COTS Journal - April 2019

April 2019, Volume 21 – Number 4 • cotsjournalonline.com

The Journal of Military Electronics & Computing JOURNAL

New NVMe Communications Interface/Driver Technology and Encrypted Flash Drives Meet Military SWaP Requirements

Modernizing FPGA Bitstream Authentication

The Journal of Military Electronics & Computing COTS (kots), n. 1. Commercial off-the-shelf.

Terminology popularized in 1994 within U.S. DoD by SECDEF Wm. Perry’s “Perry Memo” that changed military industry purchasing and design guidelines, making Mil-Specs acceptable only by waiver. COTS is generally defined for technology, goods and services as: a) using commercial business practices and specifications, b) not developed under government funding, c) offered for sale to the general market, d) still must meet the program ORD. 2. Commercial business practices include the accepted practice of customer-paid minor modification to standard COTS products to meet the customer’s unique requirements.

JOURNAL

—Ant. When applied to the procurement of electronics for he U.S. Military, COTS is a procurement philosophy and does not imply commercial, office environment or any other durability grade. E.g., rad-hard components designed and offered for sale to the general market are COTS if they were developed by the company and not under government funding.

SPECIAL FEATURES 16

New NVMe Communications Interface/Driver Technology and Encrypted Flash Drives Meet Military SWaP Requirements

By Richard Kanadjian, Flash Business Manager, Kingston Technology

SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT 20

DEPARTMENTS 06 Publisher’s Note

The Age of Officious Technology

08

The Inside Track

Modernizing FPGA Bitstream Authentication

By Ryan Kenny, Senior Strategic and Technical Marketing at Intel

COT’S PICKS 24

Editor’s Choice for April

Cover Image SpaceX successfully completed the demonstration mission on Sunday, September 29th of its upgraded Falcon 9 rocket, delivering the CASSIOPE, CUSat, DANDE and POPACS satellites to their targeted orbits.

COTS Journal | April 2019

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The Journal of Military Electronics & Computing

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

John Reardon, Publisher

The Age of Officious Technology of•fi•cious Adjective 1. Assertive of authority in an annoyingly domineering way, especially with regard to petty or trivial matters.

“The security people were very officious” o Intrusively enthusiastic in offering help or advice; interfering.

“An officious bystander” Synonyms: Self-important, bumptious, self-assertive, overbearing, overzealous, dictatorial, bossy, domineering, interfering, intrusive, meddlesome, meddling, importunate, forward, opinionated; A while back I coined the phrase “Officious Technology”.

At the time I was referring to an automatic spell correction in a Word document that would not allow me to write a friends name correctly. Today in the wake of the Boeing 737 Max crashes, the importance of this phrase goes way beyond the daily inconveniences we all experience. From the simple settings on a cell phone to a phone tree that does not address our concerns, we all wake up each day to technology that threatens to de-rail us.

It was recently conveyed to me that through 2022 that more than 80% of Artificial Intelligent applications would be in error due to erroneous data. Some how this rings true to me, as I continually ignored the check engine light or the air pressure sensors in my car. This leads me to my concerns: 1. The confusion surrounding an erroneous sensor reading.

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COTS Journal | April 2019

2. Loosing the core knowledge in understanding what is happening.

3. Balancing the benefit to the potential of a catastrophic failure.

The Confusion Today’s warfighters are finding themselves more and more dependent on technology that they have to rely on. Couple this with fatigue and a good dose of fear, it is imperative

that deployed systems continue to offer a “partnership” that gives the User Interface sufficient depth as to allow for the user to grasp the logic behind the actions. For example in the recent Boeing 737 concern, the actions being taken were a result of sensors malfunctioning. The MCAS was reading conflicting information from sensors on both sides of the airplane.

Core Knowledge As discussion continues on how the Egyptians actually built the pyramids, I wonder if a 100 years from now if historians will wonder how ASICs were made with the tools of our time. We all have experienced a true expert in their field and wondered – “wow, how could I have come so far in life and not known how that works”. Like the Auto Mechanic who looks at a Tesla as if it is a space Ship, the need to bring users along with the technology has a greater importance then ever.

Catastrophic Failure History has shown us the importance of distributed sys-

tems with high reliability. At the same time it is clear that connected systems offer an array of advantages including the ability to react to an ever-changing environment. But somewhere in the back of my mind is the idea of “Murphy’s Law” that states, “That if it can go wrong it will”. I refer to this mindset as a “shark attack” mentality. Logically we know that crossing the parking lot at the super market is more risky then swimming in the ocean – but the catastrophic results of a shark attack amplifies the concern.

This balance between real-time knowledge from connected devices and the increase risk of complex systems requires a balance that has yet to be identified.

So in conclusion, situational awareness, a faith in the simplicity, elegance of the solution and training will continue to be cornerstones as technologies advance. We should not be too fast in our acceptance that computers are never wrong; nor in discarding concepts such as “Garbage in, Garbage out” or “Fuzzy logic”. And whether you believe in distributed computing or a Cloud base future – simple, high-reliability, fault-tolerant system architectures are a must!

COTS Journal | April 2019

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Arnold Defense announces the first order for FLETCHER Laser Guided Rocket Launcher Arnold Defense, the St Louis based manufacturer of 2.75-inch rocket launchers, is pleased to announce receipt of the first order for their unique FLETCHER Land Based, Laser Guided Rocket Launcher. The FLETCHER 2.75-inch/70mm weapon system was first unveiled just 18 months ago at DSEi in London. Since the launch, FLETCHER has been showcased at a number of international exhibitions, generating exceptional levels of interest whilst Arnold Defense have continued with an ongoing development and investment program to broaden and prove the system’s already revolutionary capability.

The first customer for the FLETCHER system, who cannot yet be disclosed, has committed to purchasing FLETCHER due to the system’s ability to accurately engage targets at a range of over 5km, with a 100% hit rate in recent test-firings.

This first order is for an initial batch of launchers, with a larger order expected to follow once successful user trials and demonstrations have been completed.

Mike Brown, Vice President and COO of Ar-

nold Defense said, “Given that the FLETCHER concept was unveiled to the public only 18 months ago, Arnold Defense is delighted to have signed what we anticipate to be the first of many contracts for the supremely capable FLETCHER surface-based rocket launcher.” He added, “FLETCHER has generated huge interest globally with its unique capability to deliver organic, long-range precision firepower to even the smallest tactical element. It is great to see serious international interest now developing into firm orders.”

With FLETCHER, Arnold Defense has made a bold departure from the traditional concept of use for 2.75-inch rocket systems; that of an area suppression weapon delivered by aviation assets.

Arnold’s evolution has FLETCHER using advanced rocket-guidance technology to utilize groundbased launch platforms, meeting the demands of modern, vehicle-mounted and dismounted asymmetric warfare.

FLETCHER’s unique design allows for ease of operation, maintenance and sustainment. It employs an existing suite of guidance modules, rockets and warheads, already used in well-known programs and readily available to global forces.

FLETCHER is supported by a team of global defense industry companies, collaborating under Arnold Defense’s leadership to combine their complimentary expertise.

Mercury Systems to Deliver Intel Select Solution for Hardened Security with Lockheed Martin Solution to provide full stack, system security at cloud scale

Mercury Systems, Inc. announced that it will offer an Intel® Select Solution for Hardened Security with Lockheed Martin. Designed to help defense and aerospace customers secure mission-critical data, the solution will provide hardened, full stack security that delivers best-in-class performance which sets new standards of affordability for secure and 8

COTS Journal | April 2019

rugged tactical edge computing. The U.S.-designed solution will be manufactured and tested in Mercury’s Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA)-accredited facilities and is expected to be delivered to the market in mid-2019.

“Mercury has over thirty years of expertise in building secure rackmount, embedded and custom Intel commercial off-the-shelf solutions for deployment into ground, surface, subsurface and airborne environments,” said Scott Orton, Vice President and General Manager of Mercury’s Trusted Mission Solutions group. “Our long-standing partnership with Intel enables us to provide high-perfor-

mance, sophisticated platforms that meet or exceed the mission requirements of Department of Defense end-customers and industry-leading prime contractors, such as Lockheed Martin.”

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NIWC Atlantic Develops App Prototype for Navy Divers A Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic team recently completed an Automated Dive Profile Data Transmission and Synchronization (Auto-DPTS) prototype aimed at streamlining the dive logging process for Navy dive units.

La’Keisha Williams, NIWC Atlantic Science and Technology principle investigator, led the year-long management effort on the prototype, which attempts to transition Navy divers to an entirely digital platform for records keeping.

“Before Auto-DPTS, divers would have to log everything with paper and pen while still on the boat,” said Williams. “From there, divers would need to locate an internet connection in order to log into their Dive and Jump Reporting System (DJRS) account and enter data by hand.”

Williams’ efforts on Auto-DPTS, combined with the efforts of a contractor and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) TechSolutions, resulted in a prototype solution to provide divers with a ruggedized mobile tablet running Scuba Binary Dive Application (SBDA)-100 software.

“Metrics, such as water depth, tem-

perature, ascent rate and other information tracked through a diver’s computer, are not easily extractable,” said Williams. “Now, with the adapters that we’ve 3D-printed, they can connect their dive computer to the tablet running the SBDA-100 software using a USB connection”.

The software’s algorithm for extracting and uploading the data into DJRS automates the post-dive process entirely. The tablet is also Common Access Card-enabled so divers can log into their DJRS account straight from the tablet when they do an automatic upload.

“We have the software development expertise and experience to take this idea straight from the divers and put it, in physical form, right back into their hands,” said Williams. “Performing effective rapid prototyping and then transitioning this technology into the hands of the fleet is a core capability of NIWC Atlantic’s science and technology department.”

To develop the Auto-DPTS prototype into a full working model, the Naval Experimental Diving Unit and the Naval Diving Salvage Training Center (NDSTC), both in Panama City Beach, Florida, are currently testing the solution in an effort to integrate the product into their divers’ day-to-day training.

U.S. Air Force and Raytheon collaborate to modernize space command and control system SPEARR keeps legacy SPADOC operating well into the future

The U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center and a consortium of tech firms led by Raytheon (NYSE: RTN) are modernizing and simplifying the legacy Space Defense Operations Center, a 1990s-era system that tracks and monitors space debris.

Dave Fuino, program director for Raytheon Intelligence, Information and Services, said: “Within just a few months we brought together a team, developed the technology to modernize it, got it on contract and held a series of demos to prove it worked. We went from concept to proving the solution in less than a year, which is really remarkable.”

The SPADOC system reached the end of its planned service life. The U.S. Air Force is planning to replace it with modern systems that will simplify operations and provide greater space situational awareness and collision avoidance capabilities.

However, the new system won’t come online for several years.

“SPADOC provides critical space-tracking capabilities that we must sustain and maintain while we wait for new systems to come online,” said Bob Taylor, U.S. Air Force Legacy Space Branch chief. “At the same time, it’s critical that we address the obsolescence risk of an aging SPADOC system. So we came up with a really innovative, modern solution to this problem.” Raytheon and AFLCMC decided to emulate SPADOC’s capabilities with modern computer hardware. The new emulated environment, SPADOC Emulation Analysis Risk Reduction, known as SPEARR, is designed to provide a more sustainable system that requires less maintenance.

The new hardware will provide the same functionality as today’s system, making it easy to learn and operate.

Additional benefits are significant reductions in power and cooling consumption. Most of these reductions are because all of SPADOC’s capabilities are now integrated into two small server racks instead of spread over 1,000 square feet of an aging, analog computer system.

“We used proven emulation technology to help solve our challenge, significantly reducing obsolescence risk,” said Taylor. “Innovations in programmatic and technical approaches drove a smarter, better and faster solution. The next step is to evaluate options for fielding SPEARR.” COTS Journal | April 2019

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Raytheon, Lockheed Martin sign teaming agreement to pursue contract to modernize surveillance and air traffic control radar systems

Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) are jointly pursuing the Spectrum Efficient National Surveillance Radar (SENSR) contract that will consolidate and modernize America’s aging surveillance and air traffic control radars.

SENSR is a multi-agency program that includes the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Homeland Security. SENSR will replace current air traffic control and surveillance radars with fewer, more advanced multi-mission systems and release wireless spectrum for commercial use.

“There’s an increasing demand for radio spectrum that’s driving the rapid expansion of wireless internet services across America,” said

Ralph Acaba, president of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. “SENSR will revolutionize our airspace radar infrastructure for reliable, more secure, enhanced situational awareness and communication.”

Implementing SENSR is vital to the growth, safety and efficiency of commercial industries, air traffic control, homeland security and national security. The consolidation effort will free up a tremendous amount of bandwidth that can be used to move America rapidly toward a 5G capability.

“As a nation, we need a modern, efficient radar infrastructure,” said Paul Lemmo, vice president and general manager, Integrated Warfare Systems & Sensors, Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems. “It would enhance our national security and air safety, and support a healthy, growing economy well into the future.”

Together, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin have over a century of civilian and military radar expertise in more than 60 countries. Both companies bring extensive experience across radio frequency bands and mission areas, specifically in the development of Active Electronically Scanned Array radars. Raytheon and Lockheed Martin combined air traffic and surveillance solutions support more than 60 percent of the world’s airspace.

BAE Systems Honors Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions with a Supplier of the Year Award Curtiss-Wright Among 11 Award Recipients Recognized at Second Annual ‘Partner 2 Win’ Supplier Symposium

Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions division today announced it received a BAE Systems Partner 2 Win Supplier of the Year Award for Subcontractor of the Year, based on exceptional performance and contributions to supply chain success in 2018 for BAE Systems’ Electronic Systems sector.

Curtiss-Wright was honored at a ceremony held in Manchester, New Hampshire on April 2, 2019, and was selected from a pool of more than 750 suppliers that worked with BAE Systems in 2018.

“We are extremely proud to have been named Subcontractor of the Year by BAE Systems,” said Lynn Bamford, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Defense Solutions division. “This highly 10

COTS Journal | April 2019

coveted honor reflects our ongoing commitment to provide BAE Systems with an unmatched level of support as we collaborate to provide them with specialized COTS-based high-speed signal processing modules and strive to extend our its longterm record of excellent on-time delivery and high quality.”

BAE Systems’ Partner 2 Win program is designed to achieve operational excellence and eliminate defects in its supply chain by raising the bar of performance expectations to meet the demand of current and future customers. As part of the program, BAE Systems meets regularly with its suppliers at their locations to transfer best practices to ensure that the components and materials that compose BAE Systems products meet the highest quality standards.

“Recognition of our top-tier suppliers underscores BAE Systems’ commitment to delivering the highest quality products on-time and on-budget, in order to meet the demand of our customers,” said Jeremy Tondreault, vice president of operations

for BAE Systems’ Electronic Systems sector. “We are proud to partner with companies – including Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions – who are dedicated to delivering the products that protect the warfighter on the battlefield and civilians who rely on the safety of commercial transportation.”

The

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Metrasens Launches Proscreen 900™ Plus Threat Detection Solution Next generation solution provides unmatched detection rate to identify mass casualty weapons before they can reach security chokepoints

Metrasen annouced that it will be unveiling the next generation of its mass casualty threat detection solution, Proscreen 900 Plus, at ISC West 2019 in Las Vegas. The new solution bolsters Metrasens’ impressive ferromagnetic screening product line and provides a higher level of security for stadiums, arenas, event venues, hotels, campuses and other areas where security is paramount.

methodology of Proscreen 900 Plus demonstrates an unmatched detection rate and throughput rate of 50-60 individuals screened per minute (3,000–3,600 per hour). With Proscreen 900 Plus, the screeners are placed at the outer perimeter of a facility or venue, detecting potential threats before any attacker can reach security chokepoints.

“We live in a time where security for facilities and event venues has never been more important,” said Jim Viscardi, Metrasens Vice-President of Global Security. “Proscreen 900 Plus helps mitigate the damage potential of bad actors in a mass casualty attack, and is ready to deploy today. Our goal at Metrasens is to use innovative

Proscreen 900 Plus demonstrates Metrasens’ commitment to innovation in the security sector and focus on delivering screening and detection technology backed by rigorous weapons testing and analysis. The result is high throughput, highly effective detection of large mass casualty threat items without the burden of divestiture.

The U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center and a consortium of tech firms led by Raytheon (NYSE: RTN) are modernizing and simplifying the legacy Space Defense Operations Center, a 1990s-era system that tracks and monitors space debris.

Dave Fuino, program director for Raytheon Intelligence, Information and Services, said: “Within just a few months we brought together a team, developed the technology to modernize it, got it on contract and held a series of demos to prove it worked. We went from concept to proving the solution in less than a year, which is really remarkable.”

The SPADOC system reached the end of its planned service life. The U.S. Air Force is planning to replace it with modern systems that will simplify operations and provide greater space situational awareness and collision avoidance capabilities. However, the new system won’t

Maintaining Metrasens’ signature portability and battery-powered operation, Proscreen 900 Plus is a versatile solution for use in a wide variety of CONOPS. Customers will benefit from Metrasens’ high level of support, including site evaluations and assessments in working with partners and their business.

In addition to detection capabilities and deployment versatility, Proscreen 900 Plus offers unobtrusive integration into its surroundings so as not to disrupt the atmosphere of its environment. This feature will appeal particularly to customers where subtlety is essential in maintaining a positive guest experience.

Metrasens is a pioneer in the use of ferromagnetic detection technology in commercial products and continues to produce innovative solutions with deep expertise in ferromagnetic technology development. Metrasens ferromagnetic technologies have been deployed in 46 countries across a variety of markets, including corrections, healthcare and physical data security.

In detailed weapons testing against a series of long barreled firearms, the dual-screening

U.S. Air Force and Raytheon collaborate to modernize space command and control system

technology to protect people as best we can.

With Proscreen 900 Plus, we are taking another step forward to making the world a safer place.”

come online for several years.

“SPADOC provides critical space-tracking capabilities that we must sustain and maintain while we wait for new systems to come online,” said Bob Taylor, U.S. Air Force Legacy Space Branch chief. “At the same time, it’s critical that we address the obsolescence risk of an aging SPADOC system. So we came up with a really innovative, modern solution to this problem.”

Raytheon and AFLCMC decided to emulate SPADOC’s capabilities with modern computer hardware. The new emulated environment, SPADOC Emulation Analysis Risk Reduction, known as SPEARR, is designed to provide a more sustainable system that requires less maintenance.

The new hardware will provide the same functionality as today’s system, making it easy to learn and operate. Additional benefits are significant reductions in power and cooling consumption. Most of these reductions are because all of SPADOC’s capabilities are now

integrated into two small server racks instead of spread over 1,000 square feet of an aging, analog computer system.

“We used proven emulation technology to help solve our challenge, significantly reducing obsolescence risk,” said Taylor. “Innovations in programmatic and technical approaches drove a smarter, better and faster solution. The next step is to evaluate options for fielding SPEARR.” “Between the experience of our NORAD teammates, a.i. solutions, Zivaro and E&M Technologies, and leading emulation companies Fundamental Software and M2 Technologies, we addressed the aging SPADOC system. It’s a game changer,” said Fuino.

COTS Journal | April 2019

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L3 to Deliver Electronic Warfare Aircraft to Australia With NextGeneration Capability

L3 Technologies announced that it has been awarded a prime contract with an estimated value of more than $1 billion to deliver four aircraft with next-generation airborne electronic warfare (EW) capability to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

by our allies,” said Christopher E. Kubasik, L3’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. “As business jets are increasingly utilized for EW purposes, we have invested in miniaturizing our capabilities to deliver new resources for our customers. Australia is a very important market for L3, and we look forward to a long and productive partnership with the RAAF and the local supplier base in support of the Peregrine program.”

The MC-55A Peregrine will be integrated “Our mission solution and electronic into the Commonwealth’s joint warfighting warfare capabilities are highly sought-after networks, providing a critical link between by our allies” platforms, including the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter, E-7A Wedgetail, EA-18G Growler, Navy Known as the MC-55A Peregrine, the surface combatants and amphibious assault contract includes four modified Gulfstream ships, and ground assets to support the warG550 aircraft with an integrated mission sys- fighter. tem that provides the latest EW capabilities.

Work on this program was initiated in 2017.

“This capability will greatly strengthen Funded orders received on this contract were the RAAF’s goal to becoming a fully networked approximately $230 million for the 2019 first fifth-generation force and considerably enquarter and approximately $700 million in to- hance their global effect on peacekeeping and tal as of March 29, 2019. humanitarian operations,” said Jeff Miller, Corporate Senior Vice President and President “Our mission solution and electronic of L3’s ISR Systems business segment. “It will warfare capabilities are highly sought-after serve as a critical link between air, land and sea

assets to provide airborne electronic warfare support to Commonwealth and allied warfighters in complex operating environments.”

Work is being performed at L3’s Greenville, Texas facility and at Gulfstream in Savannah, Georgia. It will include airframe modifications to accommodate mission systems and secure communications equipment, installation of a self-protection suite, ground-based data processing systems and crew training services.

With headquarters in New York City and approximately 31,000 employees worldwide, L3 develops advanced defense technologies and commercial solutions in pilot training, aviation security, night vision and EO/IR, weapons, maritime systems and space. The company reported 2018 sales of $10.2 billion.

To learn more about L3, please visit the company’s website at www.L3T.com. L3 uses its website as a channel of distribution of material company information. Financial and other material information regarding L3 is routinely posted on the company’s website and is readily accessible.

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Thinkom Phased-Array Ka-Band Antenna Successfully Demonstrates Two-Way Wideband Data Links

Demonstration Accomplished through Inmarsat Global Xpress Via Scaled Composites’ Proteus Aircraft

ThinKom Solutions, Inc. announced the successful completion of in-flight connectivity trials of its ThinAir® Ka2517 phased-array antenna mounted on the Proteus high-altitude long-endurance aircraft.

The Proteus satellite data communication package was developed as a joint effort involving ThinKom, Inmarsat Government and Scaled Composites. The trials included initial tests in

Thales Completes Acquisition of Gemalto to Become a Global Leader in Digital Security, Expanding Canadian Footprint Completed in 15 months, the acquisition of Gemalto by Thales for €4.8 (CAD $7.3) billion creates a Group on a new scale and a global leader in digital security employing 80,000 people. The larger Thales will master all the technologies underpinning the critical decision chain for companies, organisations and governments. Incorporating the talent and technologies of Gemalto, Thales will develop secure solutions to address the major challenges faced by our societies, such as unmanned air traffic management, data and network cybersecurity, airport security or financial transaction security.

This combination creates a world-class leader with an unrivalled portfolio of digital security solutions based on technologies such as digital identity, biometry, data protection, and, more broadly, cybersecurity. Thales will thus provide a seamless response to customers, including critical infrastructure providers such as banks, telecom operators, government agencies, utilities and other industries as they step up to the challenges of identifying people and objects and keeping data secure.

Research and development: inventing the world of tomorrow Thales and Gemalto share a passion for 14

COTS Journal | April 2019

Chantilly, Virginia and the Mojave Air and Space Port, California, culminating in a series of demo flights at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

The ThinAir antenna delivered a 25 Mbps return link and a 5 Mbps forward link operating at over 50,000 feet altitude through an Inmarsat Global Xpress Ka-band satellite in geostationary orbit. The phased array maintained connectivity to the satellite each flight, including during take offs, in-flight maneuvers and landings. Further, the ThinAir antenna was able to send the full 25 Mbps from the aircraft at an elevation angle of 25 degrees, while providing data rates of 12 Mbps at elevation angles as low as 15 degrees.

the advanced technologies that serve as a common foundation and focus for their 80,000 employees. Research and development (R&D) is at the core of the new Group, with its 3,000 researchers and 28,000 engineers dedicated to R&D. Thales has been developing state-of-theart technologies to meet the most demanding requirements of customers around the world for decades.

With €1 (CAD $1.5) billion a year devoted to self-funded R&D, including CAD $40 million in Canada, Thales will continue to innovate in its key markets, focusing on its world-class digital expertise in artificial intelligence, big data, cybersecurity and connectivity/IoT. This acquisition is a prime example of Thales’ continued commitment to Canada by contributing to the development of a highly skilled workforce, the engagement of SMEs, and the development of innovative Canadian technologies and made-inCanada advancements

ThinKom supplied the Ka2517 phased-array antenna in a low-profile 7.8-inch high radome, along with an adaptor plate, antenna controller and transceiver electronics. Scaled Composites designed and built a custom fairing to mount the radome on the aircraft’s fuselage and integrated the ThinKom system with the payload on the aircraft.

Inmarsat Government developed and provided the system’s modem manager, PRO-MODMAN, designed specifically for the Ka2517 to operate on Inmarsat Global Xpress Ka-band steerable beams. The PRO-MODMAN integrates the capability of a DVB S2X modem with the flexibility of an OpenAMIP configurable system controller.

that are shaping the future of our global economy.

“With Gemalto, a global leader in digital identification and data protection, Thales has acquired a set of highly complementary technologies and competencies with applications in all of our five vertical markets, which are now redefined as aerospace; space; ground transportation; digital identity and security; and defence and security. These are the smart technologies that help people make the best choices at every decisive moment. The acquisition is a turning point for the Group’s 80,000 employees. Together, we are creating a giant in digital identity and security with the capabilities to compete in the big leagues worldwide.”

Patrice Caine, Chairman and CEO, Thales

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US Air Force Selects Harris Corporation to Provide Ground-based Electronic Warfare Systems Support

poration (to continue supporting ground-based electronic warfare (EW) systems and infrastructure that help protect warfighters around the world.

Assures space superiority by providing mission-essential electronic warfare systems support Reflects U.S.

Harris will provide mission-essential, ground-based EW systems support, helping to sustain Air Force space superiority. The project includes depot support and sustainment engineering, system upgrades and modifications, studies and analysis, transition of future systems, and operations support.

Air Force’s continued confidence in Harris technology and support capabilities Leverages 25 years of experience supporting electronic warfare systems The U.S. Air Force has selected Harris Cor-

MIL-DTL-17 Cables In-Stock Ready to Ship!

“Harris will help maintain U.S. space superiority by providing ground-based, electronic warfare systems support to Air Force Space Command anywhere in the world,” said Chris Forseth, vice president and general manager, Harris Space Superiority.

The contract leverages Harris’ 25-year legacy of providing critical depot support, sustainment engineering, system upgrades and innovations to the Air Force and other customers. This includes most recently executing the Space Control Depot Support contract awarded in 2008, which exceeded $500 million in award value over 10 years.

Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions Adds Tactical Communications Group.

A Leading Supplier of Tactical Data Link Software for Aerospace & Defense Customers.

Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions division announced that it has added Tactical Communications Group (TCG), LLC, a leading global provider of tactical data link (TDL) software and hardware solutions to military operating and training units, government testing organizations, and prime defense contractors. TCG’s proven commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) TDL software solutions minimize the time and effort required to build, integrate, test, train and deploy effective and affordable military communications systems.

Curtiss-Wright Corporation announced the acquisition of TCG on March 18, 2019. The ac-

quisition strengthens the Defense Solutions division’s technology offering, enabling it to expand into the complementary TDL training and testing market and apply TCG’s communications expertise across its entire catalog of embedded hardware solutions.

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COTS Journal | April 2019

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SPECIAL FEATURE

New NVMe Communications Interface/Driver Technology and Encrypted Flash Drives Meet Military SWaP Requirements

By Richard Kanadjian, Flash Business Manager, Kingston Technology It has been over five years since the DepartThe demand for performance ment of Defense initiated its SWaP purchasing push. It basically requires that components continually increases. and systems bought for military purposes – be they infantry, command, or administrative Large amounts of data – be small in size, weight, and lower in power must be strongly secured, consumption. A noble ideal for sure, and one that continues today. easily accessed, and Two critical, technical areas that benefit quickly processed. DOD from the SWaP concept are communications, and the mobile storage and transfer of data via demands adherence to its USB Flash drives. The following is a discussion requirements about the size, of best practice solutions for each. weight, and power (SWaP) NVMe Communications Interface of components and systems. and Driver NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Applications such as big-data analytics, server virtualization, and high-performance dataExpress) communications bases require ultra-low latency and extreme interface and driver, and storage performance to deliver unmatched application results and better ROI at both the the use of hardware-based server and data center levels. encrypted Flash USB drives Many of today’s data center architects are forced to use legacy “Good Enough” technolare viable solutions. ogies in order to deliver the high performance required by DOD demands, as well as new and existing applications, while also attempting to lower overall cost to improve ROI. This approach often increases complexity without providing the sought-after benefits of improved TCO. Solution providers are looking at newer technologies like NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) and PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express), the next generation storage protocol and interface, to

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replace legacy interfaces such as SATA/AHCI. Replacing these technologies will help reduce complexity and cost, while increasing performance and lowering latency.

It is important to understand the number of drives required, the requirements for HBAs, the differences in total power consumption, and the impact on application latency. It is expected that a single NVMe SSD will be able to replace banks of legacy SATA SSDs or worse, Hard Disk Drives, deployed behind host bus adapter cards. NVMe SSDs will reduce complexity, lower power consumption, provide increased performance, and improve data center TCO. Industry testing has revealed a clear advantage of using NVMe-based storage compared to the legacy “good enough” approach of SATA-based storage. Compared to using banks of SATA SSDs behind HBAs, future servers will feature direct connect NVMe SSDs as they enable higher performance, higher reliability, lower power, and improved TCO for data centers demanding high-performance SSD storage. What previously required an entire box of SATA devices now can be done with a single card. Industry analysts predict price parity between SATA and NVMe SSDs later this year, and when that happens, the benefits derived from using high-performance NVMe SSDs will lead to a natural migration away from legacy SATA protocols. Replacing these technologies will help reduce complexity and cost, while increasing performance and lowering latency.

NVMe is a communications interface and driver that defines a command set and feature

set for PCIe-based SSDs. It is the most efficient way to increase performance and productivity for enterprise and client needs. It provides increased and efficient performance, and interoperability on a broad range of enterprise and client systems. It was designed for Flash SSDs. It handles communications between the storage interface and the System CPU using high-speed PCIe sockets, independent of storage form factor.

Input/output tasks performed using NVMe drivers begin faster, transfer more data, and finish faster than older storage models, such as AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface).

Because it is designed for SSDs, NVMe is becoming the new industry standard.

Comparatively speaking, PCIe Gen 4 can transfer data at a rate of 2000MB per second (32000MB per second using 16 lanes) vs. SATA III’s transfer rate of just 600MB per second and is restricted to one lane.

In a nutshell, NVMe is designed for SSDs with flash technology, has 64K command queues, can send 64K commands per queue, low CPU cycle commands, has a latency of 2.8 microseconds, communicates directly with the System CPU, and has over one-million IOPs. NVMe technology provides optimal performance.

• Superior storage PCIe socket transfer greater than 25x than their SATA equivalent.

• Superior speed NVMe begins sending commands more than 2x faster than AHCI drivers.

NVMe input/output operations per second exceed one million and are up to 900% faster than its AHCI equivalent.

• Superior compatibility NVMe cuts out the middle man by communicating directly with the System CPU. NVMe-based drives work with all major operating systems, regardless of form factor.

Secure, Hardware-Based Encrypted USB Drives With capacities ranging from 4GB to 128GB today, tremendous portability and the exceptionally easy ability to be connected to various networks, encrypted USB drives can be used securely as file-sharing and mobility tools, backup drives, and more by agencies and departments of all sizes.

Unencrypted USB drives (also commonly known as removable media, flash drives, thumb drives, and other terms), however, pose a major risk. While they have revolutionized data

transfers, unencrypted USB drives have also introduced grave security concerns, as they are very susceptible to being lost, breached, and misappropriated. And that leads to the possibility of critical, classified and sensitive data landing in the wrong hands. With their extreme portability, USB drives can turn up anywhere – from jacket pockets to parking lots to bad actors – putting military data and the like at serious risk. With good reason, many parts of the military have restricted the use of USB drives.

Unencrypted USB drives single-handedly can negate millions of dollars spent on cyber security, whether intentionally or through carelessness. No one, especially the military, should have data on an unprotected drive.

Considering that military workers at every level are producing a wide range and reams of information daily – everything from top-level national security plans to proposed budgets, staffing needs, meeting minutes, strategic positioning, defense strategies, intelligence, and much more – it is no wonder the use of USB drives is a major security concern.

Blocking or prohibiting staff from all USB ports may sound like an easy solution, however it may also restrict productivity and lower work efficiency. So, how do you deal with the risks without completely forbidding USB-drive

Encrypted SSD As with the USB flash drive, newer SSDs provide end-to-end data protection as well. They incorporate advanced 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption, and offer support for Trusted Computing Group (TCG) Opal 2.0 as required by security platforms. This provides the advantage of drive encryption and Data Loss Prevention (DLP) software programs to activate and manage TCG Opal, such as Symantec, McAfee, WinMagic and others. These SSDs serve as an important element to security policies when complying with military standards and global regulations, such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

COTS Journal | April 2019

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usage and forfeiting all of its conveniences?

Secure, hardware-based encrypted USB drives These flash drives are an essential pillar of a comprehensive data loss-prevention (DLP) strategy. Experts say organizations must insist their members use only hardware encrypted USB drives with 256-bit AES-XTS encryption, which combine the productivity advantages of allowing USB access while protecting the information on the drive. Encrypted USB drives are designed to protect even the most sensitive data, using the strictest security regulations and protocols defined by NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology, and com-

monly referred to as FIPS 140-2 Level 3 for the most secure drives in the market).

Encrypted USB drives are powerful tools in closing security gaps, and helping ensure security and compliance by offering: • Complex password protection • Protection against drive firmware tampering (also known as Bad USB) • Protection against brute-force attacks that limit password guessing • Tamper-evident technology that disables a drive when tampered with or makes it evident • Remote management to allow for server-based management of all drives, allowing for password resets through remote drive disabling or geo-locating

• Wide-capacity range Encryption of USB drives is performed two ways: either through the device’s hardware or software. The most effective way is through the hardware. A self-contained encrypted USB drive protects against external snooping of its internal storage and components.

A USB drive with hardware-based encryption is an excellent, non-complicated, simple solution to protecting data from breaches, while also meeting evolving military regulations.

Priced between $40 and $600, depending on capacity, they are an ideal solution for applications throughout the military. Such devices meet tough industry security standards and offer the ultimate security in data protection to confidently manage threats and reduce risks.

Hardware-based encrypted USB drives are self-contained and do not require a software element on the host computer. No software vulnerability eliminates the possibility of brute-force, sniffing, and memory hash attacks.

Encrypted drives have digitally signed firmware that cannot be altered, as well as a physical layer of protection. Some of these drives come in epoxy-dipped/filled cases that prevent access to the physical memory. In contrast, a USB drive with software encryption uses software that runs on the host computer and is vulnerable to attacks.

The top-of-the-line hardware-based encrypted USB drives (e.g., the Kingston IronKey™ D300 line), use AES 256-bit encryption in XTS mode.

This and similar drives reformat after 10 attempts of password guessing to ensure that anyone who finds such a drive cannot access the information.

A hardware-centric/software-free encryption approach to data security is the best defense against data loss, as it eliminates the most commonly used attack routes. This same software-free method also provides complete cross-platform compatibility with any OS or embedded equipment possessing a USB port and file storage system.

Flash memory in the form of USB drives are perfect for this smaller, faster, lighter push that the military has been going after. Encrypted USB drives provide a way for the military to use them securely in situations where they are needed and can be the best, most secure solution for data transportation and storage.

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COTS Journal | April 2019

SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

Modernizing FPGA Bitstream Authentication

By Ryan Kenny, Senior Strategic and Technical Marketing at Intel

Brief History of FPGA Bitstream Authentication Stratic Random Access Memory (SRAM) based FPGAs now have almost twenty years of history in the design of embedded and, recently, standard compute platforms. They provide some of the parallelism and hardware acceleration benefits of fixed-function ASIC accelerators, but also some of the advantages of programmable processors in that the same chip can be programmed and reprogrammed to perform many functions.

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COTS Journal | April 2019

For corporations investing the time, effort, and know-how into designing FPGAs for their embedded systems, the FPGA design itself increasingly became highly valuable corporate intellectual property requiring protection. So security features were developed by the handful of major FPGA vendors – primary among them being encryption of the FPGA bitfile, protected by a secret key. A history of some of these features can be found in an IEEE survey of security published in 2014.

Although protecting the FPGA bitstream

from loss or theft was achieved, encryption and a handful of other features supporting it did not protect the FPGA bitstream from random or deliberate manipulation or malicious replacement in a system. So Saar Drimer (arguably first) and others proposed or discussed the addition of authentication capabilities to sensitive bitstreams. External solutions were either discussed or offered by companies like Maxim and Infineon.

FPGA vendors then made authentication solutions available in the form of symmet-

nology is the raw computing power necessary to add to the block if the system is open-ended.

This needn’t be a limitation when the process is limited to a single bitstream authenticated in real-time as part of configuration.

Entire Authentication Process for New Intel FPGAs

ric key hash message authentication codes (HMACs) in the bitstream, authenticating modes of the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES-GCM), then eventually full bitstream signature-based authentication.

What HMAC Does and Does Not Do Combining encryption and HMACs in a bitstream have been a standard practice in FPGA security for some time. If they are implemented in the same process (such as the Galois Counter Mode, AES-GCM) then they likely use a single key for encryption and authentication.

If they are separate processes, then it is possible to use two separate keys, although that then creates the need to identify, store, and protect two different keys.

When using HMAC for authentication and sharing a key for encryption, a compromised key now allows for both loss of IP as well as malicious exploitation of the system. In addition, symmetric key hashes do not provide a newer security parameter that is addressed in asymmetric key digital signatures: non-repudiation. This is essentially a thread of traceability as to where a compromised bitstream may come from.

When layering encryption and HMACs together in a bitstream, it is also important to specify the order of operation in the FPGA configuration process. Decrypting prior to authentication can generate side channel information from the encryption process, allowing for other key compromise attacks.

Finally, although initially praised as a ‘dual purpose’ encryption mode, AES-GCM has seen a large number of published vulnerabilities and OpenSSL support security patches over the years that have lowered the overall confi-

dence in its robustness

Experiments in Authenticating Entire Bitstream

The newest generation of Intel FPGAs take advantage of this hash chain in two distinct ways. The first is providing all of the data integrity advantages of the HMAC process for bitstream authentication with the potential of separate keying from encryption (both encryption and authentication will use multiple keys). The second advantage is to provide a single hash chained bitstream header to provide as the data to be digitally assigned using an asymmetric authentication method (elliptic curve digital signature, ECDSA). In this way,

Some of the difficulties in using asymmetric keys and digitally signing an entire FPGA bitstream were identified in Drimer’s original paper on FPGA bitstream authentication. This is the issue of the size of the bitstreams (getting larger every generation of FPGAs) and inability to buffer all of that data in the FPGA while the signature is being verified. The one bitstream digital signature solution in the FPGA market today exhibits this limitation and incurs that cost on the user: authentication can triple the authentication time of the FPGA.

Introducing ‘Hash Chaining’ One technology with a rising profile in digital security is the ‘block chain’. Block chain security takes advantage of the idea of creating hashes of one block of data with the hash of the last block of data, and carrying this forward such that the accuracy of each hash blocks depends on no tampering with any of the prior blocks.

Although this concept in cryptocurrencies is applied more to ‘transactions in time’ rather than successive data blocks, the utility of ‘hash chaining’ is useful in solving the problem of FPGA bitstream authentication. Blocks similar to the HMACs are still used, but the new ‘hash digests’ will include the hash of current data, as well as the hash of the previous block’s hash digest. This creates a chain of hash dependencies that ensures any tampering or errors anywhere in the authentication process are detected in successive stages.

One of the limitations of block chain techCOTS Journal | April 2019

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the entire bitstream is not digitally signed, but the chained hash digest of the entire bitstream is signed instead. This significantly reduces the computational difficulty of verifying the digital signature and drastically reduces the impact on FPGA configuration latency.

In the diagram above, the security enclave of the FPGA (Secure Device Manager, SDM) loads its firmware first which is digitally signed by Intel and optionally by the user, and the user bitstream’s header, including the chained hash

digest of the entire bitstream, is signed by the user.

Conclusion Security solutions, as always, are necessarily incomplete as measured by the moving target of malicious intents and capabilities. FPGA bitstream authentication has evolved and appeared in partial capabilities and limited advances with each new FPGA family. With this latest generational release, hash-based and

digital signature solutions are combined for the first time and borrow from commercial block chain concepts to build the next bridge to securing critical FPGA-based intellectual property.

References 1. FPGA Security: Motivations, Features, and Applications. Trimberger, Steve. Proceedings of the IEEE. 8 July, 2014.

2. Authentication of FPGA Bitstreams: How and Why, Drimer, Saar. University of Cambridge. 2007

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April 2019

COT’S PICKS EIZO Releases New Series of Rugged Monitors for Use in Harsh Environments

EIZO Rugged Solutions Inc. has released the Talon Series – a new brand of rugged monitors developed specifically for operation in harsh environments. The line-up includes the 24.1” RGD2401W, 21.5” RGD2101W, and 20.1” RGD2001. All three monitors boast ruggedized features and can be customized to meet user needs.

In settings where mission-critical tasks are carried out, the reliability of a product is paramount. EIZO designs, manufactures, and tests its rugged monitors in-house in order to ensure a high-quality product designed specifically for the task. This means total control over production for quality materials and extended lifecycle support.

Furthermore, with comprehensive testing at EIZO’s own test center for MIL compliance, the monitors are made to last.

Currently three standard COTS rugged monitors are available in 24.1”, 21.5”, and 20.1” sizes (RG-

VadaTech Announces New AMC with 72 core Tilera GX72 Processor Va d a Te c h , announces the AMC741.

The AMC741 is ideal for packet filtering, intelligent networking, multimedia, video transcoding, cloud and other applications. The GX72 device includes 72 identical processor cores (tiles) interconnected with Tilera’s iMesh™ onchip network. Each tile consists of a full-featured, 64-bit processor core as well as L1 and L2 cache and a non-blocking Terabit/sec switch. The high processing density and high internal bandwidth of the GX72CPU make it ideal for intensive computing tasks.

The AMC741 provides four 10GbE front-panel ports via LC style connectors, making it suitable 24

COTS Journal | April 2019

D2401W, RGD2101W, and RGD2001 respectively).

These MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461 and IP65 compliant monitors also feature optical bonding, which protects the LCD panel while improving visibility in bright environments. With a long-lasting LED backlight and less than 1 cd/m2 minimum brightness, the monitors can be comfortably viewed in the dark. The monitors also come standard with a multitude of inputs, including 3G-SDI, DVI, RGB, USB, and Serial communication to ensure seamless connection with most peripheral devices and systems.

Talon monitors are 19” rack mountable for flexible installation.

For over 50 years, EIZO has been designing and manufacturing reliable, high quality monitors for several vertical markets such as maritime, ATC, healthcare, and security & surveillance. With this experience EIZO is able to respond to the niche demands of the rugged market through extensive customization. Talon monitors can be built with diverse panel sizes, customizable monitor housing, protection against low temperatures, and NVIS. Optional image enhancement technology is also

for network-centric sensor processing applications. The unit includes IEEE 1588v2 precision timing controller support, which provides precision 1 ns granularity packet timestamping for signal en-

available, which adjusts dark or foggy images pixel by pixel for a clearer and easier to see picture in real time. Touch screen options include projected capacitive (PCAP) touch with 10-point multitouch (RGD2001 and RGD2401W), or analog resistive touch (RGD2101W).

Selwyn L. Henriques, president and CEO of EIZO Rugged Solutions, commented, “Our new Talon product line complements the highly successful Condor graphics/video/encoding/recording products. EIZO will offer both products individually or as highly integrated video solutions, complete with the high level of service and commitment that our customers have come to expect of us.”

EIZO Rugged Solutions Inc. www.eizorugged.com

coding. The AMC741 is available in mid-size AMC for compact integration including in 1U chassis.

VadaTech inc. www.vadatech.com

April 2019

COT’S PICKS Mercury Systems Introduces Second Generation of Space-Qualified Solid State Drives in 6U SpaceVPX Form Factor Improved error correction algorithms for long-term data integrity in radiation-intense environments Mercury Systems, Inc announced the start of customer engagements for its second generation of the TRRUST-Stor™ VPX RT family of radiation-tolerant solid state drives (SSD) featuring up to 940GB user capacity in a 6U SpaceVPX™ form factor. The new device delivers enhanced versatility with improved error correction code (ECC) and both Serial RapidIO® and Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe ®) host interfaces. As the first space-qualified storage devices leveraging the SpaceVPX standard for agile interoperability, the TRRUST-Stor VPX RT family enables accelerated system design directly addressing the growing demand for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and mission critical systems operating in radiation-intense environments.

In terrestrial environments, the NAND flash memory devices used in a traditional SSD device are prone to data corruption without the use of ECC. In radiation-exposed environments, data corruption is vastly accelerated due to the occurrence of single-event effects (SEE) and to-

tal ionizing dose (TID) degradation which negatively impact the functionality of the NAND flash memory used in the device.

To counter these damaging effects, Mercury has improved the ECC performance of the original 3U TRRUST-Stor VPX RT device. With 30% more error corrections built-in, the Company’s new 6U device integrates high-reliability defect mitigation thereby enabling

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The normal read and write operations in the presence of harmful ionizing radiation.

Additionally, the new SSD features redundant NAND flash to further improve long-term reliability and data integrity.

Recognizing that no two missions have identical requirements, Mercury’s new device is built on a platform to readily enable cost versus performance customization. New product variants can be quickly realized where the ECC, spare device count, user capacity and power consumption are optimized for specific programs. The scalable manufacturing and test resources of the Company’s Advanced Microelectronics Centers assure a seamless transition of custom product variants through volume production.

Mercury Systems Inc. www.mrcy.com

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April 2019

COT’S PICKS

NKP Performance Antennas Launches New ProLine Small-Angle Antennas with Stable and High Gain

New 33° & 45° ProLine Sectors Provide Interference Mitigation with Excellent Azimuth and Elevation Side-Lobe Suppression KP Performance Antennas, an Infinite Electronics brand and an industry-leading manufacturer of wireless network antennas, has released a new line of 33-degree and 45-degree sector antennas with stable and high gain that are ideal for wireless internet service provider (WISP) applications such as base station access point antennas.

KP’s new Small angle ProLine series of sector antennas consists of three models that deliver interference mitigation with azimuth and elevation side-lobe suppression. These small-angle

Mercury Systems Unveils First OpenVPX Blade Server Powered by Second Generation Intel Xeon Scalable Processors for Artificial Intelligence Applications Next-generation edge processing technology enables advanced C4I processing, autonomous platforms and smarter missions Mercury Systems, Inc. announced the EnsembleSeries™ HDS6605 blade server, the embedded computing industry’s most powerful, general-purpose processing 6U OpenVPX™ blade server with hardware-enabled support for artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

sectors offer ease and customization of installation with included brackets and hoisting hook.

They are ideal for frequency-reuse and LTE deployments in the 2GHz band. These sector antennas feature extremely high front-to-back ratios and small side-lobes, helping to reduce noise in the link. This line is offered with 2 or 4 ports and a frequency range of 2300-2700 MHz or 4900-5900 MHz, depending on the model.

They also boast 33° or 45° azimuth beamwidth and 19-20 dBi of gain.

“These high-gain, small-angle sector antennas feature industry leading side-lobe suppression and high front-to-back performance while serving tighter coverage areas with higher gain, equating to more subscribers to a single antenna,” explains Ken Izatt, Product Manager.

KP Performance Antennas www.kpperformance.com

Powered by Second Generation Intel® XeonÆ Scalable processors, HDS6605 blade servers feature the same cooling, packaging and 100 Gbps in-system switch fabric interconnect technologies found in earlier proven generations of Mercury blades based on Intel Xeon processors.

These open systems-compliant technologies have a technology readiness level of nine (TRL9), making HDS6605 blades well-suited to rugged defense applications and upgrades that require the utmost in processing capability.

“With the new Second Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors, Mercury’s OpenVPX blade servers deliver a huge boost to the industry’s ability to embed the big data processing capability required for new, smarter and autonomous military missions,” said Joe Plunkett, Mer-

cury’s Senior Director and General Manager for Sensor Processing solutions. “This next-generation compute capability delivers enhanced performance and power optimized for modern AI applications which enable our customers to take data center processing capability all the way to the tactical edge.”

HDS6605 blade servers are highly optimized for AI and other extreme compute-intensive general processing workloads typically associated with sensor fusion, complex C4I and deep-learning applications. Second Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors feature Intel® Deep Learning Boost, which extends Intel Advanced Vector Extensions-512 (Intel AVX-512) to accelerate inference applications like speech recognition, image recognition, language translation, object detection, and more. Its new set of embedded accelerators (Vector Neural Network Instructions, or VNNIs) speed up dense computations characteristic of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and deep neural networks (DNNs), delivering up to a 14x improvement in inference performance compared to the first-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processor launched in July 2017(1).

Along with increased scalability via ultrapath interconnect (UPI) , each blade provides up to 22 cores from a single 1.9GHz device, delivering an industry-topping 2.6 TFLOPS of general-purpose processing power.

Mercury Systems Inc. www.mrcy.com

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COTS Journal | April 2019

April 2019

COT’S PICKS Logic Supply Partners With ThinManager® To Launch Industry’s First Intel® Apollo Lake & Coffee Lake CPU Powered Thin Clients

New small form factor ThinManager-ready thin clients are engineered to provide reliability in challenging environments and offer users longer hardware lifecycles.

Logic Supply, in partnership with centralized computing software leader ThinManager®, have updated their line of thin client computer

ager-ready line has undergone extensive testing by the team at ThinManager to ensure proper functionality, and comes pre-loaded with the necessary BIOS image to allow download of the appropriate firmware directly from ThinManager. This enables users to get up and running in minutes.

have a partner like Logic Supply who consistently provides state-of-the-art hardware and excellent customer service for industrial professionals seeking to deploy a modern thin client platform,” said Doug Coulter, Product Manager for ThinManager, a Rockwell Automation Technology.

“As we see industrial thin client adoption continue to grow worldwide, we are very pleased to

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hardware to include the latest generation of Intel® processors. The new Apollo Lake and Coffee Lake powered systems are the first thin clients available to combine ThinManager’s proven centralized computing architecture with the speed and capabilities of Intel’s newest CPU architecture.

“The ThinManager software platform and Logic Supply’s industrial hardware combined, along with Intel’s drive to provide industry-leading processing performance, creates a convenient and highly-capable turnkey solution for users who need a more dependable thin client,” said Murat Erdogan, VP of Products at Logic Supply. “Over the years, we’ve used feedback from ThinManager users to optimize our hardware offering, accounting for the specific needs of centralized industrial computing. The wide range of configuration options we build into our hardware give ThinManager users a reliable, easy to install, long lifecycle solution that can be perfectly tailored to meet the unique demands of their installation.”

These new systems allow Logic Supply thin client users to leverage the improved performance and multi-tasking capabilities provided by Intel’s latest Apollo Lake and Coffee Lake CPUs while standardizing on a hardware platform with a fresh lifecycle. The Logic Supply TM110 and TM250 are powered by Intel’s Apollo Lake CPUs, while the TM610 offers a range of Coffee Lake processing options. Each system in Logic Supply’s ThinMan-

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April 2019

COT’S PICKS

Flex Logix Launches InferX™ X1 Edge Inference Co-Processor That Delivers Near-Data Center Throughput at a Fraction of the Power and Cost

real time object recognition, InferX X1 processes 12.7 frames/second of 2 megapixel images at batch size = 1. Performance is roughly linear with image size: so frame rate approximately doubles for a 1 megapixel image. This is with a single DRAM.

Delivers up to 10 Times the Throughput Compared to Existing Inferencing Edge ICs

InferX X1 will be available as chips for edge devices and on half-height, half-length PCIe cards for edge servers and gateways. It is programmed using the nnMAX Compiler which takes Tensorflow Lite or ONNX models. The internal architecture of the inference engine is hidden from the user.

Flex Logix® Technologies, Inc. announced that it has leveraged its core patent-protected interconnect technology from its embedded FPGA (eFPGA) line of business combined with inference-optimized nnMAX™ clusters to develop the InferX™ X1 edge inference co-processor. Unveiled in a presentation at the Linley Processor Conference in Santa Clara, the Flex Logix InferX X1 chip delivers high throughput in edge applications with a single DRAM, resulting in much higher throughput/watt then existing solutions. Its performance advantage is especially strong at low batch sizes which are required in edge applications where there is typically only one camera/sensor.

InferX X1’s performance at small batch sizes is close to data center inference boards and is optimized for large models which need 100s of billions of operations per image. For example, for YOLOv3

InferX supports integer 8, 16 and bfloat 16 numerics with the ability to mix them across layers, enabling easy porting of models with optimized throughput at maximum precision. InferX supports Winograd transformation for integer 8 mode for common convolution operations which accelerates throughput by 2.25x for these functions while minimizing bandwidth by doing on-chip, on-the-fly conversion of weights to Winograd mode. To ensure no loss of precision, Winograd calculations are done with 12 bits of accuracy.

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COT’S PICKS

Fairview Microwave Expands Line of High-Speed End Launch Connectors to Operate in 40 GHz, 50 GHz, 67 GHz and 110 GHz Bandwidths

duced profiles with a 0.350-inch mounting width, allowing for more launches to fit into the same PCB area. These connectors are offered in male and female genders and are constructed with an outer conductor made of stainless steel and a gold-plated beryllium copper center contact.

New Millimeter-Wave Removable End Launch PCB Connectors Offered with 4 Different Interfaces Fairview Microwave Inc.has introduced a new extended series of mmWave, removable, end launch, PCB connectors that are ideal for SERDES applications like cloud servers, supercomputing and high-speed networking.

“With more models boasting exceptional performance and a broad range of frequencies, all available with same-day shipping, this expanded line of mmWave, removable, end launch, PCB connectors provides engineers and technicians with even more fast, reliable solutions,” said Dan Birch, Product Manager.

Fairview’s new line of high-speed, end launch, PCB connectors consists of 16 models operating in a wide bandwidth that supports high data rates and VSWR as low as 1.10:1. They are offered with four end launch connector interface options: 1.0mm (110 GHz), 1.85mm (67 GHz), 2.92mm (40 GHz) and 2.4mm (50 GHz).

These high-performance, end launch connectors are reusable and don’t require any soldering. Some of the models in this line feature re-

Fairview Microwave Inc www.fairviewmicrowave.com

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COTS Journal | April 2019

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COT’S PICKS BOXX Introduces New Intel Xeon W Workstation and More at 2019 NAB Show Latest Media and Entertainment Computer Hardware Designed to Accelerate Workflows and Increase Productivity BOXX Technologies has introduced the APEXX W4X workstation featuring an overclocked Intel® Xeon® W-3175X. “Like all BOXX solutions, APEXX W4X is specifically designed to improve productivity,” said Bill Leasure, BOXX VP of Marketing. “Powered by new, state-of-the-art Intel technology, this system delivers breakthrough performance for media content creation, as well as real-time design, modeling, and data insights.”

Equipped with the new, 28-core Intel Xeon W-3175X processor, up to 512GB of memory, and 48 PCI lanes, the APEXX W4X is pur-

Green Hills Software Supports ROS Green Hills Software adds support for the Robot Operating System (ROS) framework to its MULTI suite of development tools and INTEGRITY RTOS Green Hills Software announces the availability of a suite of products for developers working on ROS applications. Green Hills Software enables ROS developers on Linux to rapidly develop and deploy their projects to Green Hills INTEGRITY RTOS to meet the strict functional safety requirements that many ROS programs require. The INTEGRITY RTOS is used extensively by automotive Tier 1s and OEMs, as well as various companies in the factory automation and robotics markets. Adding support for ROS is part of Green Hills Software’s ongoing commitment to providing the best-in-class technology needed by industrial robot and autonomous vehicle manufacturers to rapidly deploy advanced and scalable software solutions certified to the highest levels of industrial and automotive safety.

The Green Hills Software INTEGRITY RTOS and INTEGRITY Visualization provide ROS developers with a comprehensive, scalable solution for deploying software to meet functional safety standards including IEC 61508 SIL 4 and ISO 26262 ASIL D requirements. Application developers now have access to a scalable and flex-

pose-built to accelerate rendering and memory capacity, making it ideal for motion media applications.

BOXX Technologies www.boxx.com

ible set of development paradigms that enable developers to start application development on their Linux-based computers, while continuously integrating software with actual embedded hardware in a hardware-in-the-loop configuration until all software is successfully integrated into the embedded platform. The Multivisor virtualization software gives developers the option of running unmodified ROS applications in a virtualized Linux environment, either for transitionary purposes during development or non-safety-critical deployment. Portions or all of a developer’s ROS applications can be migrated to the safety-certified INTEGRITY RTOS as needed.

The Multi IDE provides an advanced ISO 26262 ASIL D and IEC 61508 SIL 4 certified development environment upon which to build reliable and safe ROS applications. ROS developers can develop applications, even with hardware-in-the-loop, utilizing a single unified debug environment that is fully aware of both the underlying INTEGRITY or Linux operating systems and capable of simultaneously debugging both.

MULTI provides ROS developers with a painless pathway to quickly transition ROS objects to actual hardware, and rapidly reduce the time they need to deploy production-grade software.

Green Hills Software www.ghs.com

COTS Journal | April 2019

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April 2019

COT’S PICKS Abaco Announces New 3U OpenVPX Rugged Single Board Computer that Uniquely Combines High Performance, Advanced Security and Leading Edge Thermal Management • Features new Intel Xeon E-2176M ‘Coffee Lake’ processor for maximum performance • Innovative thermal management maintains high performance even in adverse environments • Delivers comprehensive Anti-Tamper and Information Assurance functionality for optimum security Abaco Systems announced the SBC3511 3U OpenVPX rugged single board computer, which provides a unique combination of high performance, advanced security and leading edge thermal management. Target applications for the new platform include C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and the most demanding industrial applications.

The SBC3511’s high performance derives

Pasternack Introduces New Line of Input-Protected Low-Noise Amplifiers that Provide Noise Figure Levels as Low as 0.8 dB

from the new, highly integrated Intel® Xeon® E-2176M 6-core/12-thread processor ( formerly known as Coffee Lake) operating at 2.7GHz with TurboBoost up to 4.4GHz, 32 GBytes of DDR4 RAM and the inclusion of up to 256 GBytes of nVME SSD. It also features a 40 Gigabit Ethernet data plane, delivering not only a high speed interconnect but also alignment with the SOSA™ technical standard.

clude a physical unclonable function (PUF), user-accessible hardened cryptographic blocks, asymmetric authentication, side channel attack protection, and other silicon-based AT features.

It can be utilized to instantiate a range of Abaco-defined security features, or by customers to embed application-specific features. Support is also provided for Intel’s Trusted Execution Technology.

SOSA – Sensor Open Systems Architecture - creates a common framework for transitioning sensor systems to an open systems architecture, based on key interfaces and open standards established by industry-government consensus.

Abaco Systems Inc. www.abaco.com

The new single board computer includes a range of security features designed to assist with user-defined Anti-Tamper and Information Assurance strategies.

The onboard Xilinx® Zynq® UltraScale+™ MPSoC’s built-in security capabilities in-

New Input-Protected Low-Noise Amplifiers Handle RF Input Power Levels up to 1 Watt CW without Damage Pasternack has released a new line of input-protected low-noise amplifiers (LNA’s) with no damage up to +30 dBm CW input power that are ideal for radar systems, EW applications, military/microwave radios, wireless and satellite communications and test instrumentation.

Pasternack’s new line of input-protected low-noise amplifier consists of 12 different models that cover a broad range of frequency bands from 10 MHz to 3.5 GHz. These designs exhibit typical performance that includes low noise figure levels from 0.8 to 1.6 dB, high-small signal gain ranging from 25 to 40 dB, and low

VSWR levels from 1.3:1 to 1.5:1. This performance is achieved through the use of hybrid MIC designs that incorporate PIN diode limiter circuitry and Enhancement mode (Emode) GaAs pHEMT semiconductor devices. These amplifiers operate with a bias voltage of +12V typical over the temperature range of -40°C to +85°C. The 50 Ohm, SMA connectorized modules are unconditionally stable, include builtin voltage regulation and have DC blocking capacitors on the RF ports.

“The robust performance of these LNA’s is desirable in maintaining receiver sensitivity over a wide range of RF input signal levels for applications that may involve radar systems, test instrumentation and wireless and satellite communications. All models are in-stock and available for urgent demands with no minimum order quantity required,” said Tim Galla, Product Manager.

Pasternack Enterprises Inc www.pasternack.com

COTS Journal | April 2019

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COTS COTS

Index

ADVERTISERS

Company Page# Website Adder ................................................. 24 ...................................... www.adder.com Annapolis Micro Systems .................. 18 ............................ www.annapmicro.com Avalex Technoogies .......................... 27 ...................................... www.avalex.com Behlman Electronics ......................... BC ................................... www.behlman.com CDI .................................................... 19 ..................................... www.cdvinc.com Chassis Plans .................................... 32 ........................... www.chassisplans.com Kingston Technology .......................... 31 .................................. www.kingston.com MilesTex ............................................. 25 ................................. www.milestexs.com Milpower Source ............................... 23/30 ............................... w ww.milpower.com MPL ................................................... 34 ............................................. www.mpl.ch Neonode ............................................ 5 ................................... www.neonode.com New Wave DV ...................................... 34 .............................. www.ewwavedve.com North Alantic Industries .................... 28 ......................................... www.nail.com OSS ................................................... 12 ...................... www.onestopsystems.com Pasternack ........................................ 15 ............................. www.pasternack.com Pentek ............................................. IFC .................................... www.pentek.com PICO Electronics, Inc ........................ 29 ........................ www.picoelectronics.com Sealevel ........................................... 4 ................................... www.sealevel.com Supermicro ........................................... IBC ........................... www.supermicrol.com Vicor Cororation................................ 22/34 . www.vicorpower.com/defense-aero.com COTS Journal (ISSN#1526-4653) is published monthly at; 3180 Sitio Sendero, Carlsbad, CA. 92009.

Ultra-High Voltage Bus Converter Provides 98% Efficiency This unique K=1/16 fixed ratio bus converter sets the industry benchmark for efficiency and power density.

The thermally adept VIA package simplifies customer cooling approaches in addition to providing integrated PMBus control, EMI filtering, and transient protection.

These strong abilities make it ideally suited to military applications. Evaluate it today!

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COTS Journal | April 2019