A store management system, SMS, comprising: a manned station comprising a master arm control message encoder, a first critical control message encoder, and a second critical control message encoder; an unmanned platform comprising a master arm control message decoder, a first critical control message decoder, and a second critical control message decoder; and a data link between said manned station and said unmanned platform, said data link configured to: transmit a master arm control message from said master arm control message encoder to said master arm control message decoder, said master arm control message for use in arming and/or disarming a weapon coupled within the unmanned platform; transmit a first critical control message from said first critical control message encoder to said first critical control message decoder, said first critical control message for use in controlling targeting and/or timing of the weapon; and transmit a second critical control message from said second critical control message encoder to said second critical control message decoder, said second critical control message for use in controlling targeting and/or timing of the weapon; wherein said second critical control message is a duplicate of said first critical control message. a manned station comprising a master arm control message encoder, a first critical control message encoder, and a second critical control message encoder; an unmanned platform comprising a master arm control message decoder, a first critical control message decoder, and a second critical control message decoder; and a data link between said manned station and said unmanned platform, said data link configured to: transmit a master arm control message from said master arm control message encoder to said master arm control message decoder, said master arm control message for use in arming and/or disarming a weapon coupled within the unmanned platform; transmit a first critical control message from said first critical control message encoder to said first critical control message decoder, said first critical control message for use in controlling targeting and/or timing of the weapon; and transmit a second critical control message from said second critical control message encoder to said second critical control message decoder, said second critical control message for use in controlling targeting and/or timing of the weapon; wherein said second critical control message is a duplicate of said first critical control message. transmit a master arm control message from said master arm control message encoder to said master arm control message decoder, said master arm control message for use in arming and/or disarming a weapon coupled within the unmanned platform; transmit a first critical control message from said first critical control message encoder to said first critical control message decoder, said first critical control message for use in controlling targeting and/or timing of the weapon; and transmit a second critical control message from said second critical control message encoder to said second critical control message decoder, said second critical control message for use in controlling targeting and/or timing of the weapon; wherein said second critical control message is a duplicate of said first critical control message.