COTS Journal, July 2021

July 2021, Volume 23 – Number 7 • cotsjournalonline.com

The Journal of Military Electronics & Computing

JOURNAL

Storage is at the Center of the Data Revolution Transportable AI Brings High-Performance, High Bandwidth Decision Making to the Edge

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 18

DEPARTMENTS

Storage is at the Center of the Data Revolution

By John Reardon, Editorial Director – RTC Media

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Publisher’s Note Force Projection and Threat Standoff

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The Inside Track

SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT 22

Transportable AI Brings High-Performance, High Bandwidth Decision Making to the Edge

By Tim Miller, Vice President, Product Marketing, OSS

COT’S PICKS 26

Editor’s Choice for July

Cover Image General Dynamics UK “Ajax” Scout SV. Reconnaisance & Strike vehicle.

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The Journal of Military Electronics & Computing

JOURNAL EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL SUBMISSION AND RELEASES johnr@rtc-media.com

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Tom Williams

Glenn ImObersteg Robert Hoffman

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ART AND PRODUCTION

ACCOUNT MANAGER

CREATIVE DIRECTOR David Ramos drdesignservices@ymail.com

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SALES MANAGER Vaughn Orchard Vaughno@rtc-media.com

CUSTOM AND CONTRACT SERVICES John Reardon Johnr@rtc-media.com

COTS Journal CORPORATE OFFICE RTC Media 3180 Sitio Sendero, Carlsbad, CA. 92009 Phone: (949) 226-2023 Fax: (949) 226-2050 www.rtc-media.com

PUBLISHED BY RTC MEDIA Copyright 2020, RTC Media. Printed in the United States. All rights reserved. All related graphics are trademarks of The RTC Group. All other brand and product names are the property of their holders.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

John Reardon, Publisher

Force Projection and

Threat Standoff In 1960 a U2 spy plane flying over the Soviet Union, being piloted by Gary Powers was shot down. This plane was designed to fly at extreme altitudes and speeds and to record video of an area the size of the state of California.

Even though the U2 had a cruising speed of five hundred

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miles per hour, it still was too painfully slow in returning the film for analysis. Today’s systems in contrast are now sitting atop mountains, buildings, and other front-line positions, streaming video in real-time. The advantages are immense by allowing enhanced threat analysis.

The Army is already testing and moving forward with what they refer The GEN4 4U Pro 10 to as “Sensor-to-Shooter”.

The optical bar camera used in the U2 was so sensitive that U2 pilots were trained to hit a self-destruct button rather than allow it to be captured by our advisories. Today advances have changed how these super high optical solutions can be used. The move from film to digital was just the beginning, the need to digest and analyze the recordings continues to be the challenge. Advancements in optics have provided huge volumes of data with 8MP images and 37X zoom. In addition, by moving the visible light detected by most digital cameras today, some technologies focus and detect infrared energy, detecting details and information beyond what the human eye can detect. The volume of this data makes remote transfer over a network impractical.

OSS, a digital infrastructure company led by David Raun, CEO, and a team of systems architects are focused on this and other edge computing concerns. Recognizing the acceleration towards decentralized digital infrastructure, OSS is focused on leveraging distributed edge computing to optimize real-time response in AI-based solutions – perfect for the next generation of video analytics. OSS has focused on how to build networks stronger, reducing data transport, and do so with systems that meet the rigors of “front line” duties. One such a system is their recently release GEN4 4U Pro 10. The 4UPro 10 is a highly

configurable solution that employs GPUs and PCIe Gen 4 solutions that are not currently seen in rugged edge deployments.

By doing the large-scale Inference computing at the edge, OSS has moved the image processing away from the data center server and move it closer to the source. This fast, easy, and cost-effective solution reduces the reliance on high-speed networks by only transmitting descriptive data and reducing overall latency. The transmission of only a small amount of data makes it significantly more practical to apply an encryption algorithm increasing the overall system’s security. The power efficiency brought about by only triggering the pre-processing when needed means that more processing time can be spent on image and sensor processing when specific conditions are met.

The need for advance compute power at the edge is the cornerstone to United States strategy to defend the country. Unlike the days of the U2 flying missions over enemy territory, informational sources such as satellites and drones will be streaming copious amounts of data to front line locations to contribute to the battle plan. The need for an asymmetrical response to threats is the goal of the Joint Chiefs and is made possible through the use of advance systems from OSS. COTS Journal | July 2021

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GigaIO Is Selected To Bring Composability To Bold New National Research Platform National Science Foundation awards grant for first-of-its-kind cyberinfrastructure ecosystem

Building on the successes of past collaborations with the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) located at UC San Diego, GigaIO, the creators of next-generation data center rack-scale architecture for artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) solutions, is proud to be announcing its low latency universal dynamic fabric, FabreXTM, was selected as the technology of choice for the new Prototype National Research Platform (NRP). This National Science Foundation-funded cyberinfrastructure ecosystem is an innovative, all-in-one system—computing resources, research and education networks, edge computing devices, and other instruments—designed as a testbed to expedite science and enable transformative discoveries.

“Complex computational and data workflows underpin many of the scientific research challenges we hope to address with NRP,” says Dr. Frank Würthwein, PI of NRP, and interim director of the San Diego Supercomputer Center. “In areas as diverse as public health, high energy physics, and wildfire response, this research requires that we aggregate disparate computational elements, such as FPGAs, GPUs, x86 processors, and storage systems into highly usable and reconfigurable systems. GigaIO’s FabreX technology makes it possible to dynamically bring these elements together in a very low-latency, high-performance interconnect while allowing for distinct, non-interfering workflows to co-exist on the same infrastructure.”

For this first-of-its-kind resource, the NSF awarded SDSC $5 million over five years, with matched funding for systems operation. The award will support hardware and deployment across three facilities: on the East Coast at the Massachusetts Green High-Performance Computing Center (MGHPCC) in Mount Holyoke, MA; in the Midwest at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) and on the West Coast at SDSC, as well as five data caches in the Internet2 network backbone. 6108 Aveni8

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da Encinas, Suite B Carlsbad, CA 92011 gigaio.com GigaIO will contribute the ability to disaggregate and compose the various components of the HPC subsystem including a mix of field-programmable gate array (FPGA) units, graphics processing units (GPUs) with memory and storage, all connected with its fully integrated extremely low-latency fabric. With the ability to connect resources across entire racks exclusively in the native language they all “speak,” PCIe, GigaIO makes otherwise impossible configurations feasible for scientific experimentation. “We are thrilled that this award recognizes FabreX technology as the composable platform of choice to accelerate science for deployment in leading-edge research centers,

eventually leading to adoption throughout scientific institutions nationwide,” said Alan Benjamin, CEO of GigaIO. The fundamentally open nature of the GigaIO platform, with off-the-shelf software orchestration options and open standard Redfish APIs, unlike the proprietary composable solutions from other vendors, complements the aspirations for the new research platform as an open system for scientists nationwide. “NRP provides resources and capabilities for diverse science, plus the expertise of systems people and the user community,” said Würthwein. “It’s an open system designed for growth and inclusion—a way for academic institutions to join a national system and, through their participation, enlarge and enrich the HPC ecosystem.” GigaIO’s broader mission is to democratize access to AI and HPC resources by enabling the sharing of expensive computing resources previously trapped and stranded inside a static data center infrastructure.

The broader impact of NRP furthers this goal with its focus on four themes: 1) empowering underrepresented and/or under-resourced researchers by making them “co-owners” of NRP, via the “Bring Your Own Resource (BYOR)/Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)” program; 2) societal wellbeing, focusing on health and disaster response; 3) STEM education, workforce development and outreach; and 4) enhancing industrial competitiveness. “Any campus in the continental United States is reachable from some of the NRP hardware within less than about 500 miles,” said Thomas De Fanti, distinguished professor emeritus of computer science at the University of Illinois at Chicago and research scientist at the Qualcomm Institute at UC San Diego. GigaIO’s FabreX has been gaining ground throughout some of those same institutions such as universities, national labs, and advanced computing centers. System deployment will take place at SDSC on the UC San Diego campus, where several science drivers from astrophysics, molecular dynamics, health sciences and more will participate. For example, Director of the National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research Mark Ellisman will consider how NRP can enhance NCMIR’s work with NSF and other agencies to build multi-scale wiring models of the brain and of the molecular components that make brain cells the most energy-efficient information mediators known. “Success on this project will allow more harmonization with other key NSF initiatives, like NeuroNex2,” noted Ellisman referencing the technology-enabled, team-based neuroscience project, for which he is a group leader. Of special interest to GigaIO’s home state of California, NRP will also support research on the science of wildfires. SDSC’s Chief Data Science Officer Ilkay Altintas, for example, works with researchers to build tools and techniques like WIFIRE for firefighters. NRP will offer urgent computing resources in support of fire-perimeter predictions that can be used on the ground by fire managers to identify where to most effectively deploy firefighting resources to achieve fire containment.

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Thermal management for military aircraft

Raytheon Technologies is working to take the heat off a new generation of fighters

The U.S. military has begun to define requirements for its future fighters. To conduct operations in advanced threat environments, nextgen fighters will need greater range provided by more powerful and fuel-efficient engines; better avionics; and advanced mission systems.

Making all that happen will require engineers to solve several challenges – including how to handle all the heat those high-tech new systems will produce. And the power and thermal management experts at Raytheon Technologies are working on it. With a long history of collaboration on military engines, the company’s Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney businesses are working together with the Raytheon Technologies Research Center to break new ground on power and thermal management solutions that will enable the aircraft of tomorrow, while also supporting upgrades to today’s fleet.

“It’s the difference between success or failure. If you’re not succeeding in getting the heat out of the system, you have a problem,” said Andreas Roelofs, Raytheon Technologies’ vice president of research and development and the director of the Raytheon Technologies Research Center, where experts are contributing to the effort through new designs for heat exchangers, testing and evaluation, composite materials and novel methods of manufacturing. “Without effective heat transfer, you can’t drive top performance.”

The solutions the company is developing will have applications for a range of platforms,

including the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy’s future fighter programs, the U.S. Army’s Future Vertical Lift program, battlefield air mobility, and the F-35 and F-22 modernization programs.

“We want to find the most efficient way to integrate between propulsion, electric power generation, and thermal management,” said Bill Dolan, vice president of engineering and technology at Collins Aerospace’s Power & Controls unit. “Current systems cannot support the increased heat loads that future enhancements will require without detracting from desired aircraft performance, so we are actively exploring new architectures, new packaging, and new methods of integration.”

The Raytheon Technologies team is uniquely positioned to achieve these improvements, with a Tier 1 systems supplier (Collins Aerospace) and an engine manufacturer (Pratt & Whitney) under one roof. Working together, the team can realize gains that would ordinarily be left in the margins, while providing seamless integration and streamlined service to its customers. Rather than working in silos, the Raytheon Technologies structure, digital capabilities, and collective expertise allow it to partner with airframers and military customers in a unique way to produce the best solutions for the warfighter.

“Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney have worked together for decades on military engines, including the F135 propulsion system for the F-35, but this is a new level of collaboration,” said Dolan. “In the past, the environmental control systems and engines for military aircraft have been designed and procured separately, but future aircraft require a far more integrated approach to support all the desired upgrades.

We’re working to co-optimize the thermal and engine cycles together. That’s something that’s never been done before.”

Arnold Engineering Development Complex The F135 engine demonstrated the fulllife capability of its cold section

(components consisting of the fan and compressor) during testing at Arnold Air Force Base in Tennessee.

One example: Collins Aerospace currently supplies Pratt & Whitney with thermal management heat exchangers for the F135, the engine that powers the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lighting II. Collins Aerospace is exploring the potential to produce new heat exchanger designs for future platforms via additive manufacturing. That would reduce weight, drag, and volume, and it could open up new design possibilities within the aircraft’s space constraints.

For nearly a century, Pratt & Whitney has been advancing military propulsion for tactical, strategic, and mobility aircraft. It has powered aircraft used in every major U.S. conflict since its founding – including iconic aircraft such as the SR-71 Blackbird – with engines that have featured significant achievements in military propulsion technology. Now, Pratt & Whitney is drawing on its legacy of innovation to continue to push the boundaries of military propulsion, including in the realm of power and thermal management solutions.

“As we look to the future, power and thermal management system capacity will be a key enabler for next-generation fighter aircraft as well as for capability growth of existing aircraft,” said Dave Stagney, senior director for Pratt & Whitney’s GATORWORKS organization. “Pulling additional power from our engines under existing approaches has a significant negative impact on engine life and maintenance costs. Our integrated approach – leveraging advanced systems architectures but also state-of-the-art digital engine controls – not only results in lower fuel burn and lifecycle costs but also less weight, better packaging, and higher overall aircraft performance.”

While the promise of Raytheon Technologies’ power and thermal management solutions is clear for future military aircraft, the team believes they will have applications for commercial aircraft and ground vehicles as well.

“While we see an initial application for fighters, there is certainly a range of platforms that could benefit from our integrated approach,” said Stagney. “We’ve only just started to scratch the surface of what our collective power and thermal management technologies are capable of.”

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Germany signs on for Five Boeing P-8A Poseidon Aircraft

The German Ministry of Defense today signed a letter of offer and acceptance for five Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft under the U.S.

government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process. With this order, Germany becomes the eighth customer of the multimission maritime surveillance aircraft, joining the United States, Australia, India, the United Kingdom, Norway, Korea, and New Zealand.

“Boeing is honored to provide Germany with the world’s most capable maritime surveillance aircraft,” said Michael Hostetter, Boeing Defense, Space & Security vice president in Germany. “We will continue to work with the U.S. government, the German government, and industry to establish a robust sustainment package that will ensure the German Navy’s P-8A fleet is mission ready.”

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The P-8A Poseidon offers the unique multi-mission capability and is the only aircraft in service and in production that meets the full range of maritime challenges faced by European nations. Deployed around the world with more than 130 aircraft in service, and

Jonischeit GmbH and Nord-Micro GmbH. Recently, Boeing signed agreements with ESG Elektroniksystem-und Logistik-GmbH and Lufthansa Technik to collaborate in systems integration, training, support and sustainment work. By working with local suppliers,

over 300,000 collective flight hours, the P-8A is vital for global anti-submarine warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and search-and-rescue operations.

Boeing will provide support, training, and maintenance solutions that will bring the highest operational availability to fulfill the German Navy’s missions.

“Bringing this capability to Germany is not possible without the contributions of German industry,” said Dr. Michael Haidinger, president of Boeing Germany, Central & Eastern Europe, Benelux, and the Nordics. “With the P-8A, we will expand our collaboration with German companies, create new jobs and contribute to long-term local economic growth.”

As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures, and services commercial airplanes, defense products, and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability, and community impact. Boeing’s diverse team is committed to innovating for the future and living the company’s core values of safety, quality, and integrity.

German companies that already supply parts for the P-8A include Aljo Aluminum-Bau

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Leonardo DRS Receives a $105 Million Award to provide Next-Generation Mission Command Mounted Computing Systems

Leonardo DRS, Inc. announced that it has been awarded its third production delivery order contract for the next generation of U.S. Army mission command computing systems, called the Mounted Family of Computer Systems (MFoCS) II. This modular, scalable system supports the Army’s current modernization strategy for ground combat vehicles, combat service support vehicles, and command posts.

The contract value is worth more than $105 million.

The delivery order was awarded to the Leonardo DRS Land Electronics business, by the Defense Information Technology Contracting Office of the Defense Information Systems Agency on behalf of U.S. Army Program Manager, Mission Command, and U.S. Army Program Executive Office – Command, Control, and Communications – Tactical. Leonardo DRS is in the third year of an up to ten-year contract supporting requirements for U.S. Army Mounted Mission Command and Mounted Computing Operating Environment (MCOE).

The MFoCS II system is a family of common computing and display systems that con-

solidates a range of programs and military computing users. The system supports the continued fielding and upgrades of the Army’s Joint Battle Command – Platform and features critical system capability upgrades, cybersecurity improvements, and multi-touch displays.

This mission-critical tactical server provides a fully integrated hardware, software, and network system supporting Blue Force Tracking on Army and U.S. Marine Corps vehicle platforms.

MFoCS II systems also host an industry-leading embedded cybersecurity architecture.

“We are proud that MFoCS continues to play an important role in the Army’s Network Modernization efforts to bring users the latest in situational awareness on the battlefield,” said Bill Guyan, senior vice president and general manager of the Leonardo DRS Land Electronics business. “MFoCS is a vital component of the Mission Command suite of integrated capabilities used across the U.S. Army and Marine Corps ground fleets, and our team members have designed and manufactured a powerful, reliable, and affordable edge capability that soldiers have come to rely upon.”

The MFoCS system is just one of many critical advanced technologies provided to the U.S. military by Leonardo DRS, that converge modern capabilities today while supporting the evolution to objective modernization requirements for the future.

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Collins Aerospace Selects AdaCore’s QGen Code Generator to Streamline Model-Based Development

AdaCore announces that Collins Aerospace has selected AdaCore’s QGen code generator for Simulink®/Stateflow® models, and the new TQL-1 Enterprise Qualification Package, to advance the development of their FAA-certifiable PerigonTM computer, which is designed to support the future flight control and vehicle management needs of commercial and military rotary/fixed-wing platforms. By using the TQL-1 release of QGen, PerigonTM software developers can save thousands of hours of testing, verification, and certification efforts, while providing additional safety guarantees to their customers. With the adoption of the QGen Enterprise Qualification Package, Collins is now able to streamline its model-based engineering practices.

QGen is the first qualifiable code generator for a safe subset of the Simulink®/Stateflow® model-

PAC-3® And F-35 Team Up To Defeat Threat In U.S. Army Flight Test F-35 used as elevated sensor to enable live-fire of PAC-3

A Lockheed Martin PAC-3 missile successfully intercepted a surrogate cruise missile threat at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), New Mexico, using F-35 as an elevated sensor.

The mid-July U.S. Army flight test marks a first in one flight test – F-35 data contributing to the global track used by the U.S. Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) to live fire a PAC-3.

IBCS, developed by Northrop Grumman, used the F-35 data with other contributing sensor data to initiate the launch of the PAC-3 to neutralize the incoming threat, using combat-proven Hit-to-Kill technology unique to the Lockheed Martin interceptor.

“Threats continue to evolve, and we must always stay ahead of them. This flight test shows the impact of what we can do in Joint All Domain Operations when we use the U.S. Army’s IBCS and communications gateways to bring together the world’s only combat proven hit-tokill interceptor with the world’s most advanced fighter jet,” said Brenda Davidson, vice president 12

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ing languages. QGen automatically generates C or Ada source code directly from the model while precisely preserving its functionality, eliminating the need for manual verification of the resulting source code. For systems requiring the highest assurance, such as commercial aerospace, medical device, and autonomous driving applications, the QGen code generator is being qualified by AdaCore and its partner Verocel at DO-178C Tool Qualification Level 1 (TQL-1), which is the highest level of qualification recognized by the FAA. QGen with TQL-1 allows developers to use the generated code without any manual review, streamlining the critical-system development and verification process. In addition, QGen includes an interactive model-level debugger, displaying the model together with the generated source code to provide a uniquely productive bridge between control engineering and software engineering.

QGen is now available with an Enterprise Qualification Package. This package comes with flexible licensing so that projects of any size, com-

of PAC-3 Programs.

Lockheed Martin is evolving technologies that connect, share, and learn to empower warfighters with the information needed to quickly make decisions that drive action and enable joint all domain operations (JADO).

F-35 intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) track data were used with IBCS for the first time during OFE 19-2 to enhance situational awareness and provide weapons-quality track data to engage airborne targets with a virtual PAC3. In December 2019, F-35s were used to provide track data to IBCS to successfully intercept near-simultaneous air-breathing threats in a test at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

pany-wide, can take advantage of the use of a TQL-1 qualified auto code generator. The package is based on a unique subscription approach, which provides an enhanced qualification kit every year. The same warranties are provided to all projects, including expert support for certification audits. Large organizations that perform many of their development and verification activities through model simulation can now dramatically reduce verification activities on the generated code, reducing costs while streamlining the overall certification process.

“AdaCore is excited to partner with Collins Aerospace to bring to market the first TQL-1 code generator for Simulink,” said JC Bernedo, AdaCore QGen team lead. “AdaCore has worked closely with Collins throughout the development of QGen to ensure it meets the development needs of their most critical aerospace software.”

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Teledyne FLIR Wins Pentagon Contract to Develop First Individual Chemical Detector for Warfighters

Teledyne FLIR, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, announced it has won a contract to develop the first mass-wearable chemical detector for U.S. troops under the Pentagon’s Compact Vapor Chemical Agent Detector (CVCAD) program. The company received $4.0 million in initial funding.

Currently, troops lack the protection of an individually worn sensor. They rely on mostly larger devices and alarms that alert entire units of a local chemical hazard. The new, lightweight CVCAD sensor will provide the benefit of individual protection for every warfighter, particularly all U.S. Soldiers and Marines conducting ground operations.

For CVCAD, Teledyne FLIR will produce a unique dual-sensor device that detects chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals, as well as flammable gases and enriched or depleted oxygen levels that may indicate an explosive atmosphere. The detector will warn Soldiers and Marines of immediate danger. It will determine whether the air is safe to breathe and if troops can fire a weapon without concern for an explosion,

especially in confined spaces. The sensor also can be integrated into an unmanned aerial system for remote reconnaissance.

“This is an important effort for our nation’s chem-bio defense program as toxic weapons represent a serious, growing threat to our military personnel,” said Roger Wells, VP, and general manager of Unmanned Systems & Integrated Solutions at Teledyne FLIR. “Putting a wearable CVCAD sensor on all warfighters will offer an unprecedented level of chemical threat awareness, enabling them to perform their primary mission with far greater safety.

“The award underscores our expertise in intelligent sensing, unmanned systems, and other mission-critical technologies Teledyne FLIR delivers to safeguard lives,” Wells added.

CVCAD is a program of record funded and jointly managed by the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s (DTRA’s) Joint Science and Technology Office, and by the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical Biological and Radiological/Nuclear Defense ( JPEO CBRND).

CVCAD is the fourth installment in the Next Generation Chemical Detector series of programs aimed at fielding a family of improved chemical detectors to U.S. Joint Services, as well as the third award Teledyne FLIR has received in the series. CVCAD is a Joint Other Transaction Authority (OTA) Program designed to rapidly mature prototype devices under DTRA guidance and then transition them to JPEO-CBRND for advanced development and procurement.

The five-year contract consists of a 12-month first phase, the 10-month second phase, plus two follow-on options. Work will be performed at company locations in Pittsburgh and Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

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$62 million award from U.S. Army for the next-generation missile warning system

BAE Systems has received a $62 million contract from the U.S. Army to deliver the next-generation 2-Color Advanced Warning System (2CAWS). The system provides aircrews with advanced threat detection capabilities, improving survivability and mission effectiveness in contested environments. This latest award is part of the Limited Interim Missile Warning System (LIMWS) and encompasses the third of four production lots.

“We are excited to leverage our expertise on Quick Reaction Capability programs to support the U.S. Army - protecting their aircraft and the aircrews who fly them,” said Chris Austin, director of Threat Detection Solutions at BAE Systems.

“2CAWS offers new capabilities that are revolutionizing protection, for both the enduring and future U.S. Army fleets.”

Optimized for size, weight, and power, 2CAWS features an open system architecture, two-color infrared sensors for increased range, and a fiber optic A-kit for faster data transmission. The system processor serves as the high-bandwidth digital backbone of the system. It houses advanced machine learning missile warning algorithms specifically designed for complex, high-clutter environments and rapid threat updates. 2CAWS is compatible with existing U.S. Army aircraft sur-

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vivability equipment, including pilot interfaces and countermeasure systems, allowing for faster installation and integration timelines.

2CAWS builds on BAE Systems’ experience delivering combat-proven aircraft survivability equipment to the U.S. and its allies. The company’s Common Missile Warning System, a member

of its aircraft survivability portfolio, is currently fielded on thousands of U.S. Army platforms and has saved dozens of aircraft and their crews since it was first fielded in 2005.

Work on the LIMWS program will be conducted in BAE Systems’ state-of-the-art facilities in Huntsville, Alabama, and Nashua, New Hampshire.

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Q-CTRL Awared a $3.5M Grant from the Australian Government for Space-based Quantum Sensors

Company to expand the development and manufac-ture of advanced sensors for climate data monitoring, mining, defense applications, and more

Q-CTRL, a startup that applies the principles of control engineering to power quantum technology, has been awarded a $3.5 million grant (USD) from the Australian government’s Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) to expand the development and manufacture of quantum-based remote sensing technologies for space deployment.

Q-CTRL’s quantum sensors leverage the physics of the sub-atomic world to detect and measure extremely small signals in nature. Its quantum-based gravity and magnetic field sensors offer new low-cost Earth observation technologies with global persistent coverage for climate monitoring, minerals, and geospatial intelligence.

The company will apply the MMI funding to

support high-value quantum hardware development with a focus on measurements of Earth’s magnetic field from small-form satellites. When fully developed this capability will provide massive strategic advantages for defense and new scientific insights for geophysics. And by contributing to global geomagnetic models used in navigation, it complements Q-CTRL’s portfolio of space-based quantum sensors for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT).

“We are grateful to the Australian government for its support of our team and technology,” said Q-CTRL CEO Michael J. Biercuk. “The MMI grant is a great validation of how we’re translating decades of science into a valuable business, focused on building and operating the most advanced remote sensing technologies in the world – and off of it.

“Quantum-control-defined sensors will give us a new set of eyes on the Earth to monitor climate health, improve mining productivity and reduce its environmental impact, and bolster our defenses with a completely new tool for gathering geospatial intelligence,” Biercuk said. “The use of advanced sensors in all industries is projected to be a $300-billion market by 2025. We’re excited to capture as

much value as possible and deliver strategic advantage among our Five Eyes partners.”

Biercuk added that Q-CTRL is building the sensor hardware as well as fine-tuning its performance with the company’s unique quantum control software capabilities. The company’s software tools are available broadly in the market and already helping researchers deliver maximum performance from their devices.

Previously, Q-CTRL announced it will be contributing new high-performance remote sensing payloads in upcoming lunar missions and beyond in coordination with FleetSpace Technologies, a nanosatellite startup and founder of the SEVEN SISTERS consortium, composed of Australian firms and academic institutions developing advanced exploration technologies for Earth, the Moon, and Mars.

Q-CTRL has also previously announced a global research and technology development partnership with Advanced Navigation, a leader in AI-based navigational hardware, to conduct joint technical development in support of both the civilian and defense markets focused on quantum-enhanced PNT.

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Cubic Partners with CVEDIA to Enhance AI

About Cubic Corporation Cubic is a technology-driven, market-leading provider of integrated solutions that increase situational understanding for transportation, defense C4ISR, and training customers worldwide to decrease urban congestion and improve the militaries’ effectiveness and operational readiness. Our teams innovate to make a positive difference in people’s lives. We simplify their daily journeys. We promote mission success and safety for those who serve their nation.

About CVEDIA CVEDIA takes the work out of computer vision development. The future of AI is simple - that’s why we built technology to bring your ideas from concept to market in 2-4 weeks. Our market-leading synthetic data technology lays the foundation for more accurate, more powerful, and easier-to-understand AI - all while

integrating into your team’s workflow and hardware.

Media Contact Lauren Jochum Cubic Transportation Systems PH: +1 865.466.3860 lauren.jochum@ cubic.com

Cubic enhances ITS products with synthetic data for AI models Cubic Corporation announced its Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) business division has partnered with CVEDIA, an artificial intelligence (AI) solutions company to enhance its GRIDSMART products.

CTS will utilize CVEDIA’s synthetic data technology to continue to rapidly scale deep learning models for GRIDSMART omnidirectional cameras and other intelligent transportation systems (ITS) solutions. The GRIDSMART prod-

uct pioneered horizon-to-horizon, computer-vision tracking for ITS applications and is installed in nearly 10,000 intersections in more than 1,500 communities globally.

“Safety is the most fundamental need for all drivers and vulnerable road users traveling through intersections. CVEDIA’s AI and synthetic data expertise allow us to both augment our existing AI models and rapidly iterate for new applications,” said Jeff Price, vice president, and general manager of Cubic Transportation Systems’ ITS unit.

GRIDSMART is a complete omnidirectional-imaging, real-time computer vision product comprising hardware and software that works with traffic controllers to actuate intersections and provide rich analytics data. GRIDSMART uses real-time computer vision technology and deep neural net classification to track and discriminate vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians as they approach, enter, and exit intersections.

The system improves safety for bicyclists and pedestrians while simultaneously allowing for improved intersection efficiency with multimodal traffic.

CVEDIA will enhance and build new AI models for object detection and classification, support vulnerable road users (VRU) and safety efforts, and improve vehicle detection and high-resolution localization. CVEDIA’s synthetic technology puts an end to the need for training data, thereby eliminating training bottlenecks such as manual labeling while dramatically improving algorithm performance.

“CVEDIA is excited to expand our relationship with CTS and GRIDSMART,” said Arjan Wijnveen, CEO and co-founder of CVEDIA. “We are the only company that has solved the ‘domain gap’ issue of synthetic versus real data performance. By using our technology for GRIDSMART products, we will further our mission to create a new generation of AI.”

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COTS Journal | July 2021

SPECIAL FEATURE

Storage is at the Center of the Data Revolution

By John Reardon, Editorial Director – RTC Media As it has become clear that the demands of the large datasets needed to support the future of our defense systems will outstrip the communications pathways. The need for storage at the edge that brings data center performance and yet meets the rigors of being deployed is a must.

To affirm that action is not delayed, or impaired through latency issues advances in density, power consumption, intelligence, and security are

paramount. Whether it is through distributed compute, computational storage, or composable storage solutions the need to advance storage is being attacked from many angles.

The need to Protect Data at Rest or DAR has become a hotbed area of focus. The needs in these areas are most often addressed by cryptographic schemes comprised of encryption, critical Securi-

The need for storage at the edge that brings data center performance and yet meets the rigors of being deployed is a must.

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COTS Journal | July 2021

ty parameter generation, and management algorithms. For defense applications that require the most stringent security certificate (NSA Type 1), the security parameters such as the cryptographic key are not publicly known. It is widely believed that the use of transparent and open tools will be the norm for creating security rather than those built by the storage companies themselves. This goal to use Commercial off-the-Shelf (COTS)

should aid in lowering the costs and shorting time to market. This method uses a layered approach that will be configured using layer-specific Capabilities Packages that are validated with an NSA/ NIAP Common Criteria certificate. This will be both a software and hardware layer of encryption.

Developed by NIST, the Cryptographic Module Validation Program defines the requirement and validates the modules to affirm they meet the FIPS 140-2 specification. This process of validation takes several years, but yet when it is completed it will be accepted by various agencies for Data at Rest protection.

Driving storage to the edge As for many applications, data must be screened in real-time as close to the source as possible. From the sensor-to-the-shooter, delays of transmitting large data sets over long distances are just impractical. The ability to achieve real-time analytics at the front can improve operations execution by reducing security threats and response times. The bottleneck of network latency is a challenge and by providing this ability at the edge the system provides compute capabilities that aggregate and analyze data in real-time to deliver immediate and actionable results as close to the theater of operations as possible.

Intelligence Machine Learning and AI have changed the focus to memory-centric applications. As these are rapidly becoming part of every application, focusing on accelerators and algorithms has become a prime concern. An accelerator is designed for a specific application where 3D flash and specific instructions sets reduce the time it takes to process a large data set. These accelerators are examples of how specialized chips are being used to support the CPUs for greater efficiencies.

Studies have shown up to a 10-times or more improvement in energy and processing speed when comparing standard CPU designs. As the applications using Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence are skyrocketing the investments being made in research are opening many new opportunities in accelerator designs.

The only way to go is up

“If I cannot scale X or Y”,

said Luca Fasoli, VP of memory product solutions at Western Digital,

“the only way is to go up.”

This vision for 3D NAND has open the door to a dynamic increase in the speed and density of future generations of storage arrays for both

the data center and the edge. By bringing forth this third dimension within the flash, the ability to place high-capacity storage at the edge has addressed many of the concerns associated with the connected battlefield. But as always, these successes come with new challenges.

By employing the latest in flash technologies as well as moving away from legacy hard drive interfaces such as SATA and SAS, companies like Phoenix International has been able to take advantage of the speed and parallelism to release the latest in TCG compliant AES-256 and FIPS140-2 validated solutions that also support military data elimination. By adopting NVM Express to accelerate the performance of PCIe SSDs, it opens greater potential. Driven by a strong consortium with an eye for the future, manufactures have a broad environment supported across multiple operating systems.

Composable Storage The use of one’s resources is imperative in getting the most out of your solution. Composable infrastructure leverages your entire investment to affirm that disaggregated resources are interconnected over intelligent fabrics. This is achieved through solutions from companies called LIQID. LIQID is used by many hardware providers, as a powerful management software

Memkor BLACK Series

SSDs are designed for applications that require an extreme level of ruggedization. Leveraging Memkor Orange and Blue Series SSD capabilities, and combining with the innovative mechanical design, Memkor Black Series SSDs provide exceptional resilience to the most challenging shock and vibration levels well beyond those required by the most stringent cases of the MIL-STD-810F/G standard. With the capacity ranging from 32GB to 1024GB using either MLC NAND or the highest quality SLC NAND, as well as features such as Data Elimination, the Black Series considerably expands deployment flexibility of the Memkor family of SSDs. All newest generation Memkor BLACK Series SATA models support either TCG Opal or ATA command-based encryption management with FIPS 197 validated encryption engine. Select 256-1024GB models are FIPS 140-2 Level 2 validated. Contact Memkor for more details.

COTS Journal | July 2021

19

tool that dynamically composes physical storage arrays into a pool of bare-metal resources. LIQID dynamically assembles precise bare-metal server configurations for each HPC job, made up from a pool of GPU, Storage or other compute resources. Upon completion, the resources are returned to the pool and are made automatically available for redeployment.

The XPort6175 from Extreme

Engineering supports two rugged or commercial 2.5 in. Solid-State Drives (SSDs) in a single 1.0 in. 3U VPX slot. It provides system integrators quick and easy access to the latest high-density SSD options in a rugged, compact COTS package. The XPort6175’s design mitigates life cycle issues that plague other flash-based storage solutions.

The XPort6175 supports an x2 PCI Express Gen2 interface to the backplane for flexible system connectivity options. Standard configurations of up to 4 TB are available.

The XPort6175 supports several predefined configurations utilizing both commercialgrade and rugged SSDs.

The continued push towards higher density and flash from vendors like Western Digital is combined with others to meet the escalating demands that we face. Hardware vendors continue the drive to offer solutions that set them apart from others. This can be seen in the use of accelerators that meet specific applicational needs. Over the past decade, computing has broken out of its boxy confines to employ CPUs and GPUs with a more application-specific focus. The DPU has become the 3rd member of this team. Widely based on Arm Architecture and tightly coupled to other SoC components, the DPU is a high-performance network interface capable of parsing, processing, and transferring data at line rates. Thought as an offload engine, DPU’s are defining the next generation of SmartNICs.

Citadel

FIPS-certified self-encrypting SSDs, powered by CipherDrive™ from Digistor, is the only low-cost SSDs to integrate pre-tested multifactor authentication, pre-boot authentication (PBA), and hardware encryption. This enables CSfC DAR security solutions to be built with standard laptops, desktops, and tactical servers.

COTS Journal | July 2021

21

SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

Transportable AI Brings HighPerformance, High Bandwidth Decision Making to the Edge

By Tim Miller, Vice President, Product Marketing, OSS The growing list of applications for artificial intelligence (AI) covers a wide area including such things as face recognition, image processing, natural language processing, military decision making, robotic control, natural language translation, data mining . . . the list goes on. Typically, such applications are confined to stationary data centers housing large servers and huge arrays of storage. When AI service is needed at the “edge,” close to the user or situation that will utilize AI support, it has involved

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COTS Journal | July 2021

communication with the AI server and its data via a network—with the inevitable latency that can frustrate in-time response to real situations.

That is now beginning to change. We have become used to sophisticated embedded systems in everything from air conditioners to automobiles to aircraft where high-powered CPUs react to a fixed set of inputs and situations. Getting AI closer to these devices into

systems that are transportable involves the combination of high-end GPU-level processing with massive solid-state storage and minimal network latency between them. In transportable systems, size, weight, and power consumption are critical considerations. One Stop Systems is now rising to meet this challenge involving the growing demands on edge computing (Figure 1 on next page).

These include the surge in data at the edge

Figure 1: AI

resulting from new sensor and data capture technology. These lead not only to more raw data but also to a growing number of situations with variable inputs that must be resolved quickly. Such complex combinations of data cannot be sent to the Cloud to meet the demands of situations like an immanent vehi-

cle collision or a sudden combat event. As an example, in 2018, only 10% of generated data was created and processed at the edge. By 2025, it is expected to grow to 75%. Processing simply must go out to the edge to meet it without having to transport it to another server environment.

A Growing World of Target Applications While we are still a long way from having an AI system in an individually worn backpack, there is a growing and ever more urgent need for AI in transportable applications. One of the most immediate of these is military systems.

Such systems in ships, submarines, aircraft,

Figure 2: The QF-16 is an unmanned version of F-16 Viper-Fighting Falcon COTS Journal | July 2021

23

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and land-based vehicles will need to operate in a defined field, communicate directly with each other, and take immediate action.

Beyond these major applications areas there lie many others including industrial transport, medical, commercial aviation, and

Figure 3: The FSAe-2 provides 51.2TB Flash storage through eight PCIe NVMe Flash boards. The FSAe-2 cables to one or two host computers through PCIe x16 connections operating at 128Gb/s bandwidth. The low-profile, halflength cable adapters support low latency and extreme bandwidth to the Flash Memory.

For example (see figure 3), a recent exercise demonstrated the “Loyal Wingman,” where robotic unmanned F-16 fighter jets operated in tandem with a manned newer F-35. The F-16s could react autonomously to unforeseen events and obstacles. The next step will be to add weapons systems that enable the aircraft, under human command, to autonomously engage enemy objects or pursue objects assigned by a human pilot. Such aircraft networked into a squadron can then fly sharing all their data in one single picture of the data making AI a significant force multiplier.

In large systems like ships, AI can serve as automatic maintenance as well as for autonomous defense and attack operations. Recently a ship was able to sail from San Diego to Hawaii and back without a crew. In addition, the prototype of an autonomous submarine—the 51-foot Orca—can achieve a range of 6500 miles and attack with torpedoes using no human intervention.

Another, perhaps better-known area of opportunity is autonomous vehicles, some early versions of which are already in service. Vehicle automation is proceeding at different levels. The first level simply assists with some operations such as adaptive cruise control or automatic braking in response to traffic conditions. These then proceed to such tasks as automatic lane keeping to the next level which features low-speed traffic jam assistance and on up to autonomous driving for more complex situations, some of which can still require driver intervention. Beyond that is full autonomy (not yet available) where the vehicle handles all driving situations including sign recognition, park assist, and collision avoidance.

telecommunications. Agriculture is also a major target with systems that control automatic watering, the use of autonomous farm vehicles, selective smart harvesting, and herd monitoring. With autonomous operations spread over wide areas of land, buildings, and equipment, this is an area that will require vast numbers of distributed sensors and wireless connectivity.

One Stop Systems is meeting these challenges with the highest performance and most compact systems and components available.

For intercomponent connectivity, this means the highest level of PCI Express starting with Gen 4 and moving to Gen 5. It means using the latest technology GPUs, such as the NVIDIA A100 with 80GB of fast GPU memory, for learning and inference along with fast server-class processors like the ARM Ampere and Intel Ice Lake. Advances in dense, high-speed NVMe storage memory allow data centers based on units like the FSAe-2 (Figure 2) to be placed on the edge close to the processors and sensors for fast multiple terabyte storage access.

With such local storage available over PCIe Gen4 and soon Gen5, the AI transportable system can still maintain linkage with the main data center over networks such as 200GB/s RDMA Ethernet. The result is the ability to place a data center-class product into a mobile environment for instant access to data for inference and learning. Such a system still has linkage to upload and update main data storage at less critical moments. Cooling, power, and weight are all critical aspects that are also addressed in the move toward truly transportable AI in the applications of the future.

COTS Journal | July 2021

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July 2021

COT’S PICKS Rugged PL-50240 IoT Edge Computer Handles Robust Environmental Challenges

with a smart vent that drains water automatically.

The white enclosure helps it to handle wide-temperature ranges from -40 to 70° C to allow reliable operation even in direct sunlight.

WIN Enterprises, Inc. announces the PL-50240.

PL-50240 is a fanless embedded system with IP66 support, smart venting, Wi-Fi / LTE / CANBUS, powered by the Intel® Atom Processors. The unit provides flexible handling of Outdoor IoT, traffic management, environmental energy facilities, weather station support, and operations in extreme climates such as high altitudes, and more.

To support wireless communications, an external SIM slot eases the task of changing out SIMs. A high-gain antenna ensures high-quality communications. Flexible I/O settings, such as a combination port that supports 2 CANs and 2 COMs and selective display ports (HDMI/VGA), helps meet the needs of a wide variety of applications.

For those 24/7 outdoor operations requiring a ruggedized x86 computer that can be deployed unprotected at the production edge, the unit offers a compact platform that delivers on performance and reliability. The PL-50240 is designed to deal with climate changes in all conditions. The PC box device provides the ability to withstand environmental insults such as intrusive water and dust. It is designed

Integrated Windows Ecosphere enables support for a variety of operations. This feature is a built-in, powerful Intel Atom processor that natively supports rich software frameworks further reducing the possibility of performance loss and making installations more flexible.

Applications include data collection and transmission for traffic management, support for green-energy facilities, meteorological station support, shore facilities, support for high-altitude or high-latitude locations. In addition, manufacturing facilities with high humidity and extreme temperature, such as refrigerated environments, are supported.

Features Ruggedized, IP67 grade PC BOX

WIN Enterprises, Inc. www.win-ent.com

clocks along with our secure network-based timing distribution solutions to deploy a highly resilient timing architecture for their transition to 5G.”

gives operators a unified picture of the entire timing architecture and all timing sources.

Microchip Unifies Management of “Terrestrial Time” and “Live-Sky Time” Sources to Enable Resilient Timing for Critical Infrastructure The company’s TimePictraÒ 11 timing infrastructure management system works with its BlueSkyTM GNSS Firewall to create a unified view for a more secure network timing architecture Today’s 5G wireless infrastructure has more complex, higher-density synchronization needs than previous-generation networks and is highly dependent on the integrity of “live-sky” timing signals from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).

Microchip Technology Inc. (Nasdaq: MCHP) today announced it has integrated its BlueSky GNSS Firewall with its TimePictra 11 synchronization monitoring and management platform to protect 5G networks and other critical timing infrastructure from Global Positioning System (GPS) signal jamming and spoofing while providing single-console visibility across the entire timing architecture.

“Microchip’s TimePictra system improves overall situational awareness by managing network timing synchronization as well as our GNSS firewall that improves a network’s resilience through real-time GPS threat detection and mitigation,” said Randy Brudzinski, vice president, Frequency and Time Systems business unit. “Our solution’s scalability is particularly valuable for mobile operators who can use TimePictra to monitor GNSS-based source 26

Intel® Atom® Processor E3900 series Smart Vent (drains off water automatically) Communications (Wi-Fi/LTE/CANBUS) Wide temperature support: -40 to 70° C and Wide voltage capability: 9~36V 4GB DDR3 onboard, 64G eMMC Optional Wi-Fi, LTE, CanBus BIOS with integrated security boot Outdoor IoT Edge Computing

COTS Journal | July 2021

In addition to requiring precise timing from GNSS sources, critical infrastructure operators need accurate timing to be distributed across their networks so they can ensure reliable performance and service delivery. TimePictra provides full control and monitoring for resilient timing architectures created with Microchip’s broad product portfolio including its TimeProviderÒ 4100 grandmasters for 5G network synchronization. It also monitors the health and performance of these networks’ distributed Precision Time Protocol (PTP) client clocks. Integrating BlueSky GNSS Firewall management into the TimePictra console view now

Beyond supporting 5G deployments, TimePictra enables aviation, railway, and maritime ports with a regional, national or global view of GNSS reception. TimePictra in combination with BlueSky GNSS Firewalls monitors key GNSS observables to detect live sky signal anomalies and deliver early alerting so that operators can engage alternate procedures that do not rely on GNSS. These capabilities are increasingly important where public safety is dependent on the position and navigation for daily operations.

Microchip www.microchip.com

July 2021

COT’S PICKS BittWare Extends IA-Series of Intel® Agilex™ FPGA-based Accelerator Product Line to address Data-Intensive Compute, Network and Storage Workloads

BittWare, a Molex company, announced the expansion of its IA-Series of FPGA accelerators featuring Intel® Agilex™ FPGAs. The BittWare IA-Series of FPGA accelerators are designed to help customers develop and deploy next-gen edge and cloud applications, with greater flexibility and speed while reducing risk.

The new IA-420F low-profile PCIe card and IA220-U2 computational storage processor join the IA-840F to provide a choice of three form factors popular in data center and network infrastructure.

The trio of products are fully PCIe Gen 4 compliant and include application reference designs, in addition, to support for the oneAPI™ programming model, which allows hardware developers the ability to create domain-specific FPGA platforms and application developers to build cross-architecture, single-source compilation designs.

“BittWare is excited to leverage Intel’s Agilex

technology to support three of the most prevalent accelerator form factors used for data center and network infrastructure,” said Craig Petrie, vice president, Sales, and Marketing of BittWare. “As a part of Molex, we are uniquely positioned to drive technology innovations in enterprise-class products, which empowers our customers to deploy Intel Agilex FPGA-based solutions at the card and server-level with reduced risk and cost.”

According to Gartner’s Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2020: Empowered Edge, by 2023, more than 50% of enterprise-generated data will be created and processed outside the data center or cloud, up from less than 10% in 2019.[1] FPGAs play an increasing role at the edge where real-time data with critical latency, bandwidth, and security requirements need to be processed efficiently.

Within the cloud, FPGA heterogeneous computing solutions are required to process vast amounts of both structured and unstructured data efficiently through high-performance computing and big data analytics to derive value and orchestrate smart devices in the field.

Expanded Accelerator Family Increases Deployment Flexibility The new IA-420F low-profile PCIe card is de-

signed to address SmartNIC and computational storage use cases. This half-height, half-length single-width PCIe card is compatible with almost all server and edge platforms. The IA-420F supports multiple 100G network ports for network and sensor processing applications with high data ingest requirements. A full 16-lanes of PCIe Gen 4 provides customers with up to twice the bandwidth normally available for FPGA-augmented systems, thereby making it compelling for data analytic workloads.

The IA-220-U2 computational storage processor is designed to address NVMe computational storage workloads. Conforming to the popular U.2 form factor, the IA-220-U2 features an Intel Agilex FPGA with an embedded ARM processor subsystem and support for PCIe Gen 4. This energy-efficient, flexible compute node can be deployed within conventional U.2 NVMe storage arrays and is chassis front-serviceable. The IA-220-U2 also can serve as a deployment-friendly computational storage processor within data center platforms that have a surplus of U.2 slots, but no available PCIe slots.

The IA-420F and IA-220-U2 join the IA-840F full-size PCIe card, which was introduced in November 2020, to provide a complete family of solutions for the most demanding data center environments.

“Intel Agilex FPGAs are delivering industry-leading performance and power efficiency, and with cross-platform tools including the oneAPI™ toolkits, offer customers the adaptability and agility to innovate for diverse workload transitions in 5G, network, cloud, and edge,” said Deepali Trehan, vice president Data Platforms Group and General Manager, Programmable Solutions Group Product Marketing at Intel. “BittWare and Molex, both members of the Intel Partner Alliance program, solve some of the toughest data-centric compute, network, and storage challenges.

By taking advantage of Intel Agilex FPGAs and the oneAPI toolkits, BittWare can successfully help transition enterprise customers from proofsof-concept to volume deployments while addressing qualification, validation, life cycle management, and support requirements.”

BittWare www.bittware.com

COTS Journal | July 2021

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July 2021

COT’S PICKS Safety-certifiable 3U modules lower risk and reduce integration costs for critical avionics applications

Mercury Systems Inc. announced its new line of safety-certifiable 3U OpenVPX™ SOSA-aligned avionics modules designed to accelerate critical avionics applications and streamline subsystem development and platform safety certification.

mercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) elements complete with hardware and software artifacts to deliver smooth performance and simplify integration. DO-178-certifiable developmental board support packages (BSPs) support Green Hills Software, Lynx Software Technologies, WindRiver, and other real-time operating systems (RTOS) software to streamline integration and the certification process.

“Designing, building, testing, and certifying flightready mission computers is a costly and time-consuming endeavor,” said Jay Abendroth, vice president, Mercury Mission. “System architects require open standard, safety-certifiable rugged boards to accelerate subsystem development, lower risk, and support advanced mission workloads like artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and converged applications. Using Mercury’s purpose-built, proven DAL-certifiable SOSA-aligned 3U OpenVPX modules, designers can expedite the certification process while saving time and money.”

“Aerospace and defense customers are looking to quickly deploy and certify subsystems with safety-critical and platform technologies,” said Pavan Singh, vice president of product management for Lynx Software Technologies. “Our decade-long partnership with Mercury enables us to dramatically accelerate time to deployment, reduce development cost, and maximize interoperability for mission-critical avionics applications.” The SBC3515-S module included in the new product lineup is the first certifiable Intel® Core™ i7 single-board computer with the latest generation processor on the market, delivering up to 40x better performance than traditional safety-certifiable processing boards.

The rugged processing, video, storage, and power modules feature BuiltSAFE™ proven, modular, com-

“Mercury has been an Intel partner for many years, providing ruggedized systems based on Intel

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COTS Journal | July 2021

semiconductor products to the aerospace and defense markets,” said Tony Franklin, general manager, Intel Federal, and Aerospace Group. “We are excited to grow our partnership to include the use of Intel’s high-performance multicore processors to accelerate critical avionics applications. Systems developed by Mercury with Intel hardware and the Intel Airworthiness Evidence Package can reduce development time for avionic subsystems while lowering risks and costs.”

“As the only real-time operating system to be part of a successful multicore certification to DO-178C and CAST-32A, the INTEGRITY-178® tuMP™ RTOS enables maximum utilization of the high-performance Intel cores even in mixed-criticality systems, up to and including DAL A,” said Richard Jaenicke, director of marketing for safety and security-critical products at Green Hills Software. “Our collaboration with Mercury Systems enables system integrators to develop, certify, and deploy multicore avionics systems with the lowest risk, lowest overall cost, and fastest time to deployment.”

Mercury Systems Inc. www.mrcy.com

July 2021

COT’S PICKS Mil-Spec Portable Computer now with Add-On Power Attachment for Military Simulation Training and C4ISR Offered

by Acme Portable

Acme Portable Machines Inc. is introducing the NotePAC III PRO V rugged laptop - now complete with battery power. The new Power PAC is a 2.75” deep accessory that hooks seamlessly onto the back of the system, providing 4+ hours of battery life.* The kit includes 6x 81Whr hot-swappable batteries. Theoretically, the system can now run extendedly without ever losing power. By physically mating to the laptop to form a single transportable package, the system is still robust, reliable, and ergonomic to use.

The batteries can be charged in two ways: with an external charger provided by Acme Portable or by the system while attached. Acme provides a 600w 100-240V AC-DC power adapter putting out 19V and 31.6A through a mil-spec power connector. This power adapter can power the system while simultaneously charging all 6x batteries.

The NotePAC III PRO V is now easily the most powerful computer in its class. Triple 17.3” 144Hz stereoscopic displays with a 16 core Xeon, 2x expansion slots, and 4x hot-swappable SSD drive bays are protected by a machined aluminum chassis. Dual 10G Fiber connections are available for Network Attached Storage (SAN/NAS), and a CAC card reader makes securing access convenient. Additional 10G fiber ports and 4x Gigabit ports mean you never run out of connectivity. Three HDMI output ports allow all three of the displays to be duplicated as required in the CIC. The NotePAC III has passed Mil-Std 461 (EMC/EMI), DTE-901E (Shock/Torpedo Strike), and 810G (environmental).

*Actual run-time may vary according to environmental conditions, workload, battery age, etc.

With everything maxed out, 100% CPU utilization, and Passmark system test maxing out the stress, battery life still lasts for over 1.5hrs.

Acme Portable Machines Inc. www.acmeportable.com

The NotePAC III PRO V is ideal for GPU-intensive applications such as security and surveillance, geospatial intelligence, UAV command and control, and 3D simulation training. The add-on battery kit allows for uninterrupted use in the field for any applications that demand rugged reliable processing power in a highly portable package.

COTS Journal | July 2021

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July 2021

COT’S PICKS Supermicro Boosts Performance for HPC and AI Applications with Optimized Servers Featuring New NVIDIA A100 80GB PCIe GPUs, High Performance 200G Networking Accelerates HPC and AI Applications

Super Micro Computer, Inc. announces a wide range of Supermicro servers will support the latest NVIDIA technologies. Both 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors or 3rd Gen AMD EPYC™ proces-

Interested in getting your copy of

sor-based servers will be available that incorporate the new NVIDIA® A100 80GB PCIe Tensor Core GPUs. With these new technologies, Supermicro systems will speed up HPC simulations and analytics applications. Moreover, AI applications, including training, inference, and recommendation engines, will run faster than previous generations of systems.

Supermicro servers, designed with a Building Block Solutions® approach, give Supermicro a first to market advantage when incorporating new technologies. State-of-the-art accelerated computing options

can be quickly integrated and tested, bringing faster and more powerful systems to demanding customers quicker than other vendors.

“Supermicro has a long history of bringing systems supporting the latest NVIDIA products to market faster than other server manufacturers,” said Charles Liang, president, and CEO, Supermicro. “The new products from NVIDIA will give our customers the ability to solve complex HPC and AI challenges much faster than before, decreasing their TCO. We continually bring application-optimized servers with the latest technologies available, such as our GPU and SuperBlade® systems, to help accelerate customer’s HPC and AI workloads.”

J O U R N A L

The new NVIDIA A100 PCIe 80GB GPU will enable faster execution of AI and HPC applications, as bigger models can be stored in the GPU memory. In addition, future systems will include networking between high-performance servers with current and future InfiniBand capabilities.

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RTC Media

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www.rtc-media.com 30

COTS Journal | July 2021

The GPU SuperServer SYS-420GP-TNR with dual 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors supports up to ten single or double width GPUs, including the new NVIDIA A100 80GB PCIe GPUs. Also, the AS -4124GSTNR server contains dual AMD EPYC 7003 processors with up to eight single or double width GPUs, with the new NVIDIA A100 80GB PCIe GPUs. These new 80GB

GPUs from NVIDIA will enable more extensive data sets to be held in memory, accelerating computationally-intensive HPC and AI applications.

“Supercomputing has the potential to transform entire industries and help solve some of the toughest problems they face,” said Dion Harris, lead technical product marketing manager, accelerated computing at NVIDIA. “The extreme performance of the NVIDIA A100 80GB PCIe Tensor Core GPUs and NVIDIA NDR InfiniBand supported by Supermicro servers provides researchers with the unparalleled acceleration

required to pursue the toughest industrial HPC challenges in the world.”

Multiple NVIDIA A100 80GB PCIe devices can be installed in a range of Supermicro systems, allowing for flexible AI computing. By implementing NVIDIA’s Multi-Instance GPU (MIG) technology, organizations can guarantee a high quality of service for single applications and as a service for multiple users concurrently. In addition, with the larger memory available, data will not have to be moved between CPU memory and GPU memory, allowing for higher GPU utilization.

Leveraging NVIDIA NDR 400Gb/s InfiniBand technology with In-Networking Computing, networking tasks are offloaded, enabling a dramatic leap in performance is enabled, which is required for HPC, AI, and hyper-scale cloud infrastructures. The new networking performance will allow applications designed to run on multiple systems, such as the Supermicro SuperBlade and BigTwin® servers, to produce results faster, enabling new insights into complex problems.

Integrated systems combining industry-leading cards, cables, and switches on a complex HPC application will soon be able to share data and communicate twice as fast as before.

Super Micro Computer, Inc. www.supermicro.com

July 2021

COT’S PICKS Xilinx Versal HBM Series with Integrated High Bandwidth Memory Tackles Big Data Compute Challenges in the Network and Cloud

Latest in Versal ACAP series delivers unmatched convergence of fast memory, secure connectivity, and adaptable compute in a single platform for data center and network operators Xilinx, Inc. introduced the Versal™ HBM adaptive compute acceleration platform (ACAP), the newest series in the Versal™ portfolio. The Versal HBM series enables the convergence of fast memory, secure connectivity, and adaptable compute in a single platform. Versal HBM ACAPs integrate the most advanced HBM2e DRAM, providing 820GB/s of throughput and 32GB of capacity for 8X more memory bandwidth and 63% lower power than DDR5 implementations. The Versal HBM series is architected to keep up with the higher memory needs of the most compute-intensive, memory-bound applications for data center, wired networking, test and measurement, and aerospace and defense.

“Many real-time, high-performance applications are critically bottlenecked by memory bandwidth and operate at the edge of their power and thermal limits,” said Sumit Shah, senior director, Product Management and Marketing at Xilinx. “The Versal HBM series eliminates those bottlenecks to provide our customers with a solution that delivers significantly higher performance and reduced system power, latency, form factor, and total cost of ownership for data center and network operators.”

High bandwidth, secure connectivity Built on the foundation of the Versal Premium series, Versal HBM devices incorporate power-optimized networking cores for high bandwidth, secure connectivity. The Versal HBM series offers 5.6Tb/s of serial bandwidth with 112Gb/s PAM4 transceivers,

2.4Tb/s of scalable Ethernet bandwidth, 1.2Tb/s of line rate encryption throughput, 600Gb/s of Interlaken connectivity, and 1.5Tb/s of PCIe® Gen5 bandwidth with built-in DMA, supporting both CCIX and CXL. This broad set of hardened IP provides off-theshelf, multi-terabit networked connectivity for a breadth of protocols, data rates, and optical standards, enabling optimal power and performance and the fastest time to market.

Adaptable compute As an adaptive, heterogeneous compute platform, the Versal HBM series is engineered to accelerate a wide range of workloads with large data sets, integrating adaptable engines for low-latency hardware parallelism, DSP engines for AI inference and signal processing, and scalar engines for embedded compute, platform management, and secure boot and configuration. Unlike fixed-function accelerators, the Versal HBM series can dynamically reconfigure hardware in milliseconds to adapt to evolving algorithms and emerging protocols, eliminating the need for hardware redesign and re-deployment.

Transforming networks and data centers This convergence of adaptable compute with high bandwidth memory and multi-terabit connectivity makes next-generation cloud acceleration and secures networking a reality. Versal HBM ACAPs deliver superior performance and power efficiency for big data workloads including fraud detection, recommendation engines, database acceleration, data analytics, financial modeling, and deep learning inference for natural language processing (NLP).

By improving runtimes by orders of magnitude over modern server-class CPUs, while supporting 4X larger data sets,2 users can deploy applications with massive, connected data sets with far fewer and lower-cost servers.

Similarly, Versal HBM ACAPs deliver network scalability and performance for 800G routers, switches, and security appliances. A traditional network processing unit (NPU) implementation of an 800G next-generation firewall would require multiple NPU devices and DDR modules, whereas a single Versal HBM ACAP eliminates external memories and performs packet processing, security processing, and adaptable AI-infused anomaly detection at dramatically lower power and a fraction of the form factor. The series delivers major CapEx and OpEx savings for cloud and network providers by enabling customers to use fewer devices and systems to implement their applications.

Xilinx, Inc. wwww.xilinx.com

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July 2021

COT’S PICKS Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Gains Approval for More Government Workloads

With new FedRAMP High JAB and DISA IL5 accreditations, more of Oracle’s cloud services are now available to US government organizations Oracle is making more cloud services available to customers in its US Government regions. Specifically, Oracle has attained FedRAMP High Provisional Authority to Operate (P-ATO) from the Joint Authorization Board (JAB) and Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Impact Level 5 (IL5) accreditation for IaaS and PaaS, which include an extended set of cloud services for government customers to leverage, including Oracle Digital Assistant and Oracle Cloud VMware Solution, to boost efficiency without straining budgets or compromising security.

Oracle Digital Assistant can help government offices address citizen questions and concerns in real-time using conversational interfaces for web-based or mobile cloud and on-premises applications. The Or-

AMP unveils Ultra-Low Latency H.264 Video Streamer to industrial and defense industries

acle Cloud VMware Solution gives customers control to extend or migrate existing virtualized on-premises environments to the cloud using familiar VMware tools. The solution delivers FedRAMP High security, predictable costs, and a single source for technical support along with clear authority over systems control.

“Oracle continues to double-down on our commitment to equip government customers with innovative, highly secure, high-performing cloud services,” said Rand Waldron, VP Global Government, Oracle.

“With the addition of Oracle Digital Assistant and Oracle Cloud VMWare Solution into OCI government regions, the U.S. DoD and other federal customers can unlock innovation in the cloud with the peace of mind that these tools meet the high levels of compliance and security standards. We look forward to expanding our cloud offerings to support the mission and purpose of U.S. government agencies.”

Expanded services for better efficiency, productivity, and cost-savings The following cloud services are also now included in the list of services covered by the FedRAMP High JAB-ATO and the DISA IL5 accreditation: API Gateway; Oracle Cloud Functions; Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Data Flow and Data Science Platform; Data Transfer Services; Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Email Delivery; Secrets in Vault; Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Cloud Shell and Oracle Cloud Marketplace. Other recently accredited features include File Storage Service; Oracle Resource Manager (Orchestration); Announce-

Advanced Micro Peripherals has announced the release of the XStream-SD4, a stand-alone, ultra-low latency H.264 video

ments; Terraform Provider; Oracle Kubernetes Engine; UX/YUM Repo; Notification Service; Events Service; Streaming Service; OCI Registry (OCIR); OCI Monitoring; Autoscaling; Compute Monitoring; Private Endpoints; and Metering and Usage Reports.

FedRAMP is the federal government program that sets the standard for assessing, authorizing, and monitoring cloud systems’ security. Similarly, DISA offers a variety of compliance and security assessments to accredit cloud systems for use by DoD and federal organizations. By attaining accreditations from both FedRAMP and DISA, Oracle’s government customers can be assured that Oracle’s cloud offerings have been thoroughly reviewed and approved by leading technology officials.

To attain these accreditations, Oracle utilized an accredited Third-Party Assessment Organization to complete a readiness assessment of the cloud service offerings for the authorization process. The service offerings were then reviewed by technical representatives from DISA for Impact Level 5 accreditation; and by the FedRAMP’s Joint Advisory Board – comprised of technical reviewers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Defense (DoD), and General Services Administration (GSA) – for FedRAMP High authorization.

Oracle www.oracle.com

streamer with four NTSC/PAL/RS-170 composite sources.

“This is a highly ruggedized SWaP optimized solution that is tailor-made for rapid deployment for even the harshest military and industrial applications,” wrote company founder and CEO Lee Foss. “We are delighted to add the XStream-SD4 to our catalog of proven technology solutions that have helped so many of our OEM partners.”

The XStream-SD4 features a dedicated hardware compression engine capable of encoding all four video channels at full size and full frame-rate with under 40ms latency. It also supports four channels of audio that can be captured and streamed with the video data.

Advanced Micro Peripherals Ltd. www.ampltd.com

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COTS Journal | July 2021

July 2021

COT’S PICKS Cigistor® Introduces the First Fully Intergrated, Commercially Priced SSDs to Bring Military-Grade Protection to Classified Data at Rest

DIGISTOR Citadel™ SSDs set a new standard for simplicity of implementation for a full NSA Data at Rest security layer that protects up to the US Government’s Secret classification level.

DIGISTOR introduced its innovative line of DIGISTOR Citadel™ secure self-encrypting SSDs. The new SSDs, powered by CipherDrive™, is the first to deliver a complete security layer to encrypt and protect Data at Rest (DAR) in a low-cost, easily deployed form factor.

The proliferation of sensor and IoT data, cross-domain computing, and information aggregation in the DoD, intelligence, and critical infrastructure communities, are driving a rapid increase in cyberattacks. Until now, DAR endpoint security solutions have been either too complex or expensive for widescale deployment.

“With President Biden’s executive order to improve the country’s cybersecurity and protect government networks, Federal agencies are racing to create and deploy reliable DAR security solutions,” CDSG President and CEO Randal Barber said. “Our easily-integrated DIGISTOR Citadel SSDs deliver hardware-speed encryption and security technology needed to achieve one of the highest security classifications at COTS prices, ensuring that government agencies can meet the mandate quickly, effectively, and more affordably than legacy solutions.”

“We see a critical need to elevate and maintain the highest levels of security for data at rest among government and many corporate users,” said Jeff Janukowicz, Research Vice President, Solid State Drives and Enabling Technologies, IDC. “Meeting this need requires a seamless, affordable solution that works with virtually any system to deliver some of the highest levels of protection available.”

Citadel SSDs, based on SSDs certified to FIPS 140-2 Level 2 and Common Criteria (certification pending), lower the barrier to adopting DAR security solutions for those who have been stymied by expensive, specialized systems. Citadel SSDs are available in standard M.2 and 2.5-inch form factors, as well as SATA and NVMe interfaces, for commonly used laptops, desktops, and tactical

servers. In addition to helping meet cost targets, Citadel self-encrypting SSDs contain an important security layer: pre-boot authentication, which requires that an authorized user unlock the SSD with a password or smart card before the computer can see the drive or boot up. Citadel’s authorization acquisition (AA) and encryption engine (EE) capabilities make Citadel SSDs ideal for a CSfC solution to secure information up to the US Government’s Secret classification level.

“We are very excited that CDSG chose the NSA-listed CipherDrive pre-boot authentication technology to incorporate into its DIGISTOR Citadel secure SSD solution,” said Kurt Lennartsson, Managing Partner of KLC Group.

“CipherDrive is FIPS and Common Criteria certified and its combination with the DIGISTOR FIPS-certified SSDs creates a seamless layer of hardware-speed encryption paired with advanced multi-factor authentication and key management.”

“Our military and government customers are clamoring for cost-effective DAR security solutions,” said Michael Bowling, CEO of Trenton Systems. “The new Citadel SSDs will be an essential addition to our forward-deployed servers and systems for aerospace and defense programs and applications operating in harsh environments globally.”

Citadel SSDs expand the DIGISTOR secure SSD product family, which includes FIPS-certified SSDs and TCG Opal-compliant SSDs. These TAA-compliant SSDs provide a range of options to meet the requirements of agencies that may not need the rigorous DAR security of Citadel.

DIGISTOR https://digistor.com

C o n c u r re n t ly, CDSG announced that Trenton Systems will offer Citadel SSDs in its next and future generations of rugged servers, workstations, embedded systems, storage systems, and other products for the government market.

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Index

ADVERTISERS

Company Page # Website Alphi Technology Corporation .................................. 28 ............................................ www.AlphiTech.com AIM ......................................................................... 28 .......................................... www.aim-online.com Annapolis Micro Systems ........................................ 29 ........................................ www.annapmicro.com Broadcom .............................................................. . IFC ............................................ www.broadcom.com Diamond Systems .................................................... 13/31 ............................... www.diamondsystems.com GET Engineering .................................................... . 24 ............................................... www.getntds.com Great River Technology ........................................... 4 ..................................... www.greatrivertech.com Kingston Technology ............................................. .

25 ............................................. www.kingston.com New Wave DV ......................................................... 10 ........................................ www.newwavedv.com MPL ...................................................................... 33 ..................................................... www.mpl.com Holo Industries ...................................................... 5/BC .............................................. www.holoind.com OSS ........................................................................ 17/IBC .................................. www.onestopsystems.com Pentek .................................................................. 20 ................................................. www.pentek.com PICO Electronics, Inc ............................................. 11/24 .................................... www.picoelectronics.com Pixus Technologies ................................................. 16 .............................. www.pixustechnologies.com Sealevel ................................................................. 15 .............................................. www.sealevel.com SECO ...................................................................... 21 ................................................... www.seco.com U-Reach ................................................................. 14 ........................................ www.ureach-usa.com Versalogic .............................................................. 34 ............................................. www.versalogic.com COTS Journal (ISSN#1526-4653) is published monthly at; 3180 Sitio Sendero, Carlsbad, CA. 92009.

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COTS Journal | July 2021