Aviation Cybersecurity: A Study of Current Threats, Technologies, and Future Directions

This sector is at the heart of global message and commerce, and as its elements become more and more dependent on computing power and net structures. Because aviation is going digital, it has become more vulnerable to cyberattacks like ransomware, phishing, APTs and DoS attacks. This research examines ongoing threats to aviation systems and suggests a system that uses multiple layers to resist such threats. The framework has been developed to include advanced encryption, intrusion detection, endpoint protection and incident response, all with a unique focus on adding lightweight audio encryption (Speck64/128) to aircraft-to-ATC voice communication. To ensure always-on communication, the system features a backup way of communicating when encryption breaks down. Comparing different sets of results, it is clear that the method used strongly cuts down cyberattacks, boosts efficiency and does all this with little increase in latency. Results from simulations show that the framework can handle old systems, grow with increasing needs and operate efficiently. By pointing out the benefits of global standards and ready defense modifications, the research indicates how aviation should stay ready for any emerging cybersecurity issues.