COT Journal, January 2022 by RTC Media

January 2022, Volume 24 – Number 1 • cotsjournalonline.com

The Journal of Military Electronics & Computing

JOURNAL

Transitioning Commercial Drone Applications into the Military Defense Market: What You Need to Know Rapidly Moving Novel Radar Capabilities from Software Simulation to Hardeware Testbeds

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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 20

Transitioning Commercial Drone Applications into the Military Defense Market: What You Need to Know By Edmond M. Hennessy, Performance Marketing Group

SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT 24

DEPARTMENTS 6 8

Publisher’s Note 2022 Mil-Aero Forecast Defense Electronics Spending Seeks to Overcome COVID-19 Setbacks in Key Applications The Inside Track

Rapidly Moving Novel Radar Capabilities from Software Simulation to Hardeware Testbeds By Jeremy Twaits, Solutions Marketing Manager, NI

COT’S PICKS 28

Editor’s Choice for January

Cover Image Oshkosh Defense receives $591.6 Million JLTV order to continue filling capability gaps for U.S. military and international allies

COTS Journal | January 2022

The Journal of Military Electronics & Computing

JOURNAL EDITORIAL

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COTS Journal | January 2022

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

By John Sturm, Vice President, Sales, Vicor Corporation

2022 Mil-Aero Forecast

Defense Electronics Spending Seeks to Overcome COVID-19 Setbacks in Key Applications The ongoing effects of COVID-19 have had a dampening effect on military R&D programs, indicating that 2022 will see more military and aerospace electronics spending earmarked for legacy defense programs and block upgrades rather than for new platform development. The effects of COVID are hard to underestimate. During the peak of the first and second surges, significant dollars were diverted from R&D and programs to

COTS Journal | January 2022

building field hospitals and otherwise fighting the pandemic. Rather than committing to long-lead upgrades in an environment where it may have been difficult to procure parts, the defense department recommitted dollars to older programs and then started specifying requirements for future designs that are essentially skipping a generation. There are some exceptions, however. One is the continued development of intelligence, surveillance,

and reconnaissance (ISR) technology, which Vicor expects will reach $63 billion by 2026 growing at a 6.2 percent CAGR – more than twice the rate of global military spending rates. These ISR platforms require higher power density and total power so they can operate over longer ranges and at higher resolution, whether that’s in a line-of-sight or non-line-of-sight deployment. We’ll see new ISR technology deployed across a variety of platforms both manned and unmanned, which can gather intelligence and collect data in places where it’s too dangerous to send people. Unmanned vehicle development will also continue to expand at an increased rate. This will include aerial, ground, and amphibious vehicles for ISR, offensive and defensive weapons, and practical work. This market is estimated to reach nearly $17 billion by 2027 with a 7.9 percent CAGR. In fact, those efforts are spawning a counter-trend in the areas of radar and laser development. From a power and cost perspective, it’s more efficient to target and train a laser on a small drone or UAV rather than to intercept it using a $100,000 or $1 million missile. Vicor expects radars and laser weapons will grow at a 7.5 percent pace through 2026 to about $24.5 billion. This will be driven by adding systems such as targeting lasers, defensive

lasers, radar systems for defensive and offensive surveillance, and communications and encryption on existing platforms to add more features and capability As the world continues to grapple with the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the everpresent concerns over the global economy and security, these are among the applications that Vicor expects will represent the primary areas of growth and R&D investment in the year ahead.

Unmanned vehicle development will also continue to expand at an increased rate. This will include aerial, ground, and amphibious vehicles for ISR, offensive and defensive weapons, . . . COTS Journal | January 2022

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DDC-I’s Multicore Deos RTOS Powers New Honeywell Anthem Integrated Flight Deck Safety-critical multicore RTOS gives best-in-class flight deck unprecedented modularity, scalability, and reuse with the highest performance per watt

DDC-I, a leading supplier of safety-critical operating systems and tools, today announced that its DO-178 Deos™ multicore real-time operating system (RTOS) has been selected by Honeywell to host its new Honeywell Anthem cloud-native cockpit system. Deos features such as fine-grain cache partitioning, binary modularity, and reusable certification evidence give Honeywell Anthem the ability to set the new gold standard for future flight deck systems. Larry Miller, Honeywell’s Real-Time Operating Systems Chief Engineer, stated, “Deos plays a central role in the Honeywell Anthem Flight Deck. It yields excellent performance on modern, power-efficient processors while also offering unique capabilities that give us better control of core-tocore contention. This allows us to meet our safety objectives with deterministic operation while at the same time reducing the worst-case CPU utilization of our applications. Deos boost processing performance by implementing fine-grained cache partitioning in software rather than hardware, which gives us access to faster and more efficient processors. As a result, the Honeywell Anthem

COTS Journal | January 2022

system enjoys a compelling advantage in throughput per watt over other competitive offerings. In addition, Deos’ capabilities promote software modularity and binary reuse, which reduces our verification and validation complexity and lowers our certification cost, thereby reducing the effort needed to reapply Honeywell Anthem from one aircraft type to the next. We have decades of experience using Deos in numerous safety-critical Honeywell products, and it has a strong technical pedigree.” Honeywell Anthem is an always-on, cloud-connected cockpit system that improves autonomy, flight efficiency, operations, safety, and comfort. Anthem’s flight deck combines unprecedented connectivity with an intuitive smartphone-like interface, crystal clear 2k display, and modern aesthetics comparable to those in the high-end automotive market. With a few finger swipes, pilots or operators, whether in the cockpit or on their device at home, can reconfigure screens and information and customize the layout of digital displays within the cockpit just like they would on their smart device. “DDC-I’s Deos is a mature, robust DO-178C DAL A verified avionics platform that has already flown for millions of hours in Honeywell systems

aboard commercial air transport, business jet, military aircraft, and helicopters,” said Greg Rose, vice president of marketing and product management at DDC-I. “We are excited to have been selected by Honeywell for this next generation of flight deck systems. Advanced features like multicore capabilities that address CAST-32A objectives, low-jitter deterministic operation, and reusable certification evidence make Deos the perfect safety-critical environment for developing, certifying, and deploying advanced avionics systems like Anthem.” Deos is a safety-critical embedded RTOS that employs patented cache partitioning, memory pools, and safe scheduling to deliver higher CPU utilization than any other certifiable safety-critical COTS RTOS on multi-core processors. First certified to DO-178 DAL A in 1998, Deos provides a FACE™ Conformant Safety Base and Safety Extended Profiles that features hard real-time response, time and space partitioning, and Rate Monotonic, ARINC-653, and POSIX interfaces. SafeMC technology extends Deos’ advanced capabilities to multiple cores, enabling developers of safety-critical systems to achieve best-in-class multi-core performance without compromising safety-critical task response and guaranteed execution time. SafeMC employs a bound multiprocessing (BMP) extension of the symmetric multiprocessing architecture (SMP), safe scheduling, and cache partitioning to minimize cross-core contention and interference patterns that affect the performance, safety criticality, and certifiability of multi-core systems. These features enable avionics systems developers to address issues that could impact the safety, performance, and integrity of a software airborne system as specified by the Certification Authorities Software Team (CAST) in its Position Paper CAST-32A for Multi-core Processors.

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BAE Systems awarded $154 million to deliver engineering and technical integration services to U.S. Navy

Under the contract awarded in November, BAE Systems will support the rapid integration and sustainment of command, control, communications, computers, combat systems, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems for the Special Communications Mission Systems Division.

production and systems engineering, and installation services at the customer’s Special Communication Rapid Integration Facility. They deliver high-quality, integrated components and systems for small and large craft, commercial and militarized vehicles, transit cases,

radio, and mobile communications, fixed base stations, command centers, and intelligence systems. The completed systems are supplied to the Navy, Special Operations Forces, the Department of Homeland Security, and other Department of Defense and non-defense agencies.

data and increased situational awareness they need to make informed, split-second decisions in evolving threat conditions against cyber-sophisticated adversaries at the tactical edge of the battlefield. The demonstration included over a dozen technologies integrated into an operationally relevant joint force use case.

security levels and seamlessly provided appropriate data to real and simulated ground and air platforms. This data was securely exchanged over four live networks.

“Those on the front lines need rapid integration of the latest technologies to ensure open, clear, secure, and reliable communications,” said Lisa Hand, vice president, and general manager of BAE Systems Integrated Defense Solutions. “Our C5ISR experts will provide custom solutions for military and commercial based communications platforms that will enable enhanced capabilities within the U.S. and abroad.” BAE Systems’ production and technical leads provide lifecycle sustainment, front-end

Collins Aerospace demonstrates Live Networked Joint Fires in the multidomain battlespace Collins Aerospace demonstrated potential applications of resilient networking, intelligent sensing, and secure autonomous processing at the tactical edge to support Army modernization and CJADC2 (Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control) initiatives for the Army and joint services. The demonstration took place on December 9 and 14 at the University of Iowa Operator Performance Laboratory in Iowa City, Iowa. The demonstration showcased how integrated technologies and joint connectivity can provide warfighters with the actionable

Using surrogate FARA, Air-Launched Effects (ALE), and Grey Eagle aircraft, the assets conducted a detect, identify, locate and report (DILR) mission on an active RF radar. The ALE identified and processed key target information using Collins’ RapidEdge™ Autonomy Mission system and transmitted collected data over a Tactical Targeting Networking Technology (TTNT) mesh network to the FARA and Grey Eagle. Collins’ Rosetta® message processing software, INFAMI™ sensor management framework, and SecureOne™ Multiple Level Security (MLS) system combined on the FARA to process and separate the target information to multiple

Simulated ground and air shooters then engaged accordingly. The ability to distribute data across multiple security levels is a key differentiator of the Collins networking solution and solves a major challenge in maintaining secure dataflow communication across the distributed battlespace. The SPARTAN open systems radio, developed in conjunction with AFRL, successfully transmitted sensor imagery from a TASE-400 sensor and SCSR small form factor radio to a ground user. Additionally, third-party and coalition interoperability was enabled using PRC-162 Manpack and Trellisware™ TW-950 radio. This is the bedrock of success for CJADC2,” said Elaine Bitonti, vice president, CJADC2 Demonstration and Experimentation for Collins Aerospace. “Being able to do this instantly and securely at the tactical edge, over multiple networks, were the highlighted differentiators brought to light in our demonstration.’” COTS Journal | January 2022

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Two GA-ASI Avengers Equipped with Lockheed Martin Legion Pods Autonmously Send Fused Air Threat Data to Command Center

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. used two company-owned Avenger® Unmanned Aircraft Systems, each equipped with a Lockheed Martin Legion Pod®, to send longrange air threat data captured passively and fused by an advanced sensor algorithm to a Command Center. “This first-time, industry-funded flight test demonstrates the maturing capabilities of UAS platforms and sensors to deliver fused sensor data,” said GA-ASI Senior Director of Advanced Programs Michael Atwood. “Avenger with Legion Pod demonstrates how collaborative autonomous platforms with advanced sensing can deliver persistent, shared air domain awareness.” In the two-hour flight, the Avengers flew over the high desert of southern Cal-

COTS Journal | January 2022

ifornia. During the flight, Legion Pod’s IRST21® infrared search and track system detected multiple fast-moving aircraft operating in the area. On-pod Lockheed Martin fusion software blended the sensor data from both pods in real-time and the Avengers streamed it to the ground station.

UAVs. Since Legion Pod is in production, it could fly real-world missions as soon as U.S. Government customers would like if there was an urgent need.

“This is the first time IRST systems on multiple autonomous aircraft have delivered merged air threat data to users on the ground,” said Scott Roberson, director of Sensors and Global Sustainment Advanced Programs at Lockheed Martin. “It’s a big step in developing a common operating picture that boosts situational awareness across domains in joint operations.”

The fusion engine’s ability to take in multiple sensor sources makes it a central node that connects Legion Pods on manned and unmanned platforms. Lockheed Martin has plans to test the Legion Pod with datalink capability among F-16s as well as F-15-to-F-16 sensor fusion. The sensor’s open design readily supports Joint All Domain Operations requirements for alternative datalink architectures.

This fusion technology was previously tested in F-15-equipped Legion Pods and datalinks at the Northern Edge operational exercise earlier this year. Legion Pod is a proven long-range passive IRST sensor on multiple platforms including two types of Avenger

The Open Mission System (OMS) architecture of the Legion Pod sensor allows for rapid integration, making the technology transportable among aircraft platforms and reducing the timeline and complexity to integrate on new platforms.

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Boeing Expands Partnerships with German Industry on F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler

Boeing announced the expansion of its industrial partnership strategy in Germany in support of the F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA18G Growler offering to the Bundeswehr. A Request for Information (RFI) was issued to more than 10 German companies to solicit bids. German industry partners will play a significant role in providing support equipment, logistics and overall maintenance, parts, local sustainment programs, training, and other relevant repair and overhaul solutions for Germany’s potential Super Hornet and Growler fleet. German industry will also have the opportunity to participate in the development of the Next Generation Jammer for the EA-18G Growler. The RFIs are the first step towards in-coun-

try sustainment worth approximately USD 4 billion/ €3.5 billion over the lifecycle of the programs and will contribute additional economic opportunity and value to the German economy as the programs evolve. “Germany is home to outstanding aerospace expertise and innovation and we look forward to expanding our partnerships locally for Germany’s F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA18G Growler fleet,” said Dr. Michael Haidinger, president of Boeing Germany, Central and Eastern Europe, Benelux, and the Nordics. “With this partner expansion strategy, we are laying the foundation for new business opportunities for German industry champions, high-skilled new jobs, and long-term economic growth.” The F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III provides advanced, proven capabilities, as well as low life-cycle and acquisition costs ideally suited to meet Germany’s fighter requirements, including the dual-capable commitments to NATO.

With the lowest operating costs of all U.S. tactical aircraft in production (USD 19,500 / €17,000 per flight hour, source: U.S. DoD Special Acquisition Report), combined with low procurement costs, the Super Hornet saves billions of dollars/Euros over its entire service life of +10,000 flight hours. This makes the Super Hornet the most cost-effective solution for the German Luftwaffe. The EA-18G Growler provides full-spectrum protection, jamming radars and disrupting communications, and the combination of Super Hornet Block III and EA-18G Growler will give the Luftwaffe unmatched capability in both air-to-air and surface-to-air missions. This has been demonstrated over the last fifteen years, as the EA-18G Growler has spanned the globe in support of all major and rapid reaction actions. Five EA-18G Growler Squadrons uniquely support the US Air Force and US Navy operations.

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PCI-SIG® Releases PCIe® 6.0 Specification Delivering Record Performance to Power Big Data Applications

SPCIe 6.0 specification reaches 64 GT/s transfer speeds, doubling the PCIe 5.0 specification data rate

PCI-SIG, the organization responsible for the widely adopted PCI Express® (PCIe®) standard, today announced the official release of the PCIe 6.0 specification, reaching 64 GT/s. PCIe 6.0 Specification Features · 64 GT/s raw data rate and up to 256 GB/s via x16 configuration · Pulse Amplitude Modulation with 4 levels (PAM4) signaling and leverages existing PAM4 already available in the industry · Lightweight Forward Error Correct (FEC) and Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) mitigate the bit error rate increase associated with PAM4 signaling

COTS Journal | January 2022

· Flit ( flow control unit) based encoding supports PAM4 modulation and enables more than double the bandwidth gain · Updated Packet layout used in Flit Mode to provide additional functionality and simplify processing · Maintains backward compatibility with all previous generations of PCIe technology PCI Express technology has served as the de facto interconnect of choice for nearly two decades. The PCIe 6.0 specification doubles the bandwidth and power efficiency of the PCIe 5.0 specification (32 GT/s) while providing low latency and reduced bandwidth overhead. “PCI-SIG is pleased to announce the release of the PCIe 6.0 specification less than three years after the PCIe 5.0 specification,” said Al Yanes, PCI-SIG Chairperson, and President. “PCIe 6.0 technology is the cost-effective and scalable interconnect solution that will continue to impact data-intensive markets like data center, artificial intelligence/machine learning, HPC, automotive, IoT, and military/ aerospace, while also protecting industry invest-

ments by maintaining backward compatibility with all previous generations of PCIe technology.” “With the PCI Express SSD market forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 40% to over 800 exabytes by 2025, PCI-SIG continues to meet the future needs of storage applications,” said Greg Wong, Founder, and Principal Analyst, Forward Insights. “With the storage industry transitioning to PCIe 4.0 technology and on the cusp of introducing PCIe 5.0 technology, companies will begin adopting PCIe 6.0 technology in their roadmaps to future-proof their products and take advantage of the high bandwidth and low latency that PCI Express technology offers.” “There is a growing demand for ever-increasing performance in many segments in the data center such as high-performance computing and AI,” said Ashish Nadkarni, Group Vice President, Infrastructure Systems, Platforms and Technologies Group, IDC. “Within three to five years the application landscape will look very different and companies will likely begin updating their roadmaps accordingly. The advancement of an established standard like PCIe 6.0 architecture will serve the industry well in establishing composable infrastructure for performance-intensive computing use cases.”

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ThinKom’s Aero Satellite Terminal Selected by Leidos for Special Mission Aircrafte

ThinKom Solutions, Inc. (ThinKom) has delivered its ThinAir® Ka2517 phased-array antenna system to Leidos for installation on its new high-accuracy electronic intelligence aircraft for the U.S. Army. Leidos designed and developed the demonstrator Special Mission Aircraft (LSMA) using a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) Bombardier Challenger 650 jet. The aircraft has been modified to carry a sophisticated suite of electronics enabling extended electronic sensing deep into the threat environment to deliver long-range precision surveillance while remaining outside the range of hostile air defense systems. It has the speed and endurance to get quickly to a hot spot and remain on station for long periods. The ThinKom Ka2517 low-profile Ka-band aero satellite antenna system, which is being integrated with a U.S. military-compliant modem, provides real-time, reliable, and resilient broadband transmission to and from the aircraft in flight. The phased-array antenna has the agility to interoperate seamlessly with satellites in geostationary (GEO) and non-geostationary (NGSO) orbits, ensuring worldwide connectivity. The low-profile radome minimizes in-flight drag, resulting in lower fuel consumption and longer time on station, without refueling.

The Ka2517 is based on ThinKom’s field-proven patented VICTS (Variable Inclination Continuous Transverse Stub) phased-array technology. VICTS antennas have an unparalleled record of reliability with installations on over 1,600 commercial aircraft with over 24 million hours of accrued flight time and a meantime-between-failure (MTBF) above 100,000 hours. Ka2517 antennas have been providing continuous service on other U.S. government aircraft since 2018.

“ThinKom’s VICTS antennas meet or exceed the performance requirements for the LSMA airborne missions,” said Bill Milroy, Chairman, and CTO of ThinKom. “The open architecture system provides robust, reliable, and resilient command, control, and communications capabilities, operating across multiple satellites and constellations and using multiple waveforms, including those enabling specialized crypto capabilities. The antennas have extremely well-behaved sidelobes and pattern characteristics that support robust Low Probability of Intercept (LPI) and Low Probability of Detection (LPD).” “The satellite antenna on the LSMA platform is an important enabling technology,” said Leidos Vice President for Airborne Solutions Matthew Pfrommer. “We selected the ThinKom Ka2517 design because of its proven reliability, ensuring uninterrupted, high-bandwidth, mission-critical connectivity under the most extreme conditions.”

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Two GA-ASI Avengers Equipped with Lockheed Martin Legion Pods Autonmously Send Fused Air Threat Data to Command Center

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. used two company-owned Avenger® Unmanned Aircraft Systems, each equipped with a Lockheed Martin Legion Pod®, to send long-range air threat data captured passively and fused by an advanced sensor algorithm to a Command Center. “This first-time, industry-funded flight test demonstrates the maturing capabilities of UAS platforms and sensors to deliver fused sensor data,” said GA-ASI Senior Director of Advanced Programs Michael Atwood. “Avenger with Legion Pod demonstrates how collaborative autonomous platforms with advanced sensing can deliver persistent, shared air domain awareness.” In the two-hour flight, the Avengers flew over the high desert of southern California.

COTS Journal | January 2022

During the flight, Legion Pod’s IRST21® infrared search and track system detected multiple fast-moving aircraft operating in the area. On-pod Lockheed Martin fusion software blended the sensor data from both pods in real-time and the Avengers streamed it to the ground station. “This is the first time IRST systems on multiple autonomous aircraft have delivered merged air threat data to users on the ground,” said Scott Roberson, director of Sensors and Global Sustainment Advanced Programs at Lockheed Martin. “It’s a big step in developing a common operating picture that boosts situational awareness across domains in joint operations.” This fusion technology was previously tested in F-15-equipped Legion Pods and datalinks at the Northern Edge operational exercise earlier this year. Legion Pod is a proven long-range passive IRST sensor on multiple platforms including two types of Avenger UAVs. Since Legion Pod is

in production, it could fly real-world missions as soon as U.S. Government customers would like if there was an urgent need. The fusion engine’s ability to take in multiple sensor sources makes it a central node that connects Legion Pods on manned and unmanned platforms. Lockheed Martin has plans to test the Legion Pod with datalink capability among F-16s as well as F-15-to-F-16 sensor fusion. The sensor’s open design readily supports Joint All Domain Operations requirements for alternative datalink architectures. The Open Mission System (OMS) architecture of the Legion Pod sensor allows for rapid integration, making the technology transportable among aircraft platforms and reducing the timeline and complexity to integrate on new platforms.

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F-35 Expands Global Presence In 2021

Lockheed Martin completed another successful year as the F-35 program continued to expand its global footprint and enhance operational capabilities. In 2021, two new countries – Switzerland and Finland – selected the F-35 for their new fighter jet programs. Additionally, Denmark received its first F-35 and the Royal Netherlands Air Force became the ninth nation to declare their F-35 fleet ready for Initial Operational Capability. The F-35’s operational capabilities continued to advance and further demonstrated its value as the most advanced node in the 21st-century battlespace. Last year alone, the F-35 successfully participated in a series of flight tests and exercises, including Project Hydra, Northern Edge, Orange Flag, Talisman Sabre, and Flight Test-6. “The F-35 joint enterprise team continues to provide unmatched combat capability to the 21st-century battlespace through the F-35,” said Bridget Lauderdale, vice president, and general manager of the F-35 program. “Providing un-

paralleled support to the growing fleet, participating in numerous Joint-All Domain exercises, and meeting our delivery target during a global pandemic is no small feat while the F-35 was also chosen by Switzerland and Finland as their next fighter.” The F-35’s operational performance remains strong. Some of the F-35A deployments and exercises demonstrated over 80% mission-capable rates. As one of the most reliable aircraft in the U.S. fighter fleet, 93% of F-35 parts are performing better than predicted. In the last year, F-35s were part of four base and ship activations and participated in more than 60 deployments and detachments, including the first U.S. Navy F-35C deployment aboard the USS Carl Vinson. During the first deployment of the Royal Navy’s flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth as part of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group 2021, F-35Bs from the U.S. Marine Corps and Royal Air Force flew nearly 1,300 sorties, more than 2,200 hours and conducted 44 combat missions. These program achievements are enabled

by employing digital technologies, which were vital to achieving 142 deliveries in 2021. Smart tools, connected machines, and augmented realities all contribute to the delivery and sustainment of aircraft. “Lockheed Martin is investing in digital technology that advances the F-35’s 5th Gen capabilities long after delivery,” Lauderdale added. “We’re embracing digital transformation to enable faster development and continuous deployment of software, using digital models and supercomputers to augment physical test data with simulation-based verification, and automating data processes to save time and glean insights that improve sustainment.” With more than 750 aircraft operating from 30 bases and ships around the globe, the F-35 plays a critical role in the integrated deterrence of the U.S. and our allies. More than 1,585 pilots and 11,545 maintainers are trained, and the F-35 fleet has flown nearly 470,000 cumulative flight hours. Nine nations have F-35s operating from a base on their home soil, 12 services have declared Initial Operational Capability and six services have employed F-35s in combat.

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Mercury Systems acquires Atlanta Micro.

Mercury Systems, Inc. announced that it has acquired Atlanta Micro, Inc. (Atlanta Micro). Based in Norcross, Ga., Atlanta Micro is a leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance RF modules and components, including advanced monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) which are critical for high-speed data acquisition applications including electronic warfare, radar, and weapons. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, Mercury acquired Atlanta Micro for all cash, subject to net working capital and net debt adjustments. The acquisition and associated transaction expenses were funded through Mercury’s existing revolving credit facility. The acquisition is expected to have a non-material financial impact in Mercury’s second fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2021. Atlanta Micro is expected to

Oshkosh Defense Receives $591.6 Million JLTV Order to Continue Filling Capability Gaps for U.S. Miltary and International Allies The U.S. Army Contracting Command – Detroit Arsenal (ACC-DTA) announced that it has awarded Oshkosh Defense, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK), a $591.6 Million order for 1,669 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV), 868 companion trailers, and associated packaged and installed kits. The order includes Oshkosh Defense JLTVs for the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Navy. As part of the order, 125 vehicles will also be delivered to NATO and allied partners, including Brazil, Lithuania, Montenegro, and Slovenia. Since winning the competitive JLTV contract in 2015, Oshkosh Defense has built over 14,000 JLTVs, and that number continues to grow every day. “Our team takes great pride in designing and building a versatile platform that can survive the extreme demands of future combat,” said George Mansfield, Vice President and General Manager of Joint Programs for Oshkosh Defense. “That’s what we do and what we’ve been doing for decades. And Oshkosh’s vast tactical wheeled 16

COTS Journal | January 2022

contribute approximately $16mm in revenue for the twelve months ending December 31, 2022, with adjusted EBITDA margins above 30%. The acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to adjusted EPS. “The acquisition of Atlanta Micro, our fourth transaction in 12 months and 15th since our fiscal 2014, continues our strategy of supplementing organic growth with disciplined M&A and full integration,” said Mark Aslett, Mercury’s president and chief executive officer. “The acquisition directly supports our stated goal to provide next-generation trusted microelectronics capabilities for critical aerospace and defense applications. Atlanta Micro’s state-of-the-art MMIC capabilities expand our prior investments in the RF and microwave domain, enabling us to both provide best-in-class solutions for our customers and to address new markets through our combined expertise. We see strong alignment in our strategies and vision, as well as our cultures, values, and commitment to innovation. We are

vehicle (TWV) experience, expertise, and knowhow grow with every vehicle that comes off our production line.” International momentum surrounding the Oshkosh Defense JLTV also continues to grow as customers seek a light tactical vehicle with lethal capabilities, fleet commonality attributes, and design flexibility.

very pleased to welcome the Atlanta Micro team to Mercury,” Aslett concluded. “We are very excited to join the Mercury Systems team,” said Clay Couey, chief executive officer and founder, Atlanta Micro. “Mercury’s position at the intersection of high-tech and defense enables us to better support our existing customers while continuing to introduce new and innovative products. Further, there is an excellent fit strategically and culturally between the two businesses with a common focus on innovation that matters.”

“Integrated lethality on an agile and protected vehicle like the Oshkosh JLTV is quickly filling capability gaps that exist in many international militaries,” said John Lazar, Vice President and General Manager of International Programs for Oshkosh Defense. “This past year, we’ve seen an increased interest in the Oshkosh JLTV from international customers with dynamic demonstrations and live fires across Europe with more planned for 2022.

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Bell Delivers Huey II to Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. company, announced the delivery of four Bell Huey II aircraft to the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH).

COTS Journal | January 2022

The Huey II worldwide fleet of more than 300 aircraft has a combined 1.2 million flight hours. Before the delivery, members of the AFBiH Air Force and Air Defense Brigade completed adaptation training at the Bell Training Academy in Fort Worth, Texas. “We are very pleased and honored to be

able to deliver these very versatile helicopters to the Armed Forces of Bosnia Herzegovina,” said Clay Bridges, regional sales manager, Bell. “The Huey IIs will enhance Bosnia and Herzegovina’s ability to perform search and rescue, firefighting, and many other missions. Here and throughout the region, we are seeing the need for helicopters grow.”

The

INSIDE TRACK

Green Hills Software to Provide INTEGRITY-178 tuMP RTOS for Military GPS User Equipment

Green Hills Software announced the selection of the INTEGRITY®-178 tuMP™ real-time operating system (RTOS) by Raytheon Intelligence & Space (RI&S) for their offering of the Military Global Positioning System User Equipment (MGUE) Increment (Inc) 2 Miniature Serial Interface (MSI) with Next-Generation Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). RI&S is developing one MSI card for aviation and maritime systems and another MSI card for groundbased systems, and INTEGRITY-178 tuMP will be used in both solutions running on the Arm® processor-based ASIC. RI&S selected the INTEGRITY-178 tuMP RTOS based on its use in previous programs and for its ability to simultaneously meet both safety and security requirements. Those requirements included the highest DO-178C design assurance level (DAL A) and the NSA-defined separation kernel protection profile (SKPP) for “high robustness” security. The Military GPS User Equipment is the GPS receiver for the modernized GPS Enterprise, and it is capable of receiving military code (M-Code) from newer satellites, including GPS-III. M-Code is a more robust, jam-resistant form of GPS that also

uses more modern and flexible encryption methods to make it resistant to spoofing. The MGUE Inc 2 MSI program is developing a smaller M-Code ASIC and receiver card that consumes less power while increasing functionality, security, and performance. The smaller card will enable use in handheld and dismounted applications as well as mounted, maritime, and aviation platforms. The Government Accountability Office es-

timates that approximately 700 different types of weapon systems will ultimately require M-Code cards and M-Code-capable receivers, including ships, aircraft, ground vehicles, munitions, and handheld devices. RI&S was one of three companies awarded by the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command for the MGUE Inc 2 MSI with the Next-Generation ASIC program. “Green Hills Software has a long history of working with RI&S on GPS & navigation systems, and we are pleased to be part of their MSI with Next Generation ASIC solution,” said Dan O’Dowd, founder, and CEO of Green Hills Software. “Airborne GPS solutions require both safety and security, and the INTEGRITY-178 RTOS has an unrivaled pedigree in the combination of certified high-robustness security with certified DO178C safety assurance.” The INTEGRITY-178 tuMP high-assurance RTOS from Green Hills Software is uniquely designed to meet both DO-178C DAL A airborne safety requirements and the NSA-defined Separation Kernel Protection Profile. INTEGRITY-178 is the only commercial operating system ever certified to the SKPP, and that certification was done by the National Information Assurance Partnership to Common Criteria EAL 6+ and “High Robustness.” Beyond the separation kernel, INTEGRITY-178 tuMP provides a complete set of APIs for use by multi-level security applications within a secure partition, e.g., an MLS guard, which is a fundamental requirement in a cross-domain system. INTEGRITY-178 tuMP is also the first and only RTOS to be part of a cross-domain solution certification to NSA’s new “Raise the Bar” initiative. INTEGRITY-178 was the first commercial RTOS approved as complying with DO178B Level A objectives, and INTEGRITY-178 tuMP is the only RTOS to be part of a multicore certification to DO-178C and CAST-32A multicore objectives. INTEGRITY-178 tuMP directly supports a Modular Open Systems Approach, and it was the first RTOS to be certified conformant to the FACE™ Technical Standard, edition 3.0.

COTS Journal | January 2022

SPECIAL FEATURE

Transitioning Commercial Drone Applications into the Military Defense Market:

What You Need to Know By Edmond M. Hennessy, Performance Marketing Group

COTS Journal reconizes the importance of the Commercial UAV News concerns with this information ahead of it’s 2022 EXPO. There are many commercial drone companies who want to get a piece of the Defense Market in order to extend their portfolio. This makes sense, as securing a position in defense-related, programs can provide a predictable and sustainable source of business and compensate for unexpected swings in the business cycle. According to Fortune Magazine (Business Insights), the US Military drone market will grow from $11 Billion in 2021 to $26 Billion in 2028 which is a 12.78% CAGR (compound annual growth rate). However, migrating to the Defense and Military Market is not a simple translation of what has worked in other market segments. To tackle the tough and complex Defense sector, a company needs to understand the ground rules, and make the right moves to become a serious player. 20

COTS Journal | January 2022

What it Means to Establish a Bridge Between Commercial and Defense We have seen companies over the years declare a commitment to crack the Defense and Military Market, only to discover two years out that they discontinued their efforts or abandoned the market completely. Some of these organizations gained early success (by grabbing low-hanging fruit) or selected to develop this market segment for the wrong reasons. Entering the Defense Market requires strategic focus, relatively deep investment pockets, patience, tolerance, and an appetite and drive to run the course—no matter what materializes. The common denominator is that companies want to gain content on Deployable Programs (a program that reaches full production for a multiyear cycle—usually 7 to 10+ years). Although these sorts of Deployable Programs are the attraction, it is important not to overlook the fundamentals of the program lifecycle, budget/funding allocations (top-line defense level), priority shifts/competing interests,

fierce competition, and the realities of coping with the government and military machine. Securing a position in a deployable government defense program is a long-term, multiphase arrangement and there are no shortcuts. Years ago, we conducted research to understand and define the basic model utilized by major defense contractors/integrators that grew up in the Defense and Military Market. Our initial objective was not to translate this model as a one-size-fits-all solution for small-to-medium sized companies, but over time, it became clear that the elements of the methodology/process we defined were essential for success for any firm. Without taking this approach, we would have wandered aimlessly and taken years to understand a winning formula or never gotten there. Regardless of size, companies can retrofit and apply a similar approach, taking their business priorities, technology capabilities, resource constraints, budget availability and organizational make-up into account. The

mindset and skills, within the organization, are key. It is important to remember that a square peg cannot fit in a round hole—at least not without some adjustments. This also applies to attempting to translate the requirements of a defense game plan into your core business, particularly if your experience base is grounded in the Commercial Market. The following sections of this report walk you through what should be considered if you are planning or thinking about breaking into the Defense and Military Market. The Key Elements to Construct Your Defense and Military Game Plan: 1) Industry Structure Like other verticals, the Defense and Military Market has its unique characteristics and operating standards. The primary operatives consist of the government/military (target program offices and agencies are usually crossmilitary in scope), lead labs and the defense contractor/integrator community (industry), with participating commercial technology firms (supplier base), third-party influencers (technical agents, consultants, etc.), and sometimes notable academic institutions. Although smaller firms are unable to cover all these entities, it is critical that for programbased selling that these various sources are taken into consideration to support your Business Development Strategy. Without this, it is easy for the competition to outpoint/ outmaneuver your firm and leave you highand-dry (usually without you even realizing it). Furthermore, each of these entities plays a role in various phases of the program lifecycle

from the R&D (proof-of-concept phase) to preproduction, full deployment/production, and continuous life-cycle support. 2) Program Selling The government/military has gone through several cycles over the last decade. There has been a resurgence of discrete, program selling and lifecycle considerations versus the previous emphasis on single-year budget and short-term technology refreshes and insertions. To target the Defense and Military Market requires a common ground – selective program focus. For example, the Offensive SwarmEnabling Tactics (OFFSET) program, which is a DARPA initiative that supports infantry units using drone swarms of 250 small, unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) to support urban warfare. If this approach is not adopted, then your firm will be viewed as a solution looking for a problem-to-solve. Program offices/agencies manage program elements and control the funding/ budget allocation, while the lead labs and defense contractor/integrator base translate specifications into hard deliverables. For technology providers and other suppliers, the defense contractor/integrator base represents the key “consumer” and the pathway toward fulfilling deployable contracts. There are many occasions in which working directly with the government/military complex is warranted. Examples could include seeking government research funds (SBIRs) from organizations like AFWERX or participating in a development project with DARPA or gaining acceptance with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and fulfilling real-world projects that

fit your technology capabilities. However, for most suppliers, their breadand-butter is adding value to the defense contractor/integrators’ deliverable solutions to the end-user. 3) Industry Marketing The current DOD estimates that over the next five to seven years unmanned platforms will grow from several hundred (different types) to roughly 10,000 varieties with 90% of these vehicles falling into the “miniaturization curve” – which reflects favorably upon the bright future that drones have within the Defense and Military market. Furthermore, the DOD has increased the budget to support this by 3X compared to a few short years ago. Although firms need to know how to speak to this segment through effective marketing. Know How Your Commercial Drone Solution Fits into the Defense/Military Market The Defense and Military Market, like other verticals, requires dedication and an active program to build position and momentum for your firm. One of the first tasks is to determine which segments of the Defense and Military Market fit your firm’s capabilities and expertise. Well-recognized segments consist of avionics (airborne platforms), navtronics (surface-ship defense/undersea warfare), vetronics (groundbased, vehicles) and space-based, vehicles. This is further refined by target area of emphasis and application segment—for example, C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications & Computers for Intelligence/Surveillance/ Reconnaissance) for an airborne target identification/tracking application; an anticruise missile application hosted on a surface-

The Defense and Military Market, like other verticals, requires dedication and an active program to build position and momentum for your firm.

COTS Journal | January 2022

Government Contracting – This is a complex and consistently changing area that can make or break firms. ship; or a detection system for roadside bombs engineered and operating from a HUMVEE-like vehicle. The mix is endless; however, one must be clear and specific about the focus because it is too easy to wander aimlessly in this vast Defense and Military Market—understand where your solution fits best. Given the highpriority that counter-UAS and drone swarms play as threats referenced in the Military Doctrine, we have seen rone suppliers putting emphasis on applications like detect and avoidance, mapping and tomography, targeting systems, counter drone disarming and destruction systems, border and perimeter control and protection, weather forecasting, and so on, with a range of technologies being applied like sensor-based technologies, camera technology, navigation/control/guidance systems, advanced communication systems, propulsion systems. There is a never-ending list of crossover applications between the commercial and defense markets—the challenge is to understand how they can function in both segments. Hire, Train, and/or Partner with Specialists in the Defense/Military Market To reinforce the commitment to the market, firms should attract or train/ develop specialists that “walk the walk” of the Defense and Military Market allowing them to “speak the customer’s language.” In addition, the company should develop a media-based program—an element of the defense game plan—to actively participate in industry interviews, submit useful articles (usually program and application-based), 22

COTS Journal | January 2022

fuel webinars (useful to the target audience), host problem-solving workshops (usually account focused) and invest in building a sector management function (over time) that can interface with selected agencies/program offices to build position and develop new classes of opportunities. This may appear to be daunting, however the first step is to prioritize/select your entry elements and get into the starting gate. This is a long-term proposition and will build content and momentum over the years. The battle cry for serious industry players is to achieve a level where the government/ military will “specify” their content for program fulfillment, which becomes a conditioned response. This is the high point of determining the effectiveness of your defense strategy and game plan. There are many examples of companies like General Atomics, AeroVironment, Skydio, Martin UAV (now AI Shield), Citadel Defense (now Blue Halo), Kratos Defense, Dynetics – and a range of smaller players like Full Throttle Aerial, Fortem Technologies, IRIS Automation, and so on that are making this happen. 4) Government Contracting This is a complex and consistently changing area that can make or break firms. If your company does not have in-house expertise and considerable government contracting experience, it is advisable to leverage an outside expert that is conversant in Federal Acquisition Regulations (FARs), DFARs, Certs, Reps and the current (and future) requirements and mindset of the government contracting machine.

There are subtleties in working contracts with the government that rival any other market segment in terms of sophistication, complexity, formality, savvy, ground rules and dedication. Just look at what is required to set-up and negotiate a contract that has ITAR (International Trade in Arms Regulations) implications, and you will quickly understand. On the flip side, the government has been continuously working on streamlining the acquisition process with an emphasis on rapid response to drive quicker turnaround on contracts that support shorter deployment cycles. 5) Caveats and Qualifiers: A Few Tips Be watchful of contracts that taut IDIQ (Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity). These contracts provide no formal commitment. They draw suppliers in to share the program risk. We have seen IDIQ Programs that have gone through the roof in terms of production business and some that just fizzled after the initial ramp-up phase. When your firm leverages into a program, make every effort to understand the various phases required to reach full deployment/ production, and ask the question about “recompetes” along the way. The government/ military is noted for going back to industry to keep the incumbent honest and to stir up the competitive pot. Just imagine making a threeyear commit into a program, riding it to preproduction and then being written out of the script for full deployment.

In addition, be tuned-in to the contracting terms—for example, “rights in data” and “2nd sourcing,” which are standard terms for the government/military. What they translate to is that contractually your firm is obligated to relinquish its “secret sauce or family jewels” to the government, during the contract period. This allows the government at any time to transfer this and setup a 2nd source that will replace your content. There are valid reasons why the government would exercise this provision, however it results in your firm being displaced. Finally, dual-use is a serious topic in defense circles. In some cases, if a drone provider cannot demonstrate that its technology solution has traction and acceptance in both the Commercial and Defense Markets, it may be eliminated for consideration for active program and project bids. This is one of the reasons that alignment with selected defense contractors and various program offices/agencies are key elements to your overall strategy and a necessary bridge. Depending on the target program and platform requirements, commercial drone providers may have to extend their products with packaging technologies and comply to other standards to meet the demands of harsh environments and other conditions common to defense applications. Misconceptions and Concerns About Playing in the Defense Market Given our decades of experience in the Defense Market, we have compiled prominent concerns and misconceptions that technology companies have about entering this challenging arena. Here is a short breakdown: • Politics – It is generally assumed that an environment that is revolving around the government/military machine is political. In reality, this is a highly structured, complex, risk averse environment in which “compliance” prevails. • Preferential Treatment to Large Players – There is a tendency to believe that program business is “wired” and biased toward large defense contractors and that small players do not get a fair shake. There is no doubt that defense contractors have earned their way and have infrastructure, programmatics, resources and other attributes that small companies cannot duplicate, however with rare exception, the government/military acquisition and procurement processes, by law, cannot show preferential treatment or wire contract awards.

In fact, commercially available technologies are given first right of consideration. This is one of the reasons that outsourcing within the DOD has become the norm. There are also Government Agencies (like DIU, AFWERX, AFRL, ARL, Space Force, etc.) that are setup to attract and vet small technology providers, which is designed to fuel continuous innovation, provide competitive advantage, and protect the War Fighter. • Government Selects the Lowest Bidder – This is another misconception. The government/military utilizes a comprehensive matrix that identifies evaluation/selection criteria for every procurement. There are high grades for “vendor past performance” and other considerations. Unless it is a generalpurpose, low cost, commodity buy, there is considerable work put into evaluating and selecting suppliers. Emphasis is put on addedvalue, nature of the problem–solution, costeffectiveness, life-cycle considerations, total cost of ownership, ease of maintenance/repair, future roadmap, and so on. • DOD Projects Have Long Sales Cycles – This is relative, although there are clear steps and phases that DOD programs go through from early-stage ( feasibility studies) to R&D (proof-of-concept) to pre-production to full deployment/production (the real payoff). The objective is to secure early-stage, design-wins and then ride that through the full cycle. This may take several years (with revenue flowing along the way), but the dream and promise of Defense-related business is that it goes fullproduction and becomes a sustainable source of business. This has contributed to the fortunes of many tech companies. Bottom Line: If You Build a Bridge, Defense/Military Market Can Provide Long-Term Sustainable Income for Commercial Drone Solution Providers The Defense and Military Market continues to garner attraction and is one of the most predictable Industry segments, which provides sustainable dividends. Although this Market segment continues to morph and evolve, it continues to be one of the most compelling segments in terms of the technology developments/advancements that support active programs, platforms, and applications. Whether your firm is extending its reach or is dedicated to entering this sector, having a Defense and Military segment in your firm’s portfolio can be a smart move to establish a long-term sustainable income to meet company goals. COTS Journal | January 2022

SPECIAL FEATURE

Rapidly Moving Novel Radar Capabilities from Software Simulation to Hardware Testbeds By Jeremy Twaits, Solutions Marketing Manager, NI To deliver new capability in deployed radar systems, researchers and systems engineers must develop and assess novel concepts quickly. Modeling and simulation using tools such as Python, C/C++, and MathWorks MATLAB® software are important to validate ideas and demonstrate early results before undertaking the potentially more costly process of testing with real-world signals in the lab or on the range. Moving code from simulation tools to a hardware-centric testbed can decelerate the development process unless software tools can scale throughout the design cycle. More stumbling blocks are introduced if researchers and engineers need to build custom hardware, rath-

er than using COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) modules for RF and digital I/O, signal processing, data movement, and storage. New Concepts for Increasing Radar Performance The key to any new concept is whether it truly increases the performance of the fielded radar system, typically via novel algorithms, waveforms, architectures, or RF and digital components. Let’s say that our radar system is operating in a congested and contested spectrum, being drowned out by other signals or actively jammed. We may be able to introduce adaptive or cognitive techniques to increase frequency

agility and avoid spectrum interference. Or if our radar is struggling to determine targets against a cluttered background, we could explore machine-learning, Gaussian-based approaches that could be better than human operators at recognizing targets. Implementing these novel approaches can be time-consuming and costly, so they require scrutiny in simulation before they reach the test range, let alone the field. Proving Viability in Modeling and Simulation The first hurdle for a researcher looking to secure funding is to show that, conceptually, their idea is viable, before spending time and money

Figure 1: Increased performance in modern radar systems comes in the form of phase-coherent, multi-channel systems (as pictured), cognitive techniques, multifunction systems, and sensor fusion. 24

COTS Journal | January 2022

Once you are satisfied that initial results in software are promising, the next stage is to build out a full testbed to validate performance in lab conditions.

on testing it out with real-world hardware. Modeling and simulation is critical here. Radar researchers and systems engineers often use tools such as MathWorks MATLAB software and MathWorks Simulink® software to interactively design waveforms, sensor arrays, and signal processing algorithms. Because you can design and debug complete radar models at the earliest stage of the project, you can pre-empt and eliminate costly redesigns. MathWorks offers libraries of algorithms—including matched filtering, adaptive beamforming, target detection, space-time adaptive processing, and environmental and clutter modeling—that you can customize for your specific application. Consider a scenario in which you need to upgrade an existing radar system to increase the maximum unambiguous range, detect targets with rapidly varying radar cross sections (RCS), and avoid interference with newly deployed 5G networks. Let’s say that the existing radar system uses a pulsed waveform, with relatively low transmission power and high pulse repetition frequency (PRF). It is logical that increasing the pulse interval (therefore, reducing PRF) will help to meet the increased maximum range requirement. Also, one way to detect targets with fluctuating RCS would be to boost the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by transmitting

at higher power. One of these changes is likely trivial (a software parameter update to reduce the waveform’s PRF), but increasing transmission power may require significant and expensive hardware updates. Experimenting within a simulated environment helps you evaluate this design space—either increasing confidence or sparking a pivot to explore alternatives—before implementing such costly changes. For example, an alternative approach might replace the basic pulsed waveform with a linear FM waveform to use lower peak transmit power. For interference avoidance, you’d need to develop new algorithms that sense the RF spectrum, so that the radar would behave in a cognitive or adaptive manner, shifting its operating frequency to find the least congested spectral areas. To validate whether the updates have achieved the expected performance gains, you can simulate the radar model, its surrounding environment, targets (with various Swerling models to mimic fluctuating RCS), and other electromagnetic (EM) signals within MATLAB. Transitioning from Simulation to Hardware Testbed Once you are satisfied that initial results in software are promising, the next stage is to build out a full testbed to validate performance in lab conditions. Moving algorithmic IP from

simulation into hardware has not always proved simple. Code may need to be rewritten to run optimally on FPGAs or GPUs, operate within real-time latency constraints, account for data movement between COTS instruments and processors, and to take account of real-world imperfections. If software tool flows are not designed to scale throughout the development process, it can be time-consuming to rewrite code to run on hardware. With the right tools and some planning, you can accelerate the process of moving into hardware. Together, NI and MathWorks offer many routes from modeling and simulation to testbed. At the most basic level, there are methods for calling MATLAB from LabVIEW, including Script Nodes that allow M code to be invoked in LabVIEW, or creating DLLs from MATLAB code and calling them in LabVIEW via the Call Library Function Node. It is also possible to export MATLAB code or Simulink models using HDL Coder, which generates synthesizable, portable VHDL and Verilog code that can then be integrated into LabVIEW FPGA. Additionally, the USRP Hardware Driver (UHD) API may be targeted directly from MATLAB, and MathWorks offers a USRP Support Package from Communications Toolbox, which provides functions and COTS Journal | January 2022

Figure 2: NI’s Open Architecture for Radar and EW Research includes hardware, software, examples, and documentation, providing an accelerated starting point from which researchers and systems engineers can build a prototyping testbed.

system objects for connecting MATLAB to UHDbased USRP radios. Building a Hardware-Based Prototyping Testbed One method for architecting a prototyping testbed is to build from components or evaluation boards. While this benefits from being built to exact specifications, it presents flexibility, scalability, and development-speed challenges.

COTS Journal | January 2022

Custom designs require a broader set of skills (or a larger team with hardware and infrastructure design expertise). Worse yet, when validating a new paradigm, rarely does everything go according to plan at the first attempt. It tends to be an iterative process, so it’s important to be able to make rapid changes. And it’s easy to get mired in board redesigns, board support validation, infrastructure (such as data movement and synchronization) development, and firmware

updates, wasting time on peripheral activities, instead of focusing on the core task of algorithm development. COTS hardware modules can help to mitigate these challenges, Open Architecture for Radar and EW Research NI recently released the Open Architecture for Radar and EW Research (OARER), a reference architecture based on USRP software

defined radio (SDR) devices, which provides a validated design pattern for systems engineers and researchers developing novel radar systems. OARER is built upon COTS SDRs, and eases the burden of building a testbed by providing the RF I/O, data aggregation and processing, streaming architectures, and storage out of the box. Revisiting the radar capability upgrades we discussed in the modeling and simulation section, the software-defined nature of COTS RF hardware within OARER makes altering transmission parameters straightforward. With heterogeneous processing options, you can deploy IP related to the new waveform at various points within the hardware. For FPGA-based waveform generation or preliminary receiver processing, the IP can sit close to the antenna, on the FPGA onboard a USRP software defined radio device.

Figure 3: The N321 USRP can share its local oscillators (LOs) with N320 USRPs, ensuring phase coherency across an array.

Furthermore, what if the next project is to take a waveform or algorithm and scale it from a single chain to a phased-array radar? Or to prove the value of moving from operator-controlled to cognitive radar? OARER provides phase-coherent Tx/Rx by sharing local oscillators and reference clocks across multiple USRP devices. The reference architecture can achieve channel-to-channel phase skew measurements

with repeatability better than 0.1°, and stability better than 0.2° over a duration of 1 hour, making it ideal for porting an algorithm from a single channel to a phased-array system. For cognitive radar, the ability to receive and process data inline and make decisions to adapt the radar output, while running knowledge-aided computing on GPUs, aligns to software-defined radar system architecture.

Conclusion Determining whether new radar concepts will improve the performance of tactical systems is not necessarily straightforward. However, by using the optimal tools for modeling, simulation, prototyping, and validation—with the ability to migrate IP across those stages— the process of delivering new capability can be greatly accelerated.

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COTS Journal | January 2022

January 2022

COT’S PICKS A Quantum Leap in Core Count

congatec introduces the 12th Generation Intel Core mobile and desktop processors ( formerly code-named Alder Lake) on 10 new COM-HPC and COM Express Computer-on-Modules. Featuring the latest high-performance cores from Intel, the new modules in COM-HPC Size A and C as well as COM Express Type 6 form factors offer major performance gains and improvements for the world of embedded and edge computing systems. Most impressive is the fact that engineers can now leverage Intel’s innovative performance hybrid architecture. An offering of up to 14 cores/20 threads on BGA and 16 cores/24 threads on desktop variants (LGA mounted), 12th Gen Intel Core processors provide a quantum leap [1] in multitasking and scalability levels. Next-gen IoT and edge applications benefit from up to 6 or 8 (BGA/LGA) optimized Performance-cores (P-cores) plus up to 8 low-power Efficient-cores (E-cores) and DDR5 memory support to accelerate multithreaded applications and execute background tasks more efficiently. In addition, the mobile BGA processors with, up to 96 Execution Units of the integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU have been estimated to deliver extraordinary improvements of up to 129% [2] in graphics performance for immersive user experience and can also process parallelized workloads faster, such as artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, as compared to the 11th Gen Intel Core processors. Optimized for the highest embedded client performance, the graphics of the LGA proces-

COTS Journal | January 2022

sor-based modules deliver now up to 94 % faster performance and its image classification inference performance has nearly tripled with up to 181% higher throughput [3]. In addition, the modules offer massive bandwidth to connect discrete GPUs for maximum graphics and GPGPU based AI performance. Compared to the BGA versions, these and all other peripherals benefit from doubled lane speed as they come with ultra-fast PCIe 5.0 interface technology in addition to PCIe 4.0 off the processor. Furthermore, the desktop chipsets provide up to 8x PCIe 3.0 lanes for additional connectivity and the mobile BGA variants also offer up to 16x PCIe 4.0 lanes off the CPU and up to 8 PCIe 3.0 lanes off the chipset.

formance in combination with power-efficient E cores Intel Thread Director assigns each workload to the proper cores for optimum performance. Selected processors are also suitable for hard real-time applications with Intel TCC and TSN. In combination with full support for Real-Time Systems’ hypervisor technology, they are the ideal platform to consolidate a multitude of different workloads on one single edge platform. As this applies to low-power and high-performance scenarios alike, it enables highly sustainable designs with a small ecological footprint,” explains Christian Eder, Director Marketing at congatec.

Target industrial markets for both BGA and LGA variants can be found wherever highend embedded and edge computer technology is deployed. This includes, for example, edge computers and IoT gateways incorporating multiple virtual machines for smart factories and process automation, AI-based quality inspection and industrial vision, real-time collaborative robotics, and autonomous logistics vehicles for warehouses and shipping. Typical outdoor applications include autonomous vehicles and mobile machines, video security and gateway applications in transportation and smart cities, as well as 5G cloudlets and edge devices requiring AI-supported packet inspection.

Besides the highest bandwidth and performance, the new flagship COM-HPC Client and COM Express Type 6 modules impress with dedicated AI engines supporting Windows ML, Intel Distribution of OpenVINO toolkit, and Chrome Cross ML. The different AI workloads can seamlessly be delegated to the P-cores, E-cores, as well as GPU execution units, to process even the most intensive edge AI workloads. The built-in Intel Deep Learning boost technology leverages different cores via Vector Neural Network Instructions (VNNI), and the integrated graphics supports AI accelerated DP4a GPU instructions that can even be scaled to dedicated GPUs. Furthermore, Intel’s lowest power built-in AI accelerator, the Intel Gaussian & Neural Accelerator 3.0 (Intel GNA 3.0), enables dynamic noise suppression and speech recognition and can even run while the processor is in low power states for wake-up voice commands.

“Leveraging Intel’s innovative performance hybrid architecture with impressive P - core per-

congatec www.congatec.com

January 2022

COT’S PICKS ADLINK launches COM-HPC Client Type and COM Express Type 6 Modules with 12th Gen Intel® Core™ processors

ADLINK Technology Inc. introduces the world’s first 12th Gen Intel Core processor-based Computer-on-Modules (COMs), available in two form factors – COM-HPC Client Type and COM Express Type 6. ADLINK COMs with the Intel 12th Gen Intel® Core™ processor family (Codename: Alder Lake-H) allows for a unique design that can be adapted for single-thread or multithread performance. The advanced hybrid architecture can be used for stationary, mobile, and portable solutions. It also provides system integrators with a future-proof design that supports both current and future best-in-class peripherals. “Working closely with Intel, we are bringing timely, next-generation computing modules to the

13.3-inch Full HD TFT delivers exceptional optical performance Bright, colorful, and highly consistent image reproduction Review Display Systems Inc. (RDS) has announced the introduction of a new 13.3inch TFT display module from industrial display manufacturer Tianma. The P-series P1330FHF1MA00 features Full HD (FHD)

market with Intel® Alder Lake-H,” said Alex Wang, Senior Product Manager - Module Product Center, ADLINK. “We now offer a full line-up of COM-HPC and COM Express modules for any deployment scenario and budget.” ADLINK COMs with Intel® Alder Lake-H provides support for PCIe 4.0 and DDR5 memory with up to 4800 MT/s combined with increased cache, as well as security and manageability features, AI enablement to deliver intelligent workload optimization, enhanced graphics, AI, computer vision, and enhanced peripheral, connectivity, and fast memory access capabilities. The integrated Intel® Iris® Xe graphics architecture, with up to 96EUs, offers four concurrent 4K60 HDR displays and an Intel Deep Learning Boost to deliver superior AI performance. Using DDI, eDP 1.4b, and USB4/TBT4, the four independent displays support Display Alternative mode, providing premi-

resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels), a wide 16:9 aspect ratio, and in-plane switching (IPS) technology which provides excellent optical performance. Tianma P-series (Professional series) TFT display modules have been designed and developed to deliver exceptional optical performance and meet the demanding requirements of the industrial and medical display markets and applications where reliable and consistent operation is considered paramount.

um graphics features for superior content support, display, and I/O virtualization. ADLINK Technology Inc. www.adlinktech.com

The 13.3-inch display features a contrast ratio of 1000:1 and a white LED backlight, complete with an integrated driver, provides a specified brightness rating of 1000cd/m² and a 50K hour half-brightness lifetime. In-plane switching (IPS) technology enables a wide viewing angle of 88 degrees in all viewing directions (left, right, and up, down). These key characteristics ensure that the 13.3-inch P-series TFT module produces display images that are bright, colorful, and highly consistent. Justin Coleman displays division manager, RDS said, “The Tianma 13.3-inch P-series display offers a strong feature set that provides excellent optical performance and a color gamut that delivers bright, saturated color display images that can be easily seen from all viewing directions. P-series display modules have been specifically designed for use in a wide range of human-machine interface (HMI) applications where reliable, long-term operation in challenging application environments is required.” The 40-pin LVDS data interface supports 8-bit RGB which enables a color palette of up to 16.7M colors. The 13.3-inch display module features mechanical outline dimensions of 308mm (w) x 188mm (h) x 10mm (d) and an active display area of 293.76mm (w) x 165.24mm (h). An operating temperature range of -20°C to +70°C is supported. Review Display Systems Inc. https://review-displays.com/

COTS Journal | January 2022

January 2022

COT’S PICKS VadaTech Announces a Two Slot 3U VPX Rackmount Chassis with RTM for Conduction Cooled

VadaTech announces the VTX985. The VTX985 is a dual-slot 3U VPX chassis conduction-cooled for two 3U VPX modules. The chassis can accept a front and a Rear Transition Module (RTM). The Chassis CPU will monitor and maintain the VPX module wedge temperature, set by the user which allows

testing of the conduction-cooled modules without going through the thermal chamber. Additionally, the chassis has provision to mount to a 19” Rackmount and a Universal AC power supply that provides 400W to the chassis. The chassis supplies all the necessary power (+12V, -12V, +5V, +3.3V, etc.) to the module per VITA 46 specifications and a battery pack is included that provides VBAT to the module. The chassis provides the current draw on the +12V, +5V, and +3.3V by the VPX module and its associated RTM.

The VTX985 also has temperature control via variable speed fans controlled by the onboard CPU which keeps the wedge at the user-defined temp. The backplane provides all the necessary VITA 46 signals set by the user (NVMRO, SYSRESET, SYS_CON, driver the dual clock, etc.). All the connectors are installed P0 thru P6 and are routed from the front to the rear. The unit can be ordered with custom routing between the two modules but the default routing routes all P1 ports between the two modules. The backplane also breaks out the JTAG signals via a header connector to enable the external connection of a JTAG probe. Additionally, the chassis comes with the VadaTech 4th Generation shelf manager (VT040) that monitors the VPX board sensors in compliance with VITA 46.11. The VT040 supports Tier 2 Health Management and comes with the VTX985 chassis. For a more complete and detailed description of the VT040, the data sheet may be downloaded from VadaTech web page. VadaTech http://www.vadatech.com

Five Port Gigabit Ethernet Controller Document CN8-REVERB EKF continues to support classic CompactPCI® systems. The CN8-REVERB is a peripheral slot card, equipped with five independent Gigabit Ethernet controllers. The Intel® I210-IT Ethernet NICs provide the latest networking technology and support most common data rates 1000BASE-T, 100BASETX, 10BASE-T. The CN8-REVERB combines a PCI® to PCI Express® reverse bridge with a PCIe® packet switch, for optimum bandwidth usage of the CompactPCI® backplane. The board is well suited for various industrial networking applications and also for PXI™ systems. Drivers are available for all major operating systems. EFK www.ekf.d

COTS Journal | January 2022

January 2022

COT’S PICKS Acumentrics Introduces Half-Rack UPS™ Power Solutions with the Industry’s Highest Power Density

Acumentrics introduces their 1000W Rugged Half Rack UPS™ (Uninterruptible Power Supply) with industry-leading SWaP-C, providing the warfighter with a new level of power-portability for mission-critical applications. At just 12 lbs, Acumentrics’ Rugged Half Rack™ UPS features an industry-leading power density of 83W per pound and is just one-third the size of a 1000W full-size chassis. Acumentrics’ 1000W Half Rack UPS™ provides the autonomous power needed for small form factor networking, communication, and computer platforms that support “Quick at the Halt” and “On the Move” mounted and dismounted tactical missions. This Mil-Standard Certified UPS provides systems architects with a COTS (Commercial

COTS Journal | January 2022

Off The Shelf ) power system that can be easily integrated with Small Form Factor Modules from DTECH; KLAS; PACSTAR; Mercury; HP; and Dell, along with other computer networking and communication modules that require 20VDC to 30VDC mission-critical power. It is also compatible with small form factor transit

cases that are available from Ameripack, ECS, Desapro, and others. Said Steve Corbesero, Acumentrics Senior VP of Sales and Marketing, “Our engineering team used advanced technologies and high-performance digital control to optimize the SWaP-C of the 1000W Half Rack UPS™. We’ve reduced the size and weight of this portable UPS while providing the rugged power and runtime necessary for the warfighter to deploy fully operational electronic systems in austere environments. In military applications, this means portable power that can increase the survivability, lethality, and responsiveness of the combat soldier, while giving them the technical advantage at the tactical edge.” Acumentrics www.acumentrics.com

January 2022

COT’S PICKS Acrosser Technology Announces introduces industrial Server Grade Autonomous Vehicle Server Computer

Acrosser Technology Co., Ltd. announces the release of industrial-grade Edge AI and Autonomous Vehicle Server, the AAD-C622Ax series that combines the power of the serve-grade processor and the ruggedness of the In-Vehicle Computer. AAD-C622Ax supports Intel® 2nd Gen Xeon Scalable Processor (Cascade Lake) with C622 chipset and it provides 5 PCIe x16 slots with a maximum power consumption of 1000W, and 3 of the 5 PCIe x16 slots are intended for NVIDIA® or AMD high-end graphics cards to meet demanding applications like real-time edge computing, Autonomous Driving or AIoT/ Industry 4.0. Designed to work in vehicles, AAD-C622Ax provides a variety of I/O connection options including 6 M12 X-coded GigE LAN, 8 lockable USB 3.2, 2 RS-232/422/485, 3 SIM slots, and 2 2.5” SSD and 2 M.2 type swappable NVME storage. Additional expansion is available through

our accessory kits with 2 M12 X-coded 10GigE LANs and CAN FD/CAN Bus module to meet the ever-changing requirements. “AAD-C622Ax, is the latest Edge AI & Autonomous in-vehicle server released by Acrosser Technology that provides high-speed computing capability and variety I/O options to meet the demanding customer applications and connects to standard vehicle voltage outputs of 12Vdc or 24/48Vdc along with power ignition control function, “said Alan Chou, Product Manager at Acrosser. Acrosser Technology provides industry-leading solutions with 30+ years of experience from supplying field-proven standard products to OEM/ODM services. Customers can always find the best solutions from the wide range of the products offered by Acrosser Technology to meet their exact application, shorten the time to market by reducing the development time, and accelerate the deployment process. Acrosser Technology Co., Ltd. www.acrosser.com

COTS Journal | January 2022

COTS COTS

ADVERTISERS Company Page # Annapolis Micro Systems ........................................ 26

Website ......................................... www.annapmicro.com

Behlman Electronics .............................................

............................................... www.behlman.com

Diamond Systems ................................................... 19/33

................................. www.diamondsystems.com

GET Engineering ..................................................... IFC/IBC ................................................ www.getntds.com Great River Technology ...........................................

..................................... www.greatrivertech.com

Holo Industries ......................................................

................................................ www.holoind.com

New Wave DV .........................................................

......................................... www.newwavedv.com

OSS ........................................................................

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

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

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

Per Vices Corporation ............................................

............................................... www.pervices.com

PICO Electronics, Inc ............................................. 13/23/34 .................................... www.picoelectronics.com Pixus Technologies .................................................

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

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

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

Index

SECO ...................................................................... 14/32

..................................................... www.seco.com

U-Reach .................................................................

.......................................... www.ureach-usa.com

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

............................................. 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.

COTS Journal | January 2022

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COT Journal, January 2022

Articles inside

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