What encryption algorithm is primarily used by the Department of Defense?

The encryption algorithm primarily used by the Department of Defense is Advanced Encryption Standard, or AES. It was established as a standard to ensure secure encryption for sensitive government data. AES is recognized for its robust security features, efficiency in performance, and support for various key lengths (128, 192, and 256 bits), which allows for a flexible balance between security and performance.

AES was selected through a rigorous process that evaluated multiple algorithms, making it a trusted choice for secure communications within government and military operations. Its widespread adoption stems from its resistance to known cryptographic attacks and the commitment to continual improvement against advancing technology.

Other algorithms listed, while significant in their own right, serve different purposes or have different strengths. RSA is primarily used for encryption and digital signatures rather than bulk data encryption. SHA-256 is a hashing algorithm, not an encryption algorithm, used to generate a fixed-size hash from input data. Blowfish is an older symmetric key cipher known for speed but is not the current standard for securing sensitive government data.