Performance Characteristics Of The Cryptographic Algorithm Crystals-Dilithium

Kire Jakimoski; Blashko Palitov

doi:10.2478/cmc-2026-0012

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Performance Characteristics Of The Cryptographic Algorithm Crystals-Dilithium

CONTEMPORARY MILITARY CHALLENGES

Volume 28 (2026): Issue 2 (June 2026)

By: Kire Jakimoski and Blashko Palitov

Open Access

|Jul 2026

Abstract

CRYSTALS-Dilithium is a post-quantum digital signature algorithm valued for its security, efficiency, and resistance to quantum attacks. This study evaluates its performance in execution time, CPU, and RAM usage across different message sizes, security levels (Dilithium-2, 3, 5), and pre-hashing. The results show linear scaling with message size, modest overhead at higher levels, and major speed gains when pre-hashing large files. Dilithium-2 provides optimal efficiency, while Dilithium-5 delivers stronger protection with practical performance. Beyond civilian use, Dilithium is well-suited for military systems, enabling secure communications, long-term confidentiality of classified data, and NATO interoperability, even in constrained environments such as tactical radios, drones, and field IoT devices.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cmc-2026-0012 | Journal eISSN: 2463-9575 | Journal ISSN: 2232-2825

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Language: English, Slovenian

Page range: 29 - 48

Published on: Jul 2, 2026

Published by: General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

Keywords:

Post-quantum cryptography,

digital signatures,

performance analysis,

CPU and memory usage

Related subjects:

Social sciences,

Sociology,

Sociology of science, technology, and environment,

Political science,

Political thought,

Military policy,

International relations

© 2026 Kire Jakimoski, Blashko Palitov, published by General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Volume 28 (2026): Issue 2 (June 2026)