COTS Journal, August 2020

August 2020, Volume 22 – Number 8 • cotsjournalonline.com

The Journal of Military Electronics & Computing

JOURNAL

Linking Definitional Models (SysML) to Executable Architectures

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 An Ambitious Plan to advance the Military –

“The Connected Battle Field”

The JADC2 or Joint All Domain Command and Control

By John Reardon, Editorial Director

COT’S PICKS 24

DEPARTMENTS 6

Publisher’s Note Unmanned Vehicles – Changing the Face of Modern Warfare – How will it sort-out?

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The Inside Track

Editor’s Choice for August

Cover Image Philippine Sky The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt conducts carrier qualifications as it transits the Philippine Sea during a deployment to the Indo-Pacific, June 1, 2020.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Julian Davis

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The Journal of Military Electronics & Computing

JOURNAL EDITORIAL

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ART AND PRODUCTION

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CREATIVE DIRECTOR David Ramos drdesignservices@ymail.com

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Edmond Hennessy, Performance Marketing Group

Unmanned Vehicles – Changing the Face of Modern Warfare – How will it sort-out?

With the proliferation of Unmanned Vehicles, the DOD is not without challenge - although these incredible platforms are changing the nature of Modern Warfare. Plus, the Industry players have not settled yet – with new entrants fueling innovation and disruption.

A few years ago, we authored an article titled, “Anatomy of the drone – Future Directions: and how will the killer/stunner be put to practice?”

Although there were only a range of mission-critical applications that were being put into practice in Combat environments then – it was clear that drones were destined to redefine Modern Warfare.

Today, there is a proliferation of UAV/UAS/Drone platforms – with sophisticated technologies and on-board weapon systems that span the nano, micro, mini, tactical, mediumaltitude, high-endurance altitude/unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) spectrum – that vary according to mission requirements.

Key drivers to fuel this include: a DOD budget/funding allocation that is 3X over what it was a few years ago, the emphasis on improving combat lethality and performance, a Counter-UAS readiness Initiative and the recognition that DOD must push innovation to new levels to retain Military Superiority. This mentality is extended cross-military lines with “unmanned” taking shape for air, ground, sea and space platforms.

In the early 90’s when DARPA and other technology entities kicked-off unmanned vehicle developmental projects – 6

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which became Global Hawk, Predator and other popular platforms – some experts were projecting that manned vehicles would be obsolete, within 7-10 years. Didn’t happen – and when you follow the DOD forecast projections to 2035 – no doubt unmanned vehicles are slotted to grow geometrically in platform numbers, type and range of applications – although there is no indication that manned vehicles are on their way to obsolescence.

Current estimates are that unmanned platforms will grow from several hundred (different types) to roughly 10,000 varieties with 90% of these vehicles falling into the miniaturization curve – with a smaller footprint, lower cost, quick turnaround and readiness – with a full-suite of capabilities on-board. Emphasis will be put on airframe maneuverability, power plants, sensors, communication/ command/control (C3I) and information technology/ processing.

“Current estimates are that unmanned platforms will grow from several hundred (different types) to roughly 10,000 varieties with 90% of these vehicles falling into the miniaturization curve ....”

There have been advances in UAV/UAS/Drone technologies - with DOD Technology Groups and key Defense Contractors collaborating to spawn linguistic systems (language processors), decision-support systems, advanced network communication capabilities, etc., which are rapidly moving these platforms to an autonomous state and allowing fullinteroperability.

This is not happening without significant challenges in many areas including what it takes to support shorter service and life-cycles for these platforms – many of which are disposable.

DOD always has concerns about security measures, total cost of ownership and the dependence on a complex, multi-supplier base – with predictability, risk reduction, consistency and continuity being key themes.

Although unmanned vehicles represent an emerging, growth market – regulations and rules – including protecting the interests of private citizens – is still taking shape.

Further, the market is fragmented – between major players (Defense Contractors/Platform Builders/System integrators) and the range of new entrants (primarily, earlystage innovators) functioning, as a Cottage Industry.

This situation has been played out before – as evidenced by the Perry Initiative so long ago that started the wheels-inmotion for COTS to become the first right of consideration (mandated by law).

Is it likely that the DOD Unmanned Vehicle Market will follow the same course?

From their early-roots as development platforms – focusing on ISR applications – today’s unmanned platforms impact every sphere – land, sea, air and space. They vary by mission and have on-board multi-purpose capabilities, which are redefining modern warfare.

Ed Hennessy heads-up the Performance Marketing Group – a Market Program Specialist dedicated to the Defense & Aerospace target segments. 603-320-4593. www.pmg-results.com — Corporate Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtzlCYCrgmE COTS Journal | August 2020

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Abaco Announces Expansion of Austin, Texas Innovation Center Abaco Systems announced plans to grow the company’s presence in Austin, Texas, the home of its DSP Innovation Center. This expansion follows Abaco’s February move to new headquarters in Huntsville, Alabama and is further evidence of the company’s investment in innovation and continued growth.

This significant expansion sees the facility grow almost 50% to over 16,000 square feet, and comes as a result of rapid growth in demand for Abaco’s digital signal processing solutions that are designed for advanced electronic warfare applications.

The additional space, which opened in July, will enable the expansion of the engineering facilities at the DSP Innovation Center. Not only will it receive substantial technical upgrades and additional laboratory facilities, but it will also benefit from re-equipping of the entire new workspace.

This will provide a more ergonomic environment that will facilitate the collaboration that is at the heart of Abaco’s innovation.

Abaco is actively recruiting engineers, the addition of whom will see the current site headcount increase by more than 50% over the coming 18 months to more than 65 employees.

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The expansion follows the announcement in February of Abaco’s move to new headquarters in Huntsville, Alabama in response to continuing growth across the company’s business.

“Austin has an outstanding reputation as being a great place for leading edge technology companies to do business, and that makes it a perfect fit for our company – not least because of the access it gives us to the country’s most talented engineers,” said Rich Sorelle, President and CEO of Abaco. “This expansion of our DSP Innovation Center, in terms of both space and people, will allow us to continue to develop the innovative, pioneering computing solutions that enable our customers to provide our warfighters with a vital competitive edge.”

Abaco’s five Innovation Centers are at the heart of the company’s success. The team in Austin is responsible for the development of leading edge solutions based on advanced technologies including DSP, FPGA, and RFSoC. Innovative products designed and manufactured on site include the VP430 and the VP460.

The Austin facility also provides the in-depth technical support customers sometimes require - all the way from design through development through optimization through deployment.

The VP430 Direct RF Processing System, which was the first 3U VPX COTS solution to feature the all new Xilinx® ZU27DR RF system-on-chip (RFSoC) technology, is also one of the densest analog FPGA DSP boards available, with eight ADC and DAC synchronized channels. It features the ability to synchronize multiple boards for even larger system applications.

The success of the VP430 led to the announcement of its 6U VPX counterpart, the VP460 Direct RF Processing System, which is aligned with the SOSA™ standard designed to deliver the cost-effective interoperability required by the US Air Force, Army, and Navy.

Austin has long been home to some of the highest profile technology organizations. In the defense industry that Abaco primarily serves, BAE Systems, Boeing and Northrop Grumman have facilities in the city. The growing tech city also drew interest from the U.S. Army, who chose Austin for the headquarters of Futures Command, which is aimed at modernizing military weapons, combat vehicles, and more.

Texas is one of the top states in the U.S. for aerospace and defense manufacturing.

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OSS Orders for New U.S. Navy AI Threat Detection System Top $1.0 Million

One Stop Systems, Inc. has received more than $1.0 million in prototype orders for a military airborne AI threat detection system from a U.S. Navy prime contractor. More than $676,000 in orders have now shipped, with a purchase order for $350,00 in additional engineering work underway.

The new OSS AI on the Fly® system consists of a custom all-in-one rugged server using Gen 4 PCIe interconnect and NVMe storage, and powered by the latest GPU accelerators. The system has been designed for U.S. Navy P3 and P8-A aircraft to detect and identify enemy threats using AI algorithms,

Lockheed Martin Technology Protects NASA’s Mars 2020 Mission Lockheed Martin developed the technology behind the aeroshell that will protect NASA’s newest Mars rover, Perseverance, and deploy the first-ever Mars helicopter. The Mars 2020 spacecraft with its Perseverance rover is scheduled to launch July 30 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.

Lockheed Martin engineers work on the construction of the aeroshell for the Mars 2020 mission. The cone-shaped back shell and orange heat shield will protect the Perseverance rover on its way to the surface of Mars.

The Perseverance rover, built by NASA’s Jet

allowing the aircraft crew to take action in real time.

“By creating an AI-powered data center in the sky, this project represents a quantum leap in threat detection systems for P3 and P8-A Navy surveillance aircraft,” commented Jim Ison, OSS chief sales and marketing officer. “Our solution was chosen because of our proven capabilities with similar deployments and our continued edge AI technology leadership, including being first-to-market with PCIe Gen 4 technology that doubles the performance of HPC deployments on the edge.”

“These orders also underscore the unique capabilities and benefits of our award-winning AI on the Fly technology, including exceptional datacenter performance in a small, lightweight design that does not rely on slow Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), will study the geology of Mars while searching for signs of past microbial life, collects samples of rock, and will even set the stage for human exploration to the planet. The 2,260-pound rover is enclosed in an aeroshell capsule that protects the rover during its seven-month deep space flight and atmospheric descent toward the Martian surface. Lockheed Martin built this large aeroshell and every previous NASA aeroshell sent to the Red Planet.

The mission also debuts the first helicopter designed for another planet, named Ingenuity, to test autonomous flight on Mars.

Lockheed Martin was tasked by JPL to build the Mars helicopter delivery system (MHDS) that will deploy the helicopter to the Martian surface for its flight. The delivery system was designed by Lockheed Martin collaboratively

Jim Ison, Vice President, OSS

wireless connections to a remote datacenter to make critical decisions,” added Ison. “As with our flash storage systems also used by the U.S. Navy, we anticipate the prototyping of this edge AI system will lead to full production orders for use on these aircraft and potentially others.” with JPL and attaches the Ingenuity helicopter to the belly of the rover. The lightweight system was designed to reliably deploy the 4-pound helicopter to the surface using four pyrotechnic separation events. It also protects Ingenuity from debris during landing with a durable, yet light, composite debris shield.

“This mission is pivotal to the future of Mars exploration,” said Lisa Callahan, vice president and general manager of Commercial Civil Space at Lockheed Martin Space. “Our partnership with NASA to build the aeroshell and engineer the Mars helicopter delivery system allowed us to draw upon our deep expertise in aeroshells while also inventing new systems to enable the first flight in the atmosphere of Mars.

This all moves us closer to the day humankind will walk on the Red Planet.”

The Mars 2020 aeroshell, along with the one built for the Mars Science Laboratory mission, is the largest built for a robotic mission.

Composed of a heat shield and cone-shaped back shell measuring 15 feet in diameter, the aeroshell is constructed in a composite aluminum honeycomb structure sandwiched by graphite-epoxy face sheets. The heat shield is covered with tiles of a protective material called phenolic impregnated carbon ablator (PICA) that can withstand the more than 2,370 degrees Fahrenheit seen during peak heating.

Perseverance is expected to land on Mars on Feb. 18, 2021.

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Flight test further demonstrates the system’s capability to fuse data and successfully defeat multiple threats

The U.S. Army successfully engaged multiple targets during a flight test using the Northrop Grumman Corporation Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS). The test, conducted as part of the IBCS Limited User Test (LUT), demonstrated IBCS’ ability to maintain continuous track custody of the targets, despite contested environment conditions, by fusing data from multiple sensors.

A Northrop Grumman produced Engagement Operations Center (EOC) and Interactive Collaborative Environment (ICE) emplaced at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico for the IBCS Limited User Test. [Source U.S. Army]

cluded an Air and Missile Defense task force including two Battery and 1 Battalion engagement operations centers, two Patriot and Sentinel radars, and three Patriot Advanced Capability Three (PAC-3) launchers connected at the component level, to the IBCS Integrated Fire Control Network (IFCN).

The test began when two cruise missile surrogate threats were launched and flew at a low altitude in a maneuvering formation through a mountain range towards defended assets. IBCS fused real-time data from all sensors into a single, accurate composite track for each threat.

The soldiers were presented with engagement solutions computed by IBCS which were then executed. The soldiers launched two PAC-3 missiles controlled by IBCS that successfully intercepted both threats. IBCS was able to perform all functions successfully despite being subjected

to contested environment conditions designed to disrupt the IFCN network, demonstrating the resilience and survivability of the system.

The Limited User Test, which comprises several tests, is intended to simulate realistic warfighting operations and place performance stresses on the systems to ensure it will perform as intended under the most rigorous circumstances once deployed. This LUT is conducted to inform a Milestone C decision which will transition the IBCS program into the production and operational testing phase.

IBCS utilizes multiple sensors and effectors to extend the battlespace, engage threats providing 360° protection, increases survivability by enabling early detection and continuous tracking, and delivers transformational warfighting capabilities to defeat an increasingly complex threat.

“We are extremely pleased with how IBCS performed during this flight test,” said Kenn Todorov, vice president and general manager, combat systems and mission readiness, Northrop Grumman. “We have been working on an extraordinary command and control system in partnership with the U.S. Army, and our goals are the same – to get this capability into the hands of the warfighter as soon as possible.”

The first of two planned operational flight tests was conducted at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico by the soldiers from the U.S. Army 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Regiment. The test’s defense laydown in-

Mercury Systems Receives $11.7M in Digital RF Memory Jammer Orders from U.S. Navy Mercury Systems, Inc. announced it received $11.7 million in orders against its previously announced $152 million 5 year sole-source basic ordering agreement (BOA) to deliver advanced Digital RF Memory (DRFM) jammers to the U.S. Navy.

The orders were received in the fourth quarter of the Company’s fiscal 2020 year and are expected to be delivered over the next several quarters.

Mercury DRFM jammers are size, weight and power (SWaP) optimized to meet the electronic protection requirements of airborne pod-based solutions and incorporate decades of DRFM technology development, validated electronic attack techniques and custom RF components pur10

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pose-built to support advanced electronic warfare test and training capabilities.

“Our advanced DRFM systems are a critical tool for providing realistic electronic threats for Naval testing, evaluation and training,” said Mark Bruington, Vice President of Mercury’s Processing division. “It’s part of our commitment to developing and producing a simultaneous multiple-threat processing system with a flexible architecture that can evolve to keep pace with

emerging threats, delivering Innovation That Matters to our service men and women in the field.”

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Boeing’s Arizona Modification Line Yields First QF-16 Full-Scale Aerial Target

A team from Boeing and the U.S. Air Force completed the first QF-16 Full-Scale Aerial Target to undergo conversion from a modification line in Arizona. The aircraft was flown last month to Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, where it will be used autonomously in future weapons training operations.

The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) located at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson teamed with Boeing under a public-private partnership to create a second modification line to supplement ongoing QF-16 work at Boeing’s Cecil Field site in Jacksonville, Florida.

“The delivery of this first AMARG modified QF-16 aerial target drone is a testimony of the cooperative, synergistic relationship we had hoped for when we created the private-public partnership with Boeing,” said Col. Jennifer Barnard, Commander of the

309th AMARG. “Though the installation of the drone conversion package is a relatively new venture for us, our hope is to leverage cost efficiencies and proficiencies benefiting both partners.”

Conversion of the F-16 A/C aircraft to the unmanned QF-16 configuration requires modification of the airframe and installation of major components. The QF-16 performs both autonomous maneuvers through autopilot and controlled maneuvers through ground stations.

“The partnership between Boeing and AMARG is crucial to expediting capability to the warfighters,” said Craig DeMeester, Boeing QF-16 program manager. “It’s an example of great teamwork, and completing this first jet is just the beginning as we have more deliveries planned this year and well into next year.”

Boeing began converting retired F-16s into QF-16s in 2015. More than 120 aircraft are on contract to be modified, with over 40 percent delivered to date.

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MDA Receives Contract to Support Robotic Operations on the International Space Station

MDA announced that it has received a contract worth CAD $190 million to support robotic operations on the International Space Station (ISS) from 2020 to 2024. MDA has provided Logistics and Sustaining Engineering (L&SE) services to the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and its international partners since the start of the ISS, which this year will celebrate 20 years of continuous habitation by humans.

“This contract further strengthens MDA’s global leadership in operational mission-critical space robotics, and will provide an opportunity to advance robotic system capabilities and techniques using the ISS as a proving ground for future human exploration,” said Mike Greenley, Chief Executive Officer of MDA. “We value our role as prime contractor and partner to the Canadian Space Agency, and enjoy the opportunity to work closely with the ISS partners, in particular NASA and the ISS industrial team.”

The setting sun and the thin blue airglow line at Earth’s horizon was captured by the International Space Station’s (ISS) Expedition Three crewmembers with a digital camera.

Some of the Station’s components are silhouetted in the foreground.

The contract provides for ongoing operations and maintenance of the Canadian contribution to the ISS, the Mobile Servicing System (MSS), which comprises Canadarm2, Dextre and the Mobile Base System (MBS) and will establish a solid base of business for the next four years for MDA’s robotics teams based in Brampton (ON), St-Hubert (QC) and Houston (TX). Areas of support include goods and services such as Mission Planning & Real-Time Operations Support, Software Engineering (upgrades), Systems Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Logistics Engineering (spares, support equipment, crown property management), Program Management, Product Assurance, and MSS Robotic 12

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Operations Training Support for astronauts and ground mission controllers. The contract includes the option for Canada to extend the term of the contract by up to four additional one-year periods under the same conditions.

Reliance on Canadarm2 and Dextre – the world’s most sophisticated space robot – for International Space Station maintenance has been steadily increasing. MDA ensures the operational readiness of the MSS robotics, provides training to the robotic operators, and supports operations planning and real-time operations. In addition, MDA continuously enhances the capability of the MSS to meet the evolving needs of the Canadian Space Station Program and International Space Station needs.

Canada’s robotics capability is globally recognized for its exemplary performance in support of the ISS. The ISS continues to be an important laboratory that advances breakthrough technologies and extends scientific knowledge. Canada’s contribution of robotics has enabled access to the ISS by Canadian astronauts as well as utilization of the ISS laboratory for Canadian science experiments.

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Curtiss-Wright Successfully Demonstrates TCG-HUNTR Tactical Data Link (TDL) Hub and Network Translator During Timber Express 2020

Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions division announced its successful participation in the German Air Force’s fourth annual Timber Express TDL exercise held at Lagel Airbase, Schleswig-Holstein in June 2020. During the 16-days of activity at Timber Express 2020, Curtiss-Wright continually presented the unique capabilities and advantages of its groundbreaking TCG-HUNTR (TDL Hub and Network Translator) intelligent TDL translation gateway by demonstrating Link 16, VMF, JREAP-C, and Cooperative ESM Operations (CESMO) operations.

Highlighting the TDL gateway’s ability to support cross-platform communications using multiple TDLs across land, sea and air TCGHUNTR fulfilled the following high-level Timber Express 2020 objectives:

uling the Exercise. “That’s why it is very important in this exercise to connect the different data link systems. In order to cope with this, we rely on user-friendly systems, HUNTR was a valuable contributor.”

• Digitally-Aided Close Air Support between VMF and Link 16 • Establishment of a common operational picture (COP) • CESMO Forwarding • Airbus MUM-T to combat aircraft demonstration • Link 16 Network Hosting • In addition, during the week prior to Timber Express 2020, Curtiss-Wright participated in the CESMO “Code Fest” exercise in support of the new protocols implemented in the newest version of CESMO, AEDP-13 vB.1 (NATO document).

During Timber Express 2020, Curtiss-Wright conducted bidirectional Link 16, CESMO, VMF, and JREAP-C operations, including the establishment of seamless text chat links and a common operational picture on all devices via TCG-HUNTR. For the first time, TCG-HUNTR translated and forwarded to all other networks the location and identity information of radar emitters detected by platforms on the CESMO network. TCGHUNTR allowed ground forces using Android® and Windows®-based software to conduct multiple VMF digitally-aided close-airsupport (DACAS) missions with Link 16 fighter aircraft. In a historic first, Link 16 fighter aircraft were used to command Airbus manned-unmanned-teaming (MUM-T) remote carrier drones to attack a designated target.

“TCG-HUNTR is a breakthrough software application that improves and simplifies the task of moving data between similar and dissimilar tactical data links,” said Lynn Bamford, President, Defense and Power. “We are very pleased with the success of our participation in this year’s Timber Express exercise, and we thank the German Air Force for the opportunity to demonstrate TCGHUNTR’s ability to provide warfighters and command and control centers with real-time access to accurate operational data in the field.”

“Timber Express 2020 was again a very successful event. Nowadays, being networked decides who wins or loses in a modern conflict,” said LtCol Volker Schaaf, German Air Force Headquarters, in his role as the Officer Sched-

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Timber Express 2020 exercise included a wide range of airborne and ground platforms and communications equipment. TCG-HUNTR was successfully used to tie together all participants into a common command and control and operating environment.

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BAE Systems wins contract to deliver and manage secure networks across essential government agencies

BAE Systems wins contract to deliver and manage secure networks across essential government agencies

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has awarded BAE Systems a five-year $85 million contract[1] to continue to develop, deploy, modernize, and maintain cross-domain solutions that allow for secure transfer of sensitive information between government networks.

The work on the contract will enable the secure exchange of data—including streaming video, images and audio—to enhance mission collaboration. BAE Systems will also provide research, development, and evaluation of new technologies, including the integration of innovative artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities.

“As the military cyberspace battlefield ex-

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pands, we understand how critical it is that secure, innovative intelligence solutions are available to warfighting commands and combat support agencies to communicate safety and effectively,” said Pete Trainer, vice president and general manager of BAE Systems’ Air Force Solutions business.

“We are pleased to continue our long-standing partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory and provide our expertise in high-assurance, cross-domain technologies to meet this new mission need. Our services will provide end-users ac-

cess to virtual information and analysis faster, allowing them to make informed decisions quickly.”

BAE Systems is a leading systems integrator supporting militaries, governments, and U.S. intelligence community members across the globe. The company’s advanced technologies and services protect people and national security, and keep critical information and infrastructure secure across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains.

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US Army awards Leidos task order to provide IEW&S system and software support

Leidos announced it has been awarded a new task order by the U.S. Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACG-APG) to provide Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors (IEW&S) system and software support to the U.S. Army’s Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) Software Engineering Center (SEC), Sensors and Mission Equipment Division (SMED). The single-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, costplus-fixed-fee task order has a one-year base

period of performance, followed by four oneyear options, and a total approximate value of $210 million if all options are exercised. Work will be performed primarily at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. CECOM is the Army’s materiel integrator for command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C5ISR) readiness. As a major subordinate command of the Army Materiel Command (AMC), CECOM collaborates with Program Executive Offices, other AMC commands, and industry partners to provide, inte-

grate, and sustain world-class C5ISR hardware, software, and mission command capabilities for the joint warfighter.

Under the IEW&S contract, Leidos will provide system and software engineering support that will ensure reliability, maintainability, inter-operability, and configuration integrity of CECOM’s modern platform sensor and electronic warfare systems. Using its experience and investments in Secure Development Operations (SecDevOps), Leidos will implement its agile development process to the area of Post-Production and Post-Deployment Software Support. Additionally, Leidos will leverage a portfo-

lio management dashboard that is collaborative and tailorable to the needs of the customer to provide near real-time status of schedules and work efforts.

“Leidos understands the criticality of C5ISR readiness as warfighters face the possibility of electronic warfare,” said Mike Rickels, Leidos Defense Group senior vice president, C4ISR Solutions. “We stand ready to help CECOM stay ahead of adversaries with secure software development and detailed production reporting.”

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SPECIAL FEATURE

An Ambitious Plan to advance the Military

The JADC2 or Joint All Domain Comma

By John Reardon, Editorial Director 16

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The disruption of technology has caused concern throughout the services as the dollars spent can be challenged in ways not considered before. If you consider that most of our defense systems are a series of generational improvements, it is not hard to project the future and how they might be defeated. This premise has lead to concerns in the defense industry as our adversaries plot to undermine major multi-billion dollar weapon systems with the metaphorical paper clip.

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Connected Battle Field The idea of the JADC2 initiate is to create a communications fabric that mimics the Switch Fabric architectures of the modern high-speed computer. Known as the joint all-domain command and control, JADC2 connects distributed sensors, shooters, and data from all domains to all forces. Being able to coordinate and communicate multi-data sources to achieve a highly responsive and efficient engagement will automate the field of operations to retain the lethality that is required. In the same way that a switch fabric addresses redundancy by offering alternative data paths, JADC2 offers a mosaic that opens up alternatives for the warfighter to consider maximizing their deployed assets. In the past assets where deploy with a mission parameter. If intelligence or other high profile objectives challenged these mission parameters, it would jeopardize the outcome and potentially create confusion. The goal with JADC2 is to have real-time, reliable intelligence from sensors at the edge that give actionable data in complex theaters of operations across all services. This might be diverting assets more

Figure 1 - A DARPA illustration showing Mosaic warfare in action. (DARPA) 18

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effectively, it might be to defend from unforeseen actions in real-time or it might recognize where security may have been breached.

This combination of sensors at the edge communicating will draw upon machine learning and inference-based solutions.

The Element of Surprise The use of the word “asynchronous battlefields” is used to describe the impact of surprise brought about by a dynamic response.

As we move forward with very advance sensors that are working around the clock, combined with machine learning and artificial intelligence, the ability to thwart success with “a paper clip” will diminish. The idea of “Surprise” will enable speed and response times not to be impeded by human interaction. It will enable the efficient allocation of resources and do so within the latency concerns of our enemies’ communications.

The Obstacles Although JADC2 is being led by the Air Force, it is openly acknowledged that the project is highly complex and requires a joint solution. Just as commercial solutions have

to deal with heterogeneous environments, JADC2 will employ open standards to connect ground, sea, air, and space sensors. The challenges occur with legacy systems and overall coordination between the branches. Each branch must address the already committed dollars and how they might be adjusted to support the interaction required. In consideration of the magnitude of this goal, you must consider the installed base, the committed programs, the coordination with our allies, and numerous other hurdles seen and unseen. One such challenge that creates huge complexities is the Space Force and the potential for disputes that arise from determining the domain of space.

The Army is already testing and moving forward with what they refer to as “Sensor-to-Shooter”. This communication network has validated many of the underpinnings of JADC2 and should complement the overall initiative. Taking a more narrow approach, the Army’s network creates data sharing between air and missile defense assets. As a starting point, the Army’s “Sensor-to-Shooter” echoes the JADC2 idea but falls short of creating a compendium of assets all working together.

Brigadier General, Dave Kumashiro, Director of Force Integration, in a recent presentation describes the herculean efforts required to move this initiated forward. He described how being able to use “technology on-ramps” to create a state of continual improvement will be the cornerstone of success. That highly coordinated TTPs (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures) would be incorporated to affirm that technology advancements would match the pace of the commercial markets. Acknowledging that the Air Force cannot possibly coordinate the numerous sensors and platforms employed, the idea of using open standards to affirm that data can be coordinated to the tactical edge will reassure that JADC2 will not cause investments to be discarded but will rather mirror the “reverse compatibility” seen in the commercial markets.

Although JADC2 is gathering momentum with significant investment from the Air Force, the lack of a unified voice has left many questioning how overall coordination will occur and whether partial success will be acceptable. Integrating Avionic networks that date back to the late ‘70s, 1553 with Naval solutions such as NTDS over commercial standards such as 5G makes it imperative COTS Journal | August 2020

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that the standards are loose and do nothing to fuel the competition between branches.

Cyber Security and Resources Needed The need to have a highly integrated battlefield is a daunting task that opens the door to a complete system failure. Yet the alternative is to fall behind those that are employing more dynamic strategies than ours. To affirm that individual sensors are not spoofed or that a single laptop left open exposes us to failure will challenge the architects. The adage of “Kiss” or “keeping it simple stupid” has been thrown out in favor of machine learning and inference computing.

Although the technology hurdles are many,

one area that begs for attention is to understand the bandwidth requirements needed to support the copious amounts of data captured by sensors. Consideration for infrastructure in remote areas of the globe creates a problem, as Verizon may not guarantee service. Capturing electronic emissions from an embassy to detecting the source of RADAR transmissions are difficult enough. Yet when you couple this with imaging and communications that redirect a drone, the need for high bandwidth, low latency becomes exponentially greater.

A Strategy verses an Action Although the complexities are great and JADC2 will face many challenges, the need to

retain the U.S. dominance will only occur if we take this course of action. You will be hearing more about JADC2 as time passes and it will challenge what is valued with what is possible. It will be fraught with technical hurdles that may leave certain sensor array isolated, but the benefit is too great to ignore. By creating the asymmetrical environment we will maximize the effectiveness of actions and do so in an unpredictable fashion that will create an element of surprise and reduce defensive threats that rely on historical knowledge.

The need to create this “universal translator” that creates an extrasensory perception will be the advantage that keeps us ahead of those that wish to exploit our weaknesses.

COTS Journal | August 2020

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August2020

COT’S PICKS Supermicro Unveils New Generation Top-Loading Storage Systems for HighCapacity Cloud-Scale Deployments Customers Can Leverage Multiple Expansion Options with Flexible 60-bay and 90-bay Systems Available in Single-Node, Dual-Node, SBB, or JBOD Configurations

availability, in which both nodes have access to all the drives, and one node backs up the other in case of a failure. With a modular, tool-less design, all key onboard systems – hot-swap server nodes, expanders, fan modules, power supplies, and drives – are fully optimized for easy serviceability by a single technician.

Super Micro Computer, Inc. announced an extension of its market-proven ultra-dense storage solutions with new 60bay and 90-bay solutions. These best-in-class high-capacity storage and expansion systems are optimized for cloud-scale storage implementations as well as HPC storage applications.

This new top-loading architecture delivers the improved flexibility, modularity, and serviceability that customers need. Both 60-bay and 90-bay systems are available in single-node and dualnode configurations, where the drives evenly split between each node. Also, the drives can be in a storage bridge bay (SBB) configuration for high

“Anticipating changing market dynamics and high growth in software-defined, cloud-based storage, Supermicro can help data centers to rapidly modernize their equipment to leverage flexible architectures, tool-less design modularity, and simple expansion capabilities,” said Charles Liang, president and CEO of Supermicro. “Our

SEGGER Embedded Studio V5 minimizes code size

“This new version of Embedded Studio is truly groundbreaking. I have never seen a toolchain that produces such small programs, especially out-of-the-box, created by the project generator.

Our compiler uses Clang with a new code generator developed directly by the SEGGER software engineering team. In balanced optimization mode, it produces code that is as small as it is fast. Our linker, startup code, runtime library and debugger are all tuned to get the most out of a microcontroller,” said Rolf Segger, founder of SEGGER. “Version 5 outperforms even my own expectations.”

The newly released SEGGER Embedded Studio V5 for Arm processors comes with the company’s Compiler, Linker, Runtime and Floating-Point libraries included. All components are designed from the ground up for use in embedded systems and work seamlessly to help generate extremely small programs.

A program which blinks an LED - a ‘blinky’ - on a typical Cortex-M microcontroller unit can be written in C or C++, with a total size of less than 100bytes. Terminal output (printf) can be done in real time using RTT, SWO or semi-hosting with host-side formatting, keeping even the standard ‘Hello World’ program to no more than a few hundred bytes.

Just like SEGGER’s SystemView and Ozone platforms, Embedded Studio can be used on Windows, Linux and macOS operating systems - in keeping with the company’s cross-platform philosophy.

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COTS Journal | August 2020

Embedded Studio can be downloaded without registration and used free of charge for

new high-capacity storage systems continue Supermicro’s focus on resource-saving and deliver industry-leading capacity per watt for a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) and lower total cost to the environment (TCE).”

Supermicro’s new high-capacity top-loading systems are optimized for enterprise environments, and support scale-up and scaleout architectures. These 4U systems feature 60x or 90x hotswap 2.5”/3.5” SAS3/SATA3 bays plus 2x onboard PCI-E M.2 slots and 2x internal slim SATA SSD slots. The singlenode system also supports 2x rear hot-swap 2.5” bays for OS mirroring and optional 4x NVMe U.2 bays for fast caching.

At maximum configuration, the system supports 1,440 terabytes of cost-optimized storage. The single- and dual-node systems use 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors in a dual-socket configuration with 16x DIMM slots per server node.

Super Micro Computer, Inc. www.supermicro.com

educational and non-commercial purposes, as well as evaluated (without code size, feature, or time limit) on all platforms.

August2020

COT’S PICKS Marvin Test Solutions Announces New PXI Multifunction Instrument New GX3722 Series Multifunction Instrument Delivers Exceptional Measurement and Control Functionality Marvin Test Solutions, Inc., a trusted provider of globally-deployed innovative test solutions for military, aerospace, and manufacturing organizations announced the release of the new GX3722 Series Multifunction Analog and Digital I/O Instrument.

The GX3722 delivers exceptional flexibility and utility, with a unique mix of measurement and control functionality, in a single high-performance 3U PXI hybrid slot compatible instrument. Analog measurement capabilities include four time-interval channels, each rated at 10 MHz, with channels supporting both 50 Ω and 75 Ω input impedance. Two digitizer channels, each with a maximum sampling rate of 10 MS/s, include programmable input impedance and sampling rates with a 24 Vpp input range.

Two channels of multifunction waveform generation deliver Sine, Triangle, Sawtooth, Square, and Arbitrary signals up to 10 MHz, while four channels of dedicated square wave generation further com-

plement the source capabilities of this card. The addition of four 100 kHz differential TTL I/O channels and three open collector output channels (50 V, 2.0 A) enable control of external devices.

vided to support access to programming tools and languages such as ATEasy®, LabVIEW™, C/C++, Microsoft C# and Visual Basic® .Net. A Linux driver is also provided with the GtLinux software package.

“The GX3722 delivers a unique combination of measurement and control functionality ideal for small to medium size systems” said Jon Semancik, Director of Marketing for Marvin Test Solutions. “And the ruggedized, extended temperature version is perfect for customers deploying test systems in extreme, harsh environments.”

Marvin Test Solutions, Inc www.marvintest.com

The GX3722 Series is supplied with GxFPGA, a software package that includes a virtual instrument panel, and a Windows® 32/64-bit DLL driver and documentation.

Interface files are pro-

COTS Journal | August 2020

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August2020

COT’S PICKS wolfSSL Compiles Most Comprehensive Set of Cryptographic Benchmarks Share Article

wolfSSL releases the world’s first commercial release of TLS 1.3, and first implementer of FIPS 1403, announces expansion of the most comprehensive set of cryptographic benchmarks.

The wolfSSL embedded SSL/TLS library was written from the ground-up with portability, performance, and memory usage in mind. Our benchmarks outshine our competitors because we focus on high quality engineering utilizing latest assembly speedups and highly optimized code.

Good benchmarking practices reflect good code quality. To provide the most in-depth benchmark testing, wolfSSL looks at sizing, transmission rates, connection speeds, and cryptography perfor-

Panasonic Unveils TOUGHBOOK 55 Mobile Computer With Customer-Driven Modular Design Panasonic is pleased to introduce a worker’s best friend: the Panasonic TOUGHBOOK® 55 mobile computer. Building on legendary reliability, versatility, performance and ruggedness, the TOUGHBOOK 55 offers unrivaled flexibility with its modular expansion packs and accessories that can accommodate a multitude of work environments and personal preferences.

The TOUGHBOOK 55’s modular design supports the demands of public safety, enterprise and government customers alike which offers unparalleled customization that can simplify ordering, shorten lead times, decrease downtime and help futureproof their purchase as work needs change.

Expansion packs offer a variety of additional features such as I/O ports, a fingerprint reader, dedicated graphics and a second storage drive. Both the main storage drive and optional second storage drive are quick-release for easier installation and access to the drives. The RAM and keyboard are both user-upgradeable.

Often mounted in vehicles and used indoors and outdoors, this latest TOUGHBOOK has the ability to work all day on a fully charged battery, which is among the most critical needs for users out in the field. The TOUGHBOOK 55 has the longest battery life of any Panasonic TOUGHBOOK to date with the ability to ‘hot-swap’ an optional second battery with24

COTS Journal | August 2020

mance. A version of our benchmark suite is included in every download for users to enjoy. Because the underlying cryptography is a very performance-critical aspect of SSL/TLS, our benchmark application runs performance tests on wolfCrypt’s algorithms.

One of the things that we benchmark every night is hardware encryption. wolfSSL supports hardware crypto acceleration for STMicroelectronics, Microchip, NXP, Renesas, Infineon, Nordic, Cypress, Espressif, TI, Xilinx, Intel, ARM and many more. As an example, we offer support for offloading cryptographic operations onto several NXP devices (such as the Coldfire and Kinetis) that include hardware cryptography modules. Examples of these operations include utilizing the Crypto Acceleration Unit (CAU), Memory-Mapped Crypto Acceleration Unit (mmCAU), and LP Trusted Crypto (LTC).

Using these hardware cryptography modules leads to increased performance when compared to

out powering down or interruptions.

TOUGHBOOK 55 Key Features, Highlights and Innovations: • Innovative modular design • Unprecedented all-day battery • The thinnest and lightest laptop in its class • Latest Intel® 8th Gen quad-core i5 and i7 vPro™ processors and optional AMD discrete graphics • An optional 1000 nit touchscreen • Up to 2TB of storage and 64GB of RAM • The first laptop in its class with tetra-array microphones for unmatched speech recognition accuracy The first TOUGHBOOK to offer a USB Type-C port, HDMI 2.0 and Bluetooth® 5.0 enhanced user experience with louder speakers, enhanced brightness and a color-selectable backlit keyboard Backward compatibility with existing TOUGHBOOK 54 vehicle and desktop docks avoiding the hassle and cost of replacing and installing new docks into their fleet of vehicles “Each year, we spend hundreds of hours with customers across industries so that we can anticipate the trajectory of their digital transformations and best support them throughout,” said Brian Rowley, Vice President of Marketing and Product Management, Panasonic System Solutions Company of North America. “The TOUGHBOOK 55 is shaped by our customers’ voice and delivers the customization, modularity, extended battery life and configurations they need today and tomorrow. The next chapter of mobile technology is not how well rugged devices withstand extreme work environments -- something TOUGHBOOK has proven over three decades -- but

performing hardware cryptography within software only. These speedups increase algorithm performance greatly. In an embedded and connected world, these speedups can make all the difference between a winning and a losing application. Additionally, these performance increases are available when wolfSSL is being used to manage TLS 1.3 connections, giving your embedded SSL/TLS application the ability to greatly increase performance and benefit from the fastest, most secure TLS protocol.

Additional benchmark numbers showing the comparison of hardware crypto vs. software crypto can be viewed on the wolfSSL benchmark page.

This page also includes sample benchmark data for STM32, ARMv8, and Microchip PIC32MZ devices among many others. wolfSSL www.wolfssl.com

how rugged mobility facilitates an evolving business climate.”

Wireless Connectivity The TOUGHBOOK 55 is certified to work on P.180, Panasonic’s seamless end-to-end platform for customers that rely on global conn e c t i v i t y.

P.180 provides global coverage for 180+ countries with no roaming fees and enables personalized shared data plans based on actual customer usage.

Additionally, the TOUGHBOOK 55 (FZ-55 EM7511) is certified and approved for use on FirstNet – the nationwide, wireless communications platform dedicated to America’s first responders and public safety community. The FirstNet Ready™ TOUGHBOOK 55 supports the FirstNet Band 14 spectrum and gives public safety subscribers access to the dedicated, physically separate FirstNet network core. FirstNet is built with AT&T in a public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) – an independent agency within the federal government. It’s designed for first responders and those critical to their emergency response Panasonic https://na.panasonic.com/

August2020

COT’S PICKS New SFF Embedded Computer Mates COM Express Type 10 CPU with Four Industrial I/O Modules for Signal Processing and Control Tasks

Acromag’s new fanless PC is SWAP-C optimized with an efficient Intel® Atom® CPU module and four AcroPack ruggedized mini PCIe I/O expansion slots for a variety of data acquisition applications.

Acromag introduces a new rugged, small form factor (SFF) embedded computer system with modular I/O for signal processing, communication, and control functions. The ARCX1100 is optimized for size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) with a COM Express Type 10 CPU and four slots for Acromag’s plug-in AcroPack® I/O modules. Overall size with an integrated removable SSD bay is just 7.6 x 7.6 x 3.25 inches and 4.55 lbs. Fanless, extended temperature operation from -40 to 71°C is supported with an Intel® Atom® E3950 (Apollo Lake) processor and four AcroPack I/O modules installed. Peripherals include two RJ45 gigabit Ethernet, two USB 3.0, two RS232, mini DisplayPort, and audio ports, plus M.2 and SATA data storage connectors. Four 68-pin VHDCI connectors securely route field I/O to the AcroPack modules without any loose internal cables to interface a mix of analog, digital, serial, FPGA, avionics, and other I/O signals.

Designed for defense, industrial, and mobile embedded computing systems, the ARCX1100 is ideal for test & measurement, data acquisition & control, communication, avionics, simulation, and signal processing applications. The rugged design is engineered to withstand 50g shock and 5g vibration. More than 25 AcroPack modules are available to perform A/D, D/A, discrete I/O, RS232/485, MILSTD-1553, CAN bus, Gigabit Ethernet, and other functions. Third-party mPCIe modules are supported for use in the AcroPack slots. Power is sourced from a 10-36V DC supply. A water-resistant connector cover is also available to seal and secure the cabling.

“Compact, rugged, and extremely versatile, the ARCX1100 provides high-performance embedded computing in a simple, affordable package.

The modular design combining a low-power mini COM Express processor with up to four AcroPack I/O modules offers unprecedented flexibility and upgradeability without compromising reliability,” states Robert Greenfield, Acromag’s Business Development Manager.

Acromag https://acromag.com

COTS Journal | August 2020

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August2020

COT’S PICKS EIZO Releases Industry’s First Rugged PCIe Graphics/GPGPU Card for Airborne/Naval ISR Applications

EIZO’s new Condor GR4 PCIe 3G-SDI video capture and GPGPU processor is a one-card solution that simultaneously captures, processes, encodes, decodes, displays and streams video, and delivers exceptional MTBF performance.

The Condor GR4 PCIe supports NVIDIA Pascal™ and Turing™-based MXM GPUs and provides future-proofing with an easy upgrade path to the latest NVIDIA Quadro™ GPUs. EIZO Rugged Solutions Inc has released the industry’s first rugged PCI Express (PCIe) graphics/GPGPU card with four 3G-SDI inputs and outputs. The Condor GR4 PCIe card is designed for use in rugged rackmount servers and workstations and to be deployed in airborne and naval surveillance programs.

The high performance passively cooled 3G-SDI video capture and GPGPU board provides a single card solution to simultaneously capture, process, encode, decode, display, and stream video data in manned and unmanned rugged ISR applications.

The Condor GR4 PCIe card is designed to host NVIDIA Pascal™ and Turing™-based MXM GPUs (graphics processing units), supporting

MilSource: Techaya’s Addition of USB to VGA/Serial Converter to Product Line Delivers End-to-End MIL STD Connectivity Solutions for Mobile Military Networks MilSource today announced the availability of Techaya’s MILTECH VGA to round out the company’s full line of rugged MIL STD connectivity solutions for mobile military environments.

Complementing rugged USB Hubs and Ethernet switches, the MILTECH VGA converts USB video traffic from rugged laptops/computers to VGA and Serial RS232/422/485/LVTTL protocols for monitors used in navigation systems, cameras, smart suits and more.

With the best size, weight and power (SWAP) in the industry, the MILTECH VGA mea-

PCI Express (PCIe) Gen 3.0 (16, 8, or 4 lane). The product currently has two variants, based on the NVIDIA GPUs — Quadro P5000 or Quadro P3000 – but also offers an upgrade path to the latest NVIDIA® Quadro RTX™ Turing GPUs. The maximum power consumption ranges from 85 W to 110 W depending upon the variant. The Condor GR4 PCIe is built and tested to withstand extreme temperatures, shock, and vibration for surviving in harsh environments as per MIL-STD-810.

Selwyn L. Henriques, president and CEO of EIZO Rugged Solutions, said: “The Condor GR4 PCIe meets the needs of both manned and unmanned ISR platforms, where high definition video must be captured, processed, displayed, encoded, recorded and/or transmitted to base stations, all with exceptionally low latency and high accuracy.”

“With 3G-SDI fast becoming the output of choice for developers of sensor pods and large gimbals featuring short wave, infrared, thermal, and optical cameras, we expect this one-card solution to tick all the boxes for our customers,” said Mr. Henriques. “The GR4 PCIe delivers exceptional MTBF (mean time between failure) performance – aided by passive cooling and fanless design – and its inherent modularity allows for GPU performance upgrades in the future. That’s why this product

sures 3’’(L) x 2.8’’(W) x 0.97’’(H), not including connectors, and weighs .29 lbs. It also provides 6V/8V power output, eliminating the need for power adapters often required on ground vehicles. All Techaya’s mobile solutions meet MIL-STD 810G, 461G and IP 68 rating to ensure performance in the toughest environments.

has already been specified on several airborne platforms.”

The Condor PCIe graphics and raw video capture card enables direct video capture to GPU memory using GPUDirect RDMA for high-speed data transfer. In GPU memory, the applications can do processing such as image analysis, image enhancement, 360-degree video stitching, sensor fusion, and target detection, using GPGPU (CUDA® / Open-

CL™), all with extremely low latency. The card also supports CUDA® and OpenCL™ based GPGPU computing, AI processing (artificial intelligence), deep learning, and H265/H264 encoding/decoding.

EIZO Rugged Solutions Inc www.eizorugged.com

Source, the exclusive US distributor for Techaya.

MilSource https://militaryethernet.comw

Compa

“This latest addition to Techaya’s product line results in a complete, end-to-end connectivity solution for field-deployed networks that require ruggedized military-standards,” said Ronen Isaac, GM of MilCOTS Journal | August 2020

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August2020

COT’S PICKS New 4-Channel ET-4 Expert Transient from Delphin

CAS DataLoggers, in partnership with Delphin Technology, introduces a new model of the

Expert Transient data acquisition system, the 4 channel ET-4. Designed for data acquisition and fault diagnostics, this system is especially suited for smaller applications that only require a few analog input channels.

A key feature of the Expert Transient family of is the ability to synchronously acquire multiple analog channels at sample rates up to 50 kHz. The ET-4 can operate as a standalone device recording to internal memory to capture both transient

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COTS Journal | August 2020

and periodical data. In the event of a fault, this enables precise identification of the sequence of events in a malfunction. Measurement data can be recorded either continuously or according to trigger conditions and events including the ability to define triggers to record pre- and postevent data. The ET-4 is equipped with powerful FPGA technology that provides extensive onboard intelligence for calculations, logic, and data analysis.

In addition to the 4 analog input channels, the ET-4 has 4 digital inputs to capture pulses, discrete inputs or digital triggers. An extension bus allows the system to be extended to over 100 analog or digital inputs with high-speed synchronization protocols.

Delphin Technology www.delphin.com

August2020

COT’S PICKS Crystal roup’s Rugged Firewall Attains NIAP Cybersecurity Certification

Crystal Group announced the National Information Assurance Partnership (NIAP) Common Criteria certification of its rugged firewall. Achieving NIAP approval represents a significant milestone in tactical cybersecurity proving the firewall’s effective layer of protection for networked communications in multiple harsh domains.

The RCS5516FW purpose-built, VPN-capable firewall provides both rugged and critical cybersecurity defense needed for seamless, high-performance networking in unpredictable forward-deployed environments. Built to withstand extreme temperatures, moisture, shock, vibration and other challenging conditions, the NIAP-certified solution provides unmatched versatility, industry-leading technology and reliable protection of critical networks in a rugged form factor.

“Crystal Group’s rugged firewall is supply chain-secure, made in the U.S. and safeguards against malicious tampering. As our nation’s warfighters defend homeland security, this firewall safeguards the networks they rely on for situational awareness, missile defense and countless other mission critical functions,” said Todd Prouty, business development manager at Crystal Group. “We’re proud to have reached the NIAP milestone in our ongoing commitment to provide our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines with advanced cyber-secure capabilities.”

Crystal Group is a long-trusted and designated mission-essential partner of the U.S. Department of Defense and other U.S. government entities. Crystal Group’s offerings, which also include an optional NIAP-certified IPsec module on their RCS7450 rugged switch, are employed across hundreds of defense programs and countless applications supporting critical infrastructure, transportation and other key U.S. industries and sectors.

NIAP, established by the National Security Agency and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, is the governing U.S. body within the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement (CCRA), a 31-country consortium serving as the most widely recognized, global standard for IT security.

Crystal Group , Inc. www.crystalrugged.comw

Compa

Compact, Rugged Power System Provides Reliable Charging in Remote Locations RP24 Power System from Elma meets IEC Class II grounding requirements Technology Highlights: • 24VDC 1000W AC/DC power with reinforced insulation to IEC class II • Highly compact form factor battery charger with UPS functionality • IP67 protection, -35°C up to +60°C operating at full load up to 3500m altitude

tion, thanks to the built-in ground bolt. Up to five units can be networked in parallel, providing up to 5000W of continuous power, while still meeting all EMC requirements. Each power supply has two separate inputs and outputs for battery and load with uninterruptible switching between the AC and battery input.

Elma Electronics www.elma.com

Pixus Offers New Series of Single Slot Development OpenVPX Backplanes Pixus Technologies now offers 3U and 6U OpenVPX power and ground backplanes in several configurations. With the SOSA/HOST efforts and move to optical and RF interfaces over OpenVPX, Pixus has developed multiple styles that allow for versatility in prototyping.

Elma Electronic has developed an advanced, rugged power system for use in mission-critical field applications deployed in harsh environments. The new RP24 Power System incorporates reinforced insulation to meet IEC Class II requirements, eliminating the need for a ground connection.

The compact size of the 1000W AC/DC power supply makes it ideal for use as a 24VDC supply for field-deployed radios and other communications equipment as well as to supply auxiliary DC power to air and ground vehicles in harsh environments.

Markus Van Arx, Director Systems for Elma Electronic, noted, “In remote deployments, such as a dry desert or arid, mountainous terrain, it can be difficult to secure proper grounding contact.

In conforming to IEC Class II requirements by including additional safety precautions, the RP24 Power System ensures reliable power through its double-insulated protection, while eliminating the risk of shock to the user.” In addition to full load operation from -35°C up to +60°C at an altitude of 3500m, the new IP67-rated unit also provides protection from EMP, overvoltage, shock and vibration.

The RP24 Power System meets the drop test requirements for MIL-STD-810G as well as MIL-STD-461G for HEMP (High-altitude Electro Magnetic Pulse) and lightning overvoltage protec-

The 1-slot backplanes come in VITA 65 (VPX only), VITA 66.4 (optical), and VITA 67.3 (RF) formats. The optical and RF versions feature a cutout for optional insertion of the aperture housing and contacts. Used in conjunction with Pixus’ multi-slot power and ground backplanes, there is a vast range of configurations available.

Pixus offers OpenVPX backplanes, chassis platforms, and specialty products. The company also provides enclosure solutions in MicroTCA, cPCI Serial, AdvancedTCA, as well as instrumentation case formats Pixus Technologies https://pixustechnologies.comw Com

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COTS COTS

ADVERTISERS Company

Page#

Alphi Technology Corporation .................................. 14

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Annapolis Micro Systems ......................................

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OSS ........................................................................ IFC/26

Index

Website

. ............................... www.onestopsystems.com

Pasternack ............................................................

15

........................................ www.pasternack.com

Pentek ..................................................................

20

............................................... www.pentek.com

PICO Electronics, Inc .............................................

11

................................... www.picoelectronics.com

Pixus Technologies ................................................

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............................... www.pixustechnologies.com

Sealevel .................................................................

23

.............................................. www.sealevel.com

Versalogic .............................................................

25

............................................ www.versalogic.com

COTS Journal (ISSN#1526-4653) is published monthly at; 3180 Sitio Sendero, Carlsbad, CA. 92009.

Periodicals Class postage paid at San Clemente and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to COTS Journal, 3180 Sitio Sendero, Carlsbad, CA. 92009.

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COTS Journal | August 2020