patterns via AI models
- Hardware root-of-trust anchored in tamper-resistant components
- Autonomous isolation/quarantine of compromised subsystems
This approach aligns closely with DoD mandates under Executive Order 14028 (“Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity”) and supports compliance with DoDI 8500.01 on cybersecurity requirements for weapons systems.
Implications for Defense Programs & Supply Chain Security
The Mercury-Nightwing partnership addresses a growing concern within the Pentagon regarding vulnerabilities in commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components used in military applications. By offering pre-integrated secure compute solutions that meet both performance and cyber assurance needs, the companies aim to de-risk procurement for prime contractors across air, land, sea, space domains.
This is particularly relevant for programs such as:
- Next-generation fighter avionics (e.g., NGAD)
- Tactical UAVs requiring autonomous navigation resilience
- C4ISR modernization under JADC2 initiatives
- SATCOM terminals vulnerable to firmware exploitation
A Model for Embedded Zero Trust at Scale?
The collaboration could serve as a blueprint for scalable zero-trust implementation across embedded defense electronics—a domain historically resistant to rapid cybersecurity adoption due to legacy architectures and certification bottlenecks.
If successful at scale-up trials or selected pilot programs within USAF or USN platforms by FY2026–2027 acquisition cycles, this model may influence future MilTech procurement language around “cyber survivability” metrics alongside traditional SWaP-C considerations.
Outlook: From Secure Hardware Roots to Mission Assurance
The Mercury-Nightwing alliance reflects an industry shift toward embedding cyber resilience not as an afterthought but as a foundational design principle. With adversaries increasingly targeting firmware-level exploits—such as those seen in recent attacks on satellite modems or avionics buses—the ability to detect-and-respond at the edge becomes mission-critical.
This partnership also underscores how legacy defense primes are evolving through spin-offs like Nightwing—leveraging startup agility while retaining domain expertise—to meet modern threat environments. As DoD continues pushing toward modular open systems with built-in trust anchors, collaborations like this may define next-gen secure computing baselines across multi-domain operations.
