BAE Systems has received a $3.8m contract to continue supplying the secure operating system used to run the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter’s mission-planning software.

BAE’s operating system collects data at different security levels. The aircraft’s software uses this to develop mission plans, which include intelligence, weather, communications and navigation.

The information is then loaded onto the jet for mission execution, and when it is complete and the aircraft has returned, the operating system processes the data according to its security classification.

The process, known as a cross domain transfer, is completed within seconds.

The company’s XTS-400 Trusted Computer System recently received a fifth patent for its ability to control information access between processes, file systems objects and devices.