The AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loader (SKL) is a ruggedized, portable, hand-held

fill device A fill device or key loader is a module used to load cryptographic keys into electronic encryption machines. Fill devices are usually hand held and electronic ones are battery operated. Older mechanical encryption systems, such as rotor machine ...

, for securely receiving, storing, and transferring data between compatible cryptographic and communications equipment. The SKL was designed and built by Ralph Osterhout and then sold to

Sierra Nevada Corporation Sierra Nevada Corporation (also styled SNC) is an American aerospace, defense, electronics, engineering and manufacturing corporation that specializes in aircraft modification, integration and other space technologies. The corporation contracts ...

, with software developed by

Science Applications International Corporation Science Applications International Corporation, Inc. (SAIC) is an American technology company headquartered in Reston, Virginia that provides government services and information technology support. History 20th century The original SAIC was cr ...

(SAIC) under the auspices of the United States Army. It is intended to supplement and eventually replace the AN/CYZ-10 Data Transfer Device (DTD). The PYQ-10 provides all the functions currently resident in the CYZ-10 and incorporates new features that provide streamlined management of COMSEC key, Electronic Protection (EP) data, and

Signal Operating Instructions Signal operating instructions (SOI) or Communications-Electronics Operation Instructions (CEOI) are U.S. military terms for a type of combat order issued for the technical control and coordination of communications within a command. They include c ...

(SOI). Cryptographic functions are performed by an embedded KOV-21 card developed by the

National Security Agency The National Security Agency (NSA) is an intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense, under the authority of the director of national intelligence (DNI). The NSA is responsible for global monitoring, collection, and proces ...

(NSA). The AN/PYQ-10 supports both the DS-101 and DS-102 interfaces, as well as the

KSD-64 The KSD-64 Crypto Ignition Key (CIK) is an NSA-developed EEPROM chip packed in a plastic case that looks like a toy key. The model number is due to its storage capacity — 64 kibibits (65,536bits, or 8KiB), enough to store multiple e ...

Crypto Ignition Key. The SKL is backward-compatible with existing End Cryptographic Units (ECU) and forward-compatible with future security equipment and systems, including NSA's Key Management Infrastructure. Between 2005 and 2007, the U.S. Army budget included funds for over 24,000 SKL units. The estimated price for FY07 was $1708 each. When released in May 2005, the price was $1695 each. This price includes the unit and the internal encryptor card. In accordance with the

Joint Electronics Type Designation System The Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), which was previously known as the Joint Army-Navy Nomenclature System (AN System. JAN) and the Joint Communications-Electronics Nomenclature System, is a method developed by the U.S. War Depa ...

(JETDS), the "''AN/PYQ-10''" designation represents the 10th design of an Army-Navy electronic device for portable data processing special equipment. The JETDS system also now is used to name all

Department of Defense The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD, or DOD) is an executive department of the U.S. federal government charged with coordinating and supervising the six U.S. armed services: the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Space Force, ...

electronic systems.

References

External links

''Sierra Nevada Corporation'' - SKL spec sheet
(Archived)
''FAS Military Analysis Network.org'' - 2005 US Army Weapons System Handbook: Army Key Management System
Key management Encryption device accessories National Security Agency encryption devices Military electronics of the United States Military equipment introduced in the 2000s {{Electronics-stub

References

See Also

External links