Quantum-Resistant Cryptography for Military Communications
U Sachin, Raveendra Gudodagi, H T Madan · 2025
The emergence of quantum computing threatens conventional cryptographic systems securing military communications. This paper proposes a quantum-resistant cryptographic framework specifically designed for military networks’ unique constraints. We evaluate post-quantum cryptographic algorithms across strategic, operational, and tactical communication tiers using a novel Dynamic Algorithm Switching Protocol that adapts algorithm selection based on mission requirements and available resources. Our multi-tiered approach implements lattice-based algorithms for tactical communications and hybrid classical/post-quantum systems for strategic networks. Simulations demonstrate that lattice-based algorithms reduce computational overhead by 12.6% and bandwidth consumption by 18.3% compared to alternatives, while hash-based mechanisms improve security margins by 24.7% with acceptable latency increases. Field tests confirm our framework maintains tactical communication latency under 15ms with only 8% reduction in effective range. The proposed adaptive framework successfully balances security and performance, achieving 92.7% optimal algorithm selection across varying network conditions—significantly outperforming static approaches. We conclude with a phased implementation strategy and recommendations for military adoption of quantum-resistant cryptography.