A recent advertisement by the United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has revealed that it is seeking a company to assist it in developing a secure messaging app using distributed ledger technology for the Department of Defense (DoD).

Silicon Angle reported that the advertisement appeared on the Defense Business portal. The objective of the project is to create a secure messaging and transaction platform that separates the message creation, from the transfer (transport) and reception of the message using a decentralized messaging backbone to enable anyone anywhere to send a secure message or conduct other transactions across multiple channels traceable in a decentralized ledger.

“There is a critical DoD need to develop a secure messaging and transaction platform accessible via web browser or standalone native application”, it reads.

DARPA goes on to state that the messaging platform will transfer messages via a secure decentralized protocol that will be secured across multiple channels, such as transport protocol, encryption of messages via various application protocols, customized blockchain implementation of message deconstruction and reconstruction, and decentralized ledger implementation. 

“With this messaging platform the business logic of the DoD ecosystem would be mapped onto a network of known entities using distributed ledgers. By doing this significant portions of the DoD backoffice infrastructure can be decentralized, ‘smart documents and contracts’ can be instantly and securely sent and received thereby reducing exposure to hackers and reducing needless delays in DoD backoffice correspondence”, DARPA explained.

The project has been categorized into three phases. The first phase will focus on creating a specific decentralized messaging platform built on the framework of an existing blockchain framework. The second phase will involve developing, testing and evaluating a working prototype.  Based on the outcomes and feedback from second phase, the third phase will focus on commercialization and full-scale implementation of the platform.

DARPA says that the platform would act as the transport for a cyptographically sound record of all transactions whether they are MIPRs, contracts, troop movements or intelligence. It will enable troops on the ground in denied communications environments to securely communicate back to HQ and DoD back office executives could rest assured that their logistics system is efficient, timely and safe from hackers.

“The benefits are broad and could even be applied to domains such as space”, it added.