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REF ID:A5229~~ . -7.Ad au) 

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Copy No: I 

LCS(5ll,IN00, (Final) 

UK/US OO:mlJNIOA.TIONS SICURITY CONFERENCE 1953 

Report of the Ensineerins Comm1 ttee - Phase I 

to the Eucutive Coamittee 

1. In accordance with the reccmneJldation of paragraph 11 c (1) of the Report 

to the British Chief's of' Staff and the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff of the uK/US 

cOawnications Security Conf'erenoe held in Washington in May-June 1952, the 

Engineering Committee has prepared data sheets for each equipment available or 

under development, and has made recommendations on certain salient points. 

The recommendatiod!lwhioh follow are based on observations made and ·informal 

discussions held during the fortnight reserved for this purpose prior to 

Phase I of the 1953 Conterence. 

2. The Engineering Committee viewed equipment where possibl~ and held 

discussions on the following: 

Literal O:f'1'-line Crypto Systems 

On-line teletypewriter Crypto Systems 

Ciphony Systems 

Cifax Systems ~- ~ 

Spurious !missions which endanger Communications Security \_~ .f£M,; 

Crypto .Material Production Equipment 

Security Systems for I.F.F. and Navigational Aids 

General Review of new electronic techniques. 

3. The major recommendations of the Engineering COI11nittee are: 

A. Future Combined Research and Development Effort 

There is considerable similarity between the specific R & D projects 

being pursued by· the U.K. and u.s. Although this means duplication of effort in 

same instances it is not necessarily wasteful duplication. On the contrary it 

asau.res protection of national interests, and the healthiness of independent 

lines of investigation, However, "::his vsry similarity offers an opportunity 

·r-or effecting considerable economy of development resources. The Engined?'ing 

Ocalld-ttee believes that with more specifio guidance on operational requirements 

tram the Service Departments, economy could be achieved. This guidance, it is 

telt• should .be in the form of a directory of Canbined and NATO Oryptographic ·. -..eu:tity requirements. The Directory should include also listings of cryptoequipment and systems available or under development to meet the stated requirements. 

It.;ls recommended that the Executive Committee consider the desirability 

at p&'ej>ar.lng sμoh a directory and ~e best method of effecting this. 

B. Progress in Blectronics 

There haw been significa~'; ad"V&.nces in Elec~ronics and Circuitry .. ainoe the 1952 Con!'erence. In the past, electronic techniques have, with few 

exceptions, bee:i adopted only where the speed of operation would preclude the 

use of electrmr.echanical methods. Electronic methods are now being explored 

for applioatio:i to On-line Teletypewriter Cypher Systems and even to sane 

off-line Literal Cypher Systems. 

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It is recommended that the Service Departments be informed of this trend 

and of the fact that it will have a profound ef't'ect upon crypto-'Jperations, 

supply, and maintenance as they are practised to-day. Of these changes, 

those which affect the training of maintenance personnel are probably the most 

difficult. Because of this, thought and planning should be started now by the 

Services it they are to be in a position to enjoy the full benefit of the 

advantages offered by electronic crypto-equipment~ when they become available. 

c. Co-ordination of CryPtographic and Cormnunications Equipment 

Development 

The present practice of almost independent development of crypto- ~·~ graphic equipment and certain forms of communications equipment has~ 

let". to incompatibility of one with the other. In order that compatil'.ty 

ma.y be achieved it is essentiai that such communications security as is 

required should be considered Wl integral part of the comnnmications requirement at the time when the Staff and Operational Specifications and/or 

Military Characteristics are .being formulated. This is necessary so that 

the cryptographic equipment may be designed to suit the requirements of the 

communications system or, where necessary, the communications equipment and 

practices may be adjusted to make possible the utilisation of an acceptable 

cryptographic system. 

It is recommended that the necessary steps be taken to ensure that this 

course of action is adopted by all concerned. 

D. Operating and Maintenance 

The development authority must maintain close co-ordination with 

the· User Services so that the operating and maintenance requirements are made 

known at all stages in the development. Thus, Users may weigh the need for the 

equipnent against the maintenance and training requirements and, it necessary, 

the development authority may adjust the design to meet the operating and 

maintenance problem. 

It is recommended that there be consultation between the development 

engineers and the Service engineers and communicators as early as possible 

in the process of development of each equipmen~ in order to achieve these 

ends. 

E. Spurious Emissions which endanger Communications Security 

The Committee agree that radiation, conduction and induction from 

oommunication and crypto devices are very grave sources of insecurity. 

that:-

. . 

Although investigations are by no means complete it is recommended 

(i) All crY,ptographic equipment using teletypewriter ancillaries 

and/or sequential signalling of clear text or key be c~nsidered insecure UJ> to a distance of at least 200 ft. in any 

direction from the equipment, unlesi;:i the equipment has been 

specially protected. 

(ii) All crypto systems and ancillaries be investigated at high 

priority, to protect them and ensure that appropriate rules 

can be formulated for their use and siting. 

(iii) Future equipments be designed to be free from such spurious 

emissions. 

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• F. Future Engineering Discussions 

The fortn:ight reserved before the Conference f~r visiting Establishments, viewing equipments and informal discussions between engineering experts 

has proved ot very great value to the Engineers of the Service Departments. It 

is considered, however, that a better·arrangement needs to be ma.de for the 

Engineers from the Research and Development Establishments to obtain detailed 

information and to exchange views on techniques, etc. 

It is recommended that:-

(i) The assignment, on a semi-pe:nnanent basis, of qualified . technical liaison officers to the R & D establishments .Gt 

one or both agencies should be considered. · -·· ·· 

(ii) Future Oon:ferences .should provide a preliminary phase to 

enable the Engineers and Oommwiica.tors of the Service 

Departments to visit Establishments, view and discuss 

appropriate equipments which are available and under 

development. 

(iii) There should be more frequent visits, independent of the 

formal Conferences, by engineers"of both cotmtries in small 

parties to di~ouss specific problems or equipments. 

. G.. _Exchange of Components and Models of Cr:ypto Equipments 

It is recommended that as a regular procedure each nation provide 

to the other, on an indefinite loan basis, for test and examination, engineering and first production models of components and equipments of mutual 

interest: and that if exchange is not practicable the equipment will be 

subjected to an agreed series of tests in the parent cowitry. 

8, Pal.mer Street, 

:t.on4!p. a. w .1. 

29th October, 1953. 

'------......,,......=~-------'rL 86-36/50 USC 3605 

onairman. 

E!lgineering Committee 

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