Using Open-Source Firmware for Embedded Military Applications

Many people are unaware that open-source firmware is being used in embedded systems for the United States Department of Defense (DoD). For obvious reasons, details about this kind of work cannot be discussed publicly, which is why you don't hear much about it.

For the past 8 years SysPro Consulting has been developing boot firmware solutions for Intel-based embedded hardware that has been integrated into various kinds of DoD military equipment, ranging from aircraft to ground vehicles to naval vessels, and more. These boot firmware solutions have been based on open-source projects such as coreboot and Slim Bootloader integrated with Intel's Firmware Support Package (FSP).

Working on boot firmware for DoD programs as a supplier within the U.S. Defense Industrial Base (DIB) comes with many unique challenges and requirements compared to working on boot firmware for commercial products. These firmware solutions commonly include unique / out-of-the-box features and requirements that present complex engineering challenges to implement and support.

This talk will present many of the differences that come with developing boot firmware solutions for embedded military applications, both from an engineering perspective as well as a business perspective.