Boeing Co. has developed a smartphone for defense and security customers, called Boeing Black, that will self-destruct if tampered with.
The company, whose Defense, Space & Security unit is based in Hazelwood, filed plans with the Federal Communications Commission this week for the phone, according to a Wall Street Journal article.
The secure phone, which weighs more than Apple’s iPhone, will allow devices to be attached to it, including advanced location tracking and biometric sensors, the FCC filing states. The phone won’t be available to the general public.
A Boeing spokeswoman said the device will be available soon, but said the company is not disclosing the exact timing, price, or where it will be assembled. Boeing confirmed that the smartphone will be assembled in the U.S.
“Designed to meet the evolving security needs of defense and security customers, Boeing has released a modular smartphone to enable secure access and exchange of critical data and communications on a trusted mobile device,” spokeswoman Becky Yeamans wrote in an emailed statement to the Post-Dispatch.
“Boeing has drawn on its deep expertise in information assurance, advanced technology partners and a U.S.-based manufacturer to provide an innovative, secure and flexible mobile solution,” she continued.