COTS Journal, September 2023

The Journal of Military Electronics & Computing

SPECIAL FEATURE

16 The Silent Service

By John Reardon, Publisher, COTS Journal

SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

20 The DOD’s Mission to Standardize Power Supplies

Ellie, freelance writer and an associate editor for Revolutionized

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.

—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.

Cover Image

45th SW supports 4th Mobile User Objective System satellite launch

The U.S. Air Force’s 45th Space Wing helped successfully launch the fourth Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Launch Complex 40 here Sept 2, 2015, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The U.S. Navy-delivered MUOS is a next-generation narrowband tactical satellite communications system, built by Lockheed Martin, designed to significantly improve ground communications for U.S. forces on the move. (Photo/United Launch Alliance)

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Defense Spending Worldwide hits an all-time high of $2.24 Trillion

In a recent study released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute it describes the dynamic growth being experienced by the defense industry. The five largest spenders were identified as the United States, China, India, the United Kingdom and Russia. These countries represent 62% of the entire spend. It is a common practice to compare the amount being spent in a way that supports one’s political view. And although this does create a prospective it also conveys a false equivalency.

For example, the United States, the largest spender of defense dollar, has a growing emphasis on research and development and this is done primarily to protect the warfighter. Whereas the Russians have an emphasis on munitions and artillery to replace what has been lost. The U.S. Government is spending a budgeted $880 billion

on defense this year, with an additional $300+ Billion coming from foreign governments seeking U.S. made equipment. The Russians have a defense budget of ~$176 billion that has double over the last 12 months. They amount they export is unclear, but countries such as North Korea and India have certain ties to their weapons platforms.

It is common to use benchmarks like percentage of GDP, or country-to-country comparison, but these are too simplistic in their approach. Japan and Russia have both doubled their defense spending, but for entirely different reasons. The Japanese are reacting to the threat in the North China Sea and the Russian’s are hoping not to lose a war. Beyond this there are several underlying issues such as the falling value of the Ruble or the inflationary trends around the world.

In recent years the U.S. defense industry has benefited hugely from foreign interest in our advanced systems. We have seen countries like Poland purchasing quantities of our Abrams M1A2 tanks or Japan purchasing squadrons for F-35 fighter planes. We have a technology exchange occurring with Australia to build nuclear powered submarines which will result in hundreds of billions of dollars to the United States. Total exports are expected rise dynamically from the current $300 billion annually. Yet this is not easily deciphered or understand due to the complexity of the sales. One such example is the annual multi-billion-dollar U.S. subsidy conveyed to Israel for advance systems.

These disparities and others open the door to strategic questions that have challenged traditional thinking. Considerations regarding the vulnerability of a multibillion aircraft carrier to a swarm of inexpensive drones. Or the practicality of using a HIMAR missile at the cost of $115,000 each to defend against an Iranian-made drone with an engine from a weed whacker. Recently, numerous allies have been found to be selling aging equipment off to the war effort and re-filling their stocks with more modern solutions.

Although defense spending continues to be debated

frequently on the evening news, the complexities of a multi-trillion-dollar market is nearly impossible to delineate down to a yes or no answer. In weighing the alternatives, the use of the dollar as a unit of measurement fails to consider how different countries might emphasize human life. Or how a sense of security is obtained when you know a contended border is protected by advanced sensor arrays. Even the opaquer knowledge of knowing that an ally is dependent U.S. technology in their own protection. The result is that only through good leadership and a broad consideration of all issues that defense spending touches can the growing spending be determined as good or bad.

Numbers to consider:

1. The Gross Domestic Product of the World for 2023 is $112.6 Trillion.

2. The Gross Domestic Product of the United States for 2023 is $25.5 Trillion.

3. The Gross Amount the world will spend on defense for 2023 is $2.3 Trillion.

4. The US budget for defense spending is $880 Billion.

5. The US will Export more than $300 billion in defense weapons in 2023.

6. The amount of Aid as of July 2023 sent to Ukraine is $75 billion.

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

We have a technology exchange occurring with Australia to build nuclear powered submarines which will result in hundreds of billions of dollars to the United States.

The INSIDE TRACK Danish Army Piranha fleet to be equipped with Leonardo vehicle camera systems

Leonardo has announced a contract worth over £10M with the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) to equip more than 300 Royal Danish Army vehicles, including Piranha V 8x8 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and Caesar 8x8 ART (Artillery) platforms, with integrated vehicle camera systems. The technology will provide crews with enhanced driver vision and local situational awareness, allowing them to operate more effectively in hostile environments.

The order was placed in December 2022 under the framework agreement signed in 2016 between Leonardo and DALO to provide modular vehicle mission systems across the Royal Danish Army’s fleet of land vehicles, with each system tailored to the individual vehicle type and role. The new contract covers 309 Piranha V vehicles comprising infantry, engineer, repair, mortar, command post, and ambulance vari-

ants, the Caesar 8x8 ART (Artillery) platform, and wider fleet spares. Deliveries have already commenced.

The Leonardo vehicle camera system utilizes a cross-platform modular design that comprises high-resolution infrared (I.R.) driver’s night vision (thermal/low light) cameras, daylight cameras, user displays, I.R. illuminators, and other platform video sources. The system complies with the UK-led Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA) standard, which employs common infrastructure and system control interfaces allowing the utilization of external inputs, such as video sources, from other sensors around the vehicle(s).

Since 2016, Leonardo has provided over 700 integrated camera systems for Royal Danish Army vehicles. These include the JCB High Mobility Engineer Excavator (HMEE), which

the Army first deployed in January 2022, and the WiSENT armored recovery vehicle (ARV) and armored engineer vehicle (AEV). The technology has also been used to support NATO allies in operations worldwide.

The integrated vehicle camera systems on the Piranha and HMEE include the latest version of Leonardo’s DNVS (Driver’s Night Vision System). This means that as well as conducting operations while fully protected against external threats, vehicle crews can operate at night and in low-visibility weather conditions.

Leonardo’s latest-generation camera systems build upon the Company’s decades of experience in providing situational awareness systems for the U.K. Armed Forces, equipping vehicles such as Mastiff, Warrior, Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), Warthog, Viking, Ridgback, Wolfhound, and Challenger.

The INSIDE TRACK

Curtiss-Wright Selected by Air National Guard to Support Tactical Data Link Implementation for the JADC2 Program

TCG BOSS solution for TDL testing, simulation, and training will be supplied to 10 ANG sites

Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division announced it had been selected by the Air National Guard (ANG) to provide Tactical Data Link (TDL) test and training solutions in support of the DoD’s Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) program. Under the contract for which Atlantic Diving Supply (ADS) is acting as prime contractor, Curtiss-Wright will provide the ANG with its TCG BOSS (Battlefield Operations Support System) TDL testing, simulation, and training solution. TCG BOSS will be used to accelerate the implementation of TDLs, such as Link 16. The TDLs serve as the communications backbone of the JADC2 program throughout the ANG. TCG BOSS will also be used to train

ANG personnel on the correct and optimal usage of TDLs during peacetime and conflict. The lifetime value of the contract, which began in May 2023, is estimated to be $3.5 million. It is scheduled to run through 2026.

This contract represents the first significant upgrade to ANG training centers in recent years and the first time that TCG TDL solutions have been selected to support this ANG program.

The INSIDE TRACK

VERTEX SOLUTIONS Awarded TWO Contracts from the U.S. Navy for Extended Reality Flight Simulators

The U.S. Navy has awarded Vertex Solutions two contracts to supply advanced extended reality (X.R.) flight simulators, commonly referred to as Immersive Training Devices (ITDs), to bolster the Naval Aviation Training Next program. The initial contract is a five-year single-award IDIQ agreement, boasting a ceiling of $28 million. Designed with adaptability, this contract, much like Vertex’s versatile ITD platform, offers the flexibility to acquire simulators catering to a diverse range of Navy aircraft platforms.

The Navy initiated the first Delivery Order (D.O.) following the contract award. In this inaugural award, the Navy is poised to capitalize on Vertex’s established T-6 virtual reality (V.R.) ITDs strategically propelling their undergraduate pilot training program, Project Avenger, headquartered at NAS Corpus Christi,

TX. This strategic leap forward is accompanied by a a comprehensive strategy to procure 150 ITDs in the coming years.

This represents a notable advancement for the Navy’s undergraduate pilot training program, improving aviation training and aircrew production efficiency. This enhancement is set to result in substantial time and cost savings for the Navy. Vertex’s XR ITD solutions currently supporting USAF and USN end users seamlessly build on our prior successful execution of SBIR Phase I/II initiatives.

“Following the successful implementation of our ITDs powering the Navy’s Project Corsair T-45C program and the USAF’s Pilot Training Transformation program, Vertex is excited to expand our support to the Navy on an enterprise level, now assisting their undergraduate pilot training program. It’s gratifying to build on our past achievements by offering the Navy cost-effective, modular, and immersive flight simulators to support

their future training needs.”

— Dennis Wikoff, President and COO, Vertex Solutions

Under this IDIQ and subsequent D.O.s, Vertex will serve as the Prime software and hardware integrator, building on our already successful performance on previously awarded PTT contracts. Vertex On-Site Simulation Support Specialists will provide assistance and technical expertise from the initial delivery and installation until the end of the delivery period of this D.O.

The IDIQ provides the Navy with the freedom to increase the ceiling, procure additional V . R., or M.R. flight simulators for other aircraft platforms and add engineering and on-site support services to sustain the Navy’s growing fleet of ITDs. “Our team is dedicated to delivering the most effective training solutions,” said Derrick Barton, CGO, Vertex Solutions. “We are truly honored to support Naval Aviation Training Next’s undergraduate pilot training program with our cutting-edge training technology.”

The INSIDE TRACK

Varjo was Selected as the Headset Technology Provider for Mixed Reality Military Training Project

Varjo will provide head-mounted display (HMD) technology for the U.S. Army’s RVCT Air Program.

Varjo, the global leader in professionalgrade VR/XR hardware and software, announced it had been selected to provide head-mounted display (HMD) technology for the U.S. Army’s Reconfigurable Virtual Collective Trainer (RVCT) Air Program. The Air program is centered around giving a portable training capability for three different Helicopters, Apache, Chinook & Blackhawk. It is part of the U.S. Army’s efforts to create a synthetic training environment (STE) that can be utilized regardless of location.

RVCT is an adaptable hardware system that connects to the STE to activate collective, mixed-reality training scenarios. The RVCT will now include a particular variant of Varjo XR-3 Focal Edition headsets that will enable squads to navigate exercises using actual and computer-generated movements.

With the enhanced Varjo XR-3 Focal Edition capabilities, U.S. Army pilots will leverage Varjo’s human-eye resolution displays augmented with video pass-through technology to experience a fully immersive training environment where they can interact with physical controls in real time. The headset has advanced video passthrough capabilities, performs well in dark and light backgrounds, allows for deep immersion

Mercury Systems Names Bill Ballhaus as President and CEO

Mercury Systems, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Bill Ballhaus as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Ballhaus has served as Mercury’s interim President and Chief Executive Officer since June 24, 2023.

“Bill took on the role of Mercury’s Interim President and CEO with a mandate from the Board to take immediate action to address the Company’s operational and financial challenges and help drive enhanced shareholder value,” said William K. O’Brien, Chairman of the Board. “During the past 45 days, under Bill’s leadership, the management team has performed a

for long periods, and can simulate night-flying scenarios. RVCT also leverages Varjo’s highsecurity offering as the headsets are Finlandmanufactured TAA-certified products and do not have radio frequency.

“We’re proud to work with the U.S. Army in creating the world’s first video passthrough mixed reality-based air training in this quality and scale,” said Seppo Aaltonen, Chief Commercial Officer of Varjo. “Mixed reality technologies can lower overall defense training costs, increase training flexibility, and improve

adaptability to any operational environment.”

Varjo will work closely with the integrator partner Cole Engineering to further improve the core technologies and implement solutions into mission rehearsal.

“We’re thrilled to work with Varjo to scale the level of training immersion based on specific user needs and requirements without impacting the hardware design of the training systems,” said Eric Carr, Program Director at Cole Engineering Services Inc.

deep dive into the Mercury business and charted a clear and compelling path forward. After conducting a review of potential candidates with the assistance of an executive search firm, and given Bill’s previous successes in leading operational transformations and achieving strong results, the Board is confident that he has the right skills and experience to accelerate the execution of Mercury’s strategic plan and solidify the Company’s position in the rapidly modernizing aerospace and defense industry.”

“I am honored and excited to take on the President and CEO roles on a permanent basis,” said Bill Ballhaus. “Working closely with our leadership team, we are moving aggressively to enhance execution to drive predictability of performance, rearchitect our organic growth

engine, improve profitability, and drive greater cash generation. With a unique position at the intersection of tech and defense and a core business well-positioned to benefit from industry tailwinds, we are confident we have the right team, strategy, and assets to capitalize on the opportunity in front of us.”

As previously announced, Mr. Ballhaus will also assume the role of Chairman of the Board, effective immediately before the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Barry R. Nearhos, who has served on the Board since 2018, has been appointed by the Board to serve as Lead Independent Director following the previously announced retirement of Mr. O’Brien immediately before the Annual Meeting.

The INSIDE TRACK

SAIC to Modernize U.S. Space Force Ground-Based Radar Maintenance and Sustainment Services

Science Applications International Corp. announced that it has been awarded a $574 million contract with the United States Space Force (USSF) to support its Ground Based Radar Maintenance and Sustainment Services (GMASS).

A complete view of the Perimeter Acquisition Radar building at Cavalier Air Force Station in North Dakota. The building houses the Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System, a vital piece of the national military command system.

A complete view of the Perimeter Acquisition Radar building at Cavalier Air Force Station in North Dakota. The building hous-

es the Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System, a key piece of the national military command system. (Photo: Business Wire)

“SAIC’s continued work with Space Force is a testament to the valuable support we bring to the agency on its modernization journey,” said Michael LaRouche, president of National Security and Space at SAIC. “Our integrated roadmap and work alongside our partners will advance innovation and encourage customer mission success. We look forward to showcasing our comprehensive expertise and capabilities and further aligning to the GMASS key objectives and needs.”

Under the contract, SAIC will provide on-going sustainment and modification of the GMASS Contract-covered systems, including Upgraded Early Warning Radars (UEWR) and the Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Char-

acterization System (PARCS) radars and all associated systems and equipment.

In addition to sustaining operational capabilities, the contract will utilize an integrated roadmap to highlight incremental opportunities and areas for innovation to promote backlog items and improve operational efficiencies. Through this work, SAIC will help further modernize critical missile warning and space domain awareness radars for key Space Force missions.

Under SAIC’s leading system integration services and expertise, GMASS provides an opportunity to augment Space Domain Awareness by exploiting the capabilities inherent in ground-based radars to better meet the needs of warfighters to detect, track, and defeat missile threats.

The INSIDE TRACK

Leidos awarded a contract to provide CJADC2 support to Joint Chiefs

Leidos was recently awarded a new prime contract to provide combined joint all-domain command and control (CJADC2) analysis and support to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Joint Staff (J.S.) J6 Joint Assessment Division (JAD). The cost-plusfixed-fee, single-award contract has a period of performance of five years and six months. The contract has an approximate value of $74 million.

“We are pleased to deepen our 31 years of experience collaborating with the Joint Staff and other DoD organizations through this new contract,” said Will Johnson, Leidos Defense Group senior vice president and Logistics and Mission Support operations manager. “Our team was purpose-built with unique domain expertise and analytical capabilities to help JAD accomplish its mission. We look forward to accelerating deci-

sion-making advantage for our warfighters in the era of CJADC2.”

Leidos will provide analytical, engineering, and deployable services to support JAD’s operational analysis. This will include demonstrating, experimenting, and assessing emerging and fielded command and control (C2) information systems and procedures. Leidos will assist JAD by producing decision-quality data to improve Joint C2 interoperability on various automation and cloud platforms.

JAD provides the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with a robust capability to conduct a complete spectrum analysis of joint missions from the laboratory to the operational environments. This produces data-driven assessments and recommendations that support decisions to improve Joint C5I and interoperability to enable a more lethal force.

The INSIDE TRACK

Boeing to Lead Counter-Hypersonic Flight Test, Evaluation for DARPA’s Glide Breaker

Boeing will develop and test technologies for a hypersonic interceptor prototype for DARPA’s Glide Breaker program as part of a four-year effort. Boeing will perform computational fluid dynamics analysis, wind tunnel testing, and evaluation of aerodynamic jet interaction effects during flight tests.

“Hypersonic vehicles are among the most dangerous and rapidly evolving threats facing national security,” said Gil Griffin, Boeing Phantom Works Advanced Weapons executive director. “We’re focusing on the technological understanding needed to further develop our nation’s counter-hypersonic capabilities and defend from future threats.”

Glide Breaker is intended to inform the design and development of future hypersonic interceptors, which could destroy a threat traveling at least five times the speed of sound in the upper atmosphere during what’s known as the “glide phase” of flight. The Boeing-led development and testing will provide the foundation for future operational glide-phase interceptors capable of defending against these sophisticated and evolving hypersonic threats.

“This phase of the Glide Breaker program will determine how factors like hypersonic airflow and firing jet thrusters to guide the vehicle affect system performance at extreme speed and altitude in a representative digital environment,” said Griffin. “We’re operating on the cutting edge of what’s possible in terms of intercepting an extremely fast object in an incredibly dynamic environment.”

The INSIDE TRACK

GDIT Expands NOAA Supercomputing Capacity for Advanced National Weather Forecasting

General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) announced today that it has

percomputers’ peak computing performance of 12.1 petaflops – approximately three times the capacity of the previous systems used by NOAA – combined with 25 petabytes of storage provided a significant upgrade to the nation’s Weather and Climate Operational Supercomputing System.

NOAA’s National Weather Service.

“Timely and accurate weather forecasts and warnings play a fundamental role in protecting the life and property of every American citizen,” said Mariano Alicea, GDIT’s vice president and general manager for aerospace

expanded the computing capacity of twin supercomputers, Dogwood and Cactus, by 20%.

The expansion will enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service to provide more detailed weather forecasts. These forecasts are critical for public safety and every economic sector in the U.S., including agriculture, transportation, urban planning, air quality monitoring, and emergency response management.

NOAA began running operational weather and climate forecast models on Dogwood and Cactus, two of the fastest supercomputers in the world according to TOP500, in June 2022. Designed and operated by GDIT, the su-

With this latest expansion, each supercomputer can operate at an even higher peak computing performance (14.5 petaflops) and storage capacity (31 petabytes), enabling the weather service to deploy additional improvements to production weather models. As a result, the agency will be able to produce higher resolution and more accurate models to predict severe thunderstorms, cloud formations, and precipitation.

“This increased supercomputing power allows for upgrades to specific modeling systems that will help weather forecasters deliver more accurate weather forecasts, watches, and warnings and improved certainty in a forecast,” said Ken Graham, director of

and atmospherics. “As we continue to experience increasingly extreme weather events, every advancement in weather forecasting is critical. This expansion enables the National Weather Service to improve its forecasts, better respond to severe weather events, and build the nation’s climate resilience.”

As one of the largest high-performance computing systems integrators for the federal government, GDIT supports complex programs across the civilian, health, defense, and intelligence sectors. In addition to NOAA, GDIT operates supercomputing environments for the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Defense, federal law enforcement agencies, and the state of Alabama.

The Silent Service

By John Reardon, Publisher, COTS Journal

The race for the most advanced submarine fleet is on. These incredible machines are the world’s most lethal and advanced weapons platforms. Their stealth abilities and ability to penetrate enemy lines make their Captains joke that “if you are not outnumbered, and all alone, you are in the wrong place.”

This highly secretive world where the stealth characteristics of a submarine are vital in delivering firepower to the correct location undetected is paramount. The most advanced solutions are required. Consider that sound travels five times faster through water than air, and then consider that even the sound of a knife and fork in a galley can be detected through sonar at a distance. Consider that the magnetic signature of an enemy sub can give away its location. The propeller’s cavitation can be heard to determine a specific enemy ship. This race to enhance the stealth characteristics of our fleet and to be able to track the enemies’ fleet has led to an advanced compute solution from One Stop Systems.

The SDS (Short Depth Server) from OSS

Recently NATO Naval forces have chosen a solution from One Stop Systems to be the center of their Attack class submarine’s sensor array. As you might already deduce, SWAP (Space, Weight, and Power) was just the beginning of this demanding application. The OSS SDS Server or Short Depth Server incorporates the world’s most advanced high-speed GPUs, networking, and processors. The system supports large data sets for advanced artificial intelligence. It needed to scale with a platform that might be in service for decades. And, of course, it needed to be quiet and cool under pressure.

US, NATO and their allies have chosen a global leader in underwater systems and one of the world’s top producers of sonars related to systems for naval forces to integrate the

system. The sonar suite is based on open, interoperable architecture to allow for future capabilities and is built on the same principles as the SDS. In choosing the SDS, NATO Naval forces has an environmentally ideal solution that can scale over time. OSS being known for their first-to-market solutions, the hyperconverged compute characteristics of the SDS are designed to evolve as needed. This can be through greater computing power, higher-

speed interconnects, or more extensive storage. OSS can shoulder greater loads and remove prior constraints using advanced technology combined with open standards.

The compute load of one of the world’s most advanced sensor arrays requires data center computing power in a package placed in the submarine’s bow. Far from the noise of the propulsion systems, the sensors collect ultra-

Image 1: The Rigel Edge Supercomputer brings the power of NVIDIA HGX A100 SXM GPUs to the rugged edge.

high-speed data. The real-time computing needs for fire control coordinates, detecting range and speed, and the type of threat are all crucial to the success of the submarine. OSS chose the most advanced GPU architecture available on the market today, engineered them for liquid cooling, and placed up to 4 GPUs per system and several servers per submarine creating a datacenter undersea. This combination deploys an unprecedented 20 times the computing power over prior solutions for advanced AI and data analytics.

A Game Changer – Advanced AI

The need for such advanced solutions came about through the concept of an Acoustic Data Lake. This game-changer exploits the OSS solution by using processing power and storage to manage vast volumes of data stored in a hierarchical structure to allow the operator to use AI inference frameworks to rapidly call up historical data on top of real-time data. This increases flexibility by having all data captured from the sensors and relevant mission information combined with external intelligence to build a threat profile and battle plan.

In addressing the unique environmental concerns of a submarine, the OSS SDS employs a special cooling apparatus that uses liquid cooling attached to each GPU. This solution reduces the need for airflow and meets the requirement of producing less than 60 Decibels of noise, approximately 20 Decibels less than the closest competitors solution.

The computing power of the SDS allows for Big Data Analytics statistical algorithms to be applied with Artificial Intelligence. This quantum leap provides an increased threat analysis to the otherwise blind submariner. The SDS will support a comprehensive suite of outboard arrays and inboard processing capacity. This includes an entire spectrum of sensors, from acoustics to electronic and signal processing, that are all fused. Next-generation sonar will feature a range of disruptive technologies, with large arrays housing a multitude of highperformance sensors. The SDS will provide a comprehensive picture of the underwater acoustic environment and thwart any threats for decades to come.

The Environment

Advances in submarine technology are highly varied by country and application. Historically there were two types of submarines in the American fleet. Boomer is a type of submarine that provided a launch platform for nuclear weapons and Attack submarines that could attack surface vessels and other submarines. Today the focus is on Attack Submarines with advanced stealth technologies. Every detail that impacts its stealth capabilities’ is scrutinized. Every detail has been considered, from the prop cavitation at the stern to the system noise of the sensor array in the bow.

The Astute class submarine is one of the world’s most advanced submarines with

many common features to its American brethren. It is 97 meters long, displaces 7,400 tons, and has a crew of 98. The submarine is estimated to be in service for three decades and has continually upgraded its technology throughout its life. As a nuclearpowered submarine, the only constraint in its deployment is the food required for the crew enabling six-month deployments.

In choosing the SDS, SWAP (Space Weight and Power) was combined with other concerns such as noise, thermal characteristics, EMF filtering, and overall performance were vital. Known for putting high-performance computing solutions in a transportable, OSS SDS was essential in supporting the Acoustic Data Lake.

The Competition

Countries like China and Russia want to challenge the Americans and British superiority. They and others continue to up the ante by doing everything they can to detect our presence. Through this escalation of using advanced technology in antisubmarine warfare tactics, more extensive data sets are contributing to the workload of the SDS. One such concern involves the use of magnetic anomaly detectors. This technique detects tiny disturbances to the earth’s magnetic field caused by the submarine’s hull. Others combine satellite imagery, Radar Arrays, and even social media.

There are many examples of how open-

This game-changer exploits the OSS solution by using processing power and storage to manage vast volumes of data stored in a hierarchical structure to allow the operator to use AI inference frameworks to rapidly call up historical data on top of real-time data.

source data or social media has been used to aid in detecting the enemy. One example was Google Earth, which identified the Chinese demagnetizing submarines at the LongPo Navy base. Another example was a picture taken on social media of a Russian sub emerging from the Black Sea en route to support the conflict in Syria. Sometimes it can be as simple as an insignia on a uniform during shore leave that is tagged on social media. Whatever the source, combining the data with that of the sensor array will enhance situational awareness.

Conclusion

The OSS SDS class server has been used across several branches of service in the United States, along with other NATO countries, in several applications. Known for its rugged compact size, the SDS can be configured and re-configured to meet growing applicational needs. By incorporating numerous open standards, for example, PCIe Gen 4 and Gen 5, the SDS can evolve through time. OSS includes numerous thermal management techniques for a hyper compact and, in this case, quiet solution.

The DOD’s Mission to Standardize Power Supplies

By Ellie, freelance writer and an associate editor for Revolutionized

What Is the DOD’s Mission?

The United States Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks recently discussed the necessity of domestic energy in relation to supply chains, battlefield operations and clean energy. She spoke about how this country must lead the world in battery production to ensure national security and effective military capabilities.

The DOD’s mission is to domesticate mining and manufacturing processes for electrical components to make batteries. Once it reduces foreign energy dependencies, it plans to transition to electric vehicles and devices across most — if not all — operations.

While the goal is broad and incredibly involved, the government already has multiple projects underway. It wants to see a widespread change in the military within the next few years. As of 2023, they are focused on scaling production with partnerships and outsourcing to commercial industries.

across all military branches is a complex process. The DOD has run into multiple obstacles so far. While nothing has had significant consequences yet, the delays and uncertainty cast a shadow on the mission.

One of the primary reasons for this is that the DOD is attempting to scale battery power supplies while consumer demand for the components is at an all-time high. According to the International Energy Agency, electric vehicle sales will increase by 35% in 2023, a steady increase from previous years.

The rapid spike in demand challenges many commercial component producers and has led to widespread scarcity. As a result, experts project lead times of over 30 weeks, with some even reaching 12 months. If production continues to fall behind, the DOD won’t complete its mission in the timeline it wants to.

This complication disrupts the progress of military projects. Even if the government finds different suppliers or renegotiates contracts,

Image 1: VPT Announces Release of SVLFL5000 Series of Space-Qualified DC-DC Converters.

The DOD is on a mission to standardize power supplies. It recognizes how domestic energy production is only effective for the military with standardization, creating a unique opportunity for commercial manufacturing industries to fill an operational gap.

itive footholds because the DOD searches elsewhere to meet its needs.

Additionally, companies sacrifice valuable research and development time since they can only proceed with the right materials. Continued success relies on producing groundbreaking technology, so they need more access to resources.

However, various industries have little incentive to participate since the demand for batteries is relatively low — and high-cost — compared to its standard operations. Since the government relies on outsourcing, commercial operations effectively dictate the market and shape production capabilities.

How Can the DOD Overcome the Obstacles?

The DOD can overcome the previous obstacles by working directly with manufacturers and offering monetary incentives. Tax credits, subsidies, grants and low-interest loans can encourage participation.

Alternatively, it can strategize to approach issues of scarcity independently. The government has already done so in some capac-

ity, considering it released its lithium battery strategy in 2023, with plans extending to 2030.

Its purpose is to comply with battery security suggestions from the DOD’s supply chain defense response. It outlines how the military could use lithium-ion batteries in tactical vehicles, uncrewed systems and dismounted warfighter communications, among other uses.

Additionally, it discusses how the DOD’s reliance on unique small-cell formats impacts its ability to scale domestic energy production. Electrical component and supplier scarcity are already a complication, so the government must address this issue and adapt.

Consistent domestic production is likely only possible if the DOD acts quickly to leverage allied mining and manufacturing operations. It would still count as a dependency, but the only feasible alternative is for it to invest in research and development to identify a different ideal product.

Why Is the DOD Standardizing Power Supplies?

To some extent, domestic energy production is only helpful for the government if the military actually uses the technology — consider how much of a waste it would be to produce batteries their vehicles couldn’t use. In re-

Image 2: Schaefer Inc. MIL-K Series of Military AC/AC frequency converters, AC/DC power supplies, DC/DC converters, battery chargers, power quality systems, power distribution units, and DC/AC inverters.

sponse, the DOD wants to standardize power supplies.

There is also a monetary incentive for standardization. If the DOD invests in the commercial market to produce batteries domestically, it could increase its influence on the $515 billion in electric automotive investments globally. Additionally, it would secure a reliable omnichannel approach to battery production.

Why Is Standardization Important?

With the military’s growing reliance on electronics comes a need for a reliable energy source. Situations like the war in Ukraine have highlighted the importance of domestic production more than ever. After all, Russia supplied 8% of petroleum imports for the U.S. as recently as 2021.

The figure may not seem significant, but a sudden loss of nearly one-tenth of a power supply can deal a large blow to the economy. It would affect commercial industries, which would, in turn, impact the military.

Aside from improving reliability and independence, a standardization of battery power supplies is far more reliable and safe than what the military currently uses. For example, solid

electrolytes in solid-state batteries are much more energy-efficient and reliable than liquid versions.

Its use cases include powering uncrewed aerial vehicles for surveillance, a critical military advantage. Such traits are crucial for the nation’s defense and security, which is why the DOD focuses so hard on its development.

How Far Has the DOD’s Mission Progressed?

So far, the DOD has secured partners, projects and technology. For example, GM Defense and its parent company have partnered with the Defense Innovation Unit — a division of the DOD — for a project. The aim is to vary domestic commercial suppliers to meet the lithium battery strategy’s 2030 goal.

Figure 3: AEGIS Power Systems power supply operates from a 3-phase 208Vac input. The single 9000W output capability is the power supply solution for military COTS applications.

Eventually, they want to revolutionize the Marine Corps with battery-electric vehicles. They plan to replace the current units running on diesel and jet fuel derivatives. Since current engines and generators consistently waste fuel and electricity, the move has the potential to be incredibly cost-effective.

While the focus is initially on one branch, standardization across all is a distinct possibility. Effectively, this effort is a proof-of-concept trial for the technology, so its widespread use isn’t necessary. If it is as efficient as the DOD expects, they may roll it out onto the battlefield.

What Does Standardization Mean for the Nation?

Widespread power supply standardization has far-reaching effects, impacting consumers, commercial industries and, of course, the military. Ultimately, it will propel manufacturing companies and create local jobs.

Even a single project has significant ripple effects on the economy. For example, the Defense Innovation Unit partnered with Canoo Technologies in 2023 to fast-track power supply standardization. The next phase of their project creates 200 high-skill manufacturing roles at a single site once it begins.

They have created future-proof units that are compatible with other providers’ products, an ideal approach when scaling extensively. Because of this, the DOD wants to increase operations significantly, resulting in even more jobs.

Ultimately, the impact of standardization will surpass job creation, affecting commercial businesses. The government’s reliance on them to produce electrical components will drive massive growth and disrupt various industries’ market shares.

On a national scale, the increased investment in the military will affect consumers. Since power supply standardization relies on production independence, consumers will likely see lower prices and benefit from clean energy.

Working Toward Mission Success

Although many of the DOD’s partner projects are still in relatively early stages, they are incredibly promising. With the government simultaneously passing clean energy acts, commercial manufacturing industries can expect the government to take an increased interest in them.

Widespread power supply standardization has far-reaching effects, impacting consumers, commercial industries and, of course, the military.

COT’S PICKS September 2023

PolyPhaser Offers New Active GPS Timing Antenna with High Gain, Low Noise

PolyPhaser, an Infinite Electronics brand and an industry-leading provider of RF and data surge protection, filtering, and grounding solutions, has just rolled out a new active GPS timing antenna.

With high gain and low noise, this new timing antenna filters and amplifies GNSS L1, GLONASS G1, and BeiDou B1 global positioning signals received from satellite constellations. Precise timing and positioning of data and phase synchronization are essential in applications such as agriculture, mining, construction, military and security, law enforcement, and public safety.

This new timing antenna covers prime frequency spectrums. It operates within 1559 MHz to 1563 MHz and 1574 MHz to 1606 MHz, with high out-of-band rejection with an integrated 28 dB LNA. Its coverage includes the essential GPS L1 band used by GPS satellites.

This active GPS timing antenna delivers clear, strong signals. With a high gain of 31 dBi, it can capture weak signals in challenging

environments. Its right-hand circular polarization (RHCP) design minimizes signal interference and multipath effects, ensuring improved signal quality.

PolyPhaser’s new active GPS timing antenna recovers timing and positioning data for timing reference and phase synchronization. It features a low 1.5 dB noise figure, which allows for longer lengths of commercial-grade cable, making installation versatile and economical. It is compatible with several types of mounting brackets.

This timing antenna is externally grounded with a DC feed through the RF cable. For both reliability and convenience, it uses a threaded TNC female connector. The active antenna is fully ruggedized and IPX6-rated to prevent ingress of water.

“This new GPS timing antenna is perfect for GNSS L1, GLONASS G1, and BeiDou B1 global positioning signals received from satellite constellations,” said Product Line Manager Kevin Hietpas. “It excels at capturing weak signals, operating with low interference, and covering the frequencies our customers use the most.”

PolyPhaser polyphaser.com

AMETEK Abaco Systems SBC3902

Delivers SOSA Aligned, Powerful AI Edge Computing and Graphics in Small 3U VPX Form Factor

AMETEK Abaco Systems’ new SBC3902 single board computer (SBC) is designed with the world’s most powerful AI Edge computer, melding autonomous and embedded Edge Computing systems and real-time GPU processing in a small 3U VPX form factor.

Aligned with Sensor Open System Architecture (SOSA™) slot profile 14.2.16, the 3U VPX IO Intensive computing card offers the NVIDIA® Jetson AGX Orin™ module, delivering up to 275 TOPS of AI performance.

The Jetson AGX Orin GPU includes 2048 NVIDIA CUDA® cores, 64 Tensor Cores, and DL and vision accelerators. Based on NVIDIA Ampere Architecture, the module delivers instantaneous data transfer, dedicated encode/decode capabilities, and deep learning (DL) algorithms.

“The conduction-cooled SBC3902 single board computer is ideal for complex, IO-intensive applications that can benefit from GPU processing, including autonomous vehicles and tracking,” says Pete Thompson, AMETEK Abaco vice president of product management.

The SBC3902 SBC’s high-speed IO feeds multiple concurrent AI application pipelines, including USB3.2, DisplayPort, and RS-232 serial ports, to complement 205 GB/s of memory bandwidth, 64 GB of DRAM, and 64GB eMMC internal storage. PCIe Gen 4 data and expansion and 10GbE control plane connectivity are also featured in the new SBC.

COT’S PICKS

DT Research Expands Line of Military Standard Rugged Laptops with NVIDIA Graphics

DT Research, the leading designer and manufacturer of purpose-built computing solutions for vertical markets, announced the expansion of the LT300 line of fully rugged laptops designed for ultimate versatility, durability, and reliability in harsh conditions. The LT355 laptop is purpose-built for military, first responder, law enforcement, field service, and warehouse environments with IP65, MIL-STD-810G/H ratings, EPEAT certification, and TAA compliance. The LT355 also offers an optional NVIDIA graphics card for robust, graphics-intensive applications such as image rendering, video, augmented real-

ity (AR) training programs, image analysis, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Whether conducting virtual training programs in a classroom, running field training programs in challenging locations, or viewing remote and front-line medical situations, the LT355 rugged laptops deliver fast and robust image processing to enable advanced situational awareness and ready recruits for real job preparedness.

“In keeping with our customer-focused business strategy, we listened to what our customers want, and developed the next version of our rugged laptop to include an NVIDIA graphics card to give more speed and power to applications that use demanding images and video,”

said Daw Tsai, president of DT Research. “This combination of powerful 13th gen Intel processor, sharp screen viewability and high-capacity dual hot-swappable batteries bring the needed ease-of-use and continuous operation to all mission-critical projects - especially those using demanding applications.”

The DT Research LT355 rugged laptop is a high-performance computer that runs Windows®10 or 11 IoT Enterprise operating system on Intel® 13th Generation CoreTM i5 or i7 processors and has a full-size, backlit keyboard. The 15.6” high-brightness (1200 nits) touchscreen is a sunlight-readable capacitive touch display with a class B night vision option and digital pen support.

The LT355 offers the option for an embedded NVIDIA RTXTM graphics card, Embedded MXM GPU with Embedded NVIDIA RTXTM A1000 or A2000 MXM. This delivers higher performance and efficiency, enabling the LT355 to process demanding tasks such as large image rendering, image analysis, and artificial intelligence (AI), ideal for large video and AR files.

With a built-in smart card/CAC reader, the LT355 rugged laptop provides advanced identity verification for secure data access. Optional night vision supports viewing MIL-STD-3009 class B NVIS mode, offering another layer of se-

The LT355 rugged laptop has an antimicrobial enclosure to control infection while also delivering military standard IP65-rated for water and dust resistance; MILSTD-810G/H for shock and vibration protection; and HERO (Hazard of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance)

September 2023

COT’S PICKS

congatec COM Express modules receive IEC-60068 railway certification - Proven shock and vibration resistance for harsh environments

congatec announced that its conga-TC570r COM Express Type 6 Compact modules, based on the 11th Generation Intel® Core™ processor family (code name “Tiger Lake”), have received IEC-60068 certification. This certification qualifies these modules for operation in railway applications, confirming that they meet the requirements for extreme conditions such as extended temperatures, rapid temperature changes, shocks, and vibrations. Customers benefit from an application-ready building block with proven ruggedness for mission-critical applications.

The IEC-60068 certified conga-TC570r module suits various new railway applications, including Train Control and Management Systems (TCMS), predictive maintenance, passenger information systems, video surveillance and analytics, ticketing and fare collection, and fleet management and optimization. Additionally, they are an ideal fit for all applications beyond railway and transportation exposed to extreme conditions, including automation, autonomous guided vehicles (AGV), and autonomous mo-

Fairview Microwave Breaks Ground with Advanced Vehicle GPS Antennas

New GPS Antennas Set Standard in Precision and Reliability for Automotive Navigation

bile robots (AMR). These applications require advanced embedded computing capabilities provided by Intel’s 11th Gen Core processor technology, which the module offers in an industry-compliant design certified to meet all required IEC-60068 specifications.

The certifications in detail

The conga-TC570r module has undergone rigorous testing and certification against various IEC-60068 standards. It is certified for reliable operation under extended temperatures rang-

ing from -40 °C to +85 °C, including temperature change (IEC-60068-2-14 Nb) and rapid temperature change (IEC-60068-2-14 Na). It also provides shock and vibration resistance based on DIN EN 61373 April 2011 category 2 (railway applications). The module is protected against severe environmental conditions, such as high humidity, per IEC-60721-3-7 class 7K3, 7M2. Optional features include conformal coatings to enhance resistance to liquids and moisture further.

congatec congatec.com

Fairview Microwave has announced its new line of vehicle GPS antennas. Engineered for the ever-evolving automotive sector, these antennas redefine the benchmarks for accurate and dependable positioning, even in the most challenging terrains and conditions.

These antennas are equipped with an impressive high gain of either 28 dB or 30 dB, which are designed to capture the faintest signals. Users can anticipate a smooth navigation experience, free from signal drops or inconsistencies.

The antennas accommodate SMA and FAKRA connector preferences, making them adaptable to diverse requirements. Meticulously tuned for the GPS L1 frequency, they ensure location precision. Whether it is a vehicle mount’s sturdiness or a magnet mount’s flexibility, these antennas are crafted to cater to all mounting preferences. Moreover, they are available in active and passive versions, ensuring optimal compatibility with various applications.

The resilience of these antennas sets them apart. They boast an IP rating of IPX6 or IP66, making them both waterproof and dustproof. This rugged design ensures they are the perfect companions for those adventurous trips or driving through demanding conditions. The advantage of right-hand circular polarization (RHCP) is that it minimizes signal interference and multipath effects, ensuring the quality remains pristine.

“The reliance on telematics, fleet management, and autonomous driving is growing exponentially, and the demand for unfaltering positioning has never been higher,” said Product Line Manager Kevin Hietpas. “Our antennas promise just that – unparalleled signal clarity and consistency.”

Fairview Microwave fairviewmicrowave.com

September 2023

COT’S PICKS

GaGe Adds New 16-bit/14-bit Resolution 2-channel Models to its Razor Series of High-Speed PCIe Digitizers Boasting Industry’s Best ENOB

Vitrek, a US-based high-speed data acquisition and signal recording system manufacturer, announces two new versions of its popular Razor Series line of dual-channel (2-CH) high-speed digitizers. RazorEdge Express CompuScope models with A/D sampling rates up to 250 MS/s and analog input bandwidth of 125 MHz are offered in two configurations, one with 16-bit and one with 14-bit resolution. For even higher sampling rates, a new 14-bit RazorPlus Express option as been added with an existing 16-bit model for sampling rates up to 500 MS/s and an analog input bandwidth of 250 MHz. GaGe’s RazorEdge and RazorPlus Express digitizers typically boast the industry’s best adequate number of bits (ENOB) of ~11+.

The new RazorEdge Express and RazorPlus Express models share these features:

• Dual-channel (2CH), high-speed

• Set of 50 Ω / 1M Ω input channel pair

• 8 GB memory standard

• PCIe Gen3 x8 interface

• Software development kits for C/C#, Python, LabVIEW, and MATLAB

• Programming-free operation with GaGeScope PC oscilloscope Windows software

With eXpert PCIe Data Streaming Firmware, acquired data can be simultaneously streamed to host PC memory via the PCIe Gen3 x8 interface at sustained rates for real-time continuous signal processing or signal recording operations.

“The new high-performance additions to the GaGe Razor Series of digitizers provide our customers with even more cost-effective options that match their demanding application requirements,” said Gerald Allgaier, Systems Specialist. “At the same time, we are announcing price reductions on our 16-bit, 500 MS/s, 2-CH, and 4-CH models, further strengthening our competitive position in the market today.”

GaGe gage-applied.com

Pixus Offers New Dual Depth SpaceVPX Development Chassis for 3U Boards

Pixus Technologies now offers an OpenVPX chassis platform that supports 160mm deep and 220mm deep SpaceVPX™ and OpenVPX 3U boards.

The open frame chassis features up to four slots at 1.0” pitch of each board depth. The modular enclosure has card guide options to support air-cooled and conduction-cooled boards. There are also wider 220mm deep card guides to support extra thick SpaceVPX conduction-cooled boards per VITA 78.

A wide range of 3U or 6U OpenVPX backplanes are available, including versions that utilize the KVPX connector per VITA 63. A modular fixed PSU or a pluggable VITA 62 PSU slot is available in multiple configurations.

Pixus offers SOSA™ aligned, OpenVPX, SpaceVPX, and other architecture backplanes and enclosure systems. The Company provides enclosure solutions in 19” rackmount, ATR/ Rugged, development, and specialty small form factor designs.

Pixus Technologies pixustechnologies.com

COT’S PICKS

Apple Watch Users Received The First Wearable Devices Mudra Bands

The Company delivered its award-winning Mudra Band product to first customers, allowing them to control their Apple ecosystem devices using touchless hand and finger gestures.

Wearable Devices Ltd., a technology growth company specializing in AI-powered touchless sensing wearables, announced the first batch delivery of its highly anticipated consumer electronics product, the Mudra Band, to its customers. This milestone marks a significant achievement for the Company and a momentous occasion for tech enthusiasts and Apple customers everywhere.

The Mudra Band is an AI-powered aftermarket product that connects with the Apple Watch and uses neural signals from the wrist to translate movement intent to digital command. The user can control the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and

Unigen Launches Compact Edge AI Computing Solutions

TUnigen Corporation is launching its first Compact Edge AI Servers (Product Name: Cupcake) at the 2023 AI Hardware and Edge Summit. Unigen has leveraged its hardware and software design capabilities and vertically integrated manufacturing to deliver a complete Edge AI HW solution to the market. Through its partnerships with multiple hardware and software AI partners, Unigen offers a menu of choices to fit the needs of various end customers and markets.

AppleTV using its Air-Touch functionality, enabling subtle finger movements for point, click, and drag & drop interactions.

The custom Apple Watch face allows a seamless switch and toggles between Apple Ecosystem products and additional paired Bluetooth devices. The Mudra Band iOS app features a world novelty – the user can view surface nerve conductance (SNC) neural signals live and in real time.

“This is a pivotal moment in our Company’s growth as we deliver our first manufacturing batch of the Mudra Band to preorder customers. We are delivering a groundbreaking product and ushering in a new era of innovation for Wearable

Unigen’s Cupcake Edge AI Server delivers a reliable, high-performance, low-latency, low-power Machine Learning and Inference AI platform in a compact and rugged enclosure. Cupcake integrates a flexible combination of I/O Interfaces and expansion capabilities to capture and process video and multiple types of signals through its Power-Over-Ethernet (POE) ports. Then, it delivers the processed data to the client over a wired or wireless network. Neural Networks are supported by the leading ISV providers, allowing for a highly customizable solution for multiple applications.

Devices,” commented Asher Dahan, Chief Executive Officer of Wearable Devices. “The Mudra Band is setting the standard for human-computer interaction, with natural and familiar gestures that allow users to interact with devices in a relaxed spatial body posture. We are very pleased to have achieved this milestone. We remain committed to setting the input standard for extended reality experiences and providing groundbreaking solutions that enhance how people live, work, and play.”

Wearable Devices

wearabledevices.co.il

The compact Cupcake Edge AI server is powered by an Intel Elkhart Lake 4-core Atom Processor matched to AI modules from multiple leading companies building the latest cutting-edge AI processors. At launch, Unigen has announced partnerships with AI companies, including Blaize, Hailo, Degirum, and MemryX.

Cupcake is a small form factor fanless design in a ruggedized case perfect for environments where Visual Security is important (e.g., secure buildings, transportation, warehouses, or public spaces). External interfaces included are Ethernet, POE, HDMI, USB 3.0, USB Type-C, CANbus, RS232, SDCard, antennas for WIFI, and internal interfaces for optional M.2 SATA III, M.2 NVMe and SO-DIMMs. The flexibility in IO renders the Cupcake Edge AI Server suitable for multiple applications and markets.

“Our Cupcake Compact Edge AI Server is the first in a new line of products for Unigen,” said Paul Heng, President and CEO of Unigen. “By bringing Unigen’s world-class design and manufacturing capabilities to bear upon the world of Edge AI combined with software for a complete solution, we believe we can help our customers solve some of the largest issues they are facing using modern low-latency Edge AI.”

COT’S PICKS September

First Customers Receive World’s Most Powerful Edge AI Solutions from Axelera AI

Axelera AI announced the first shipment of its Metis™ AI Platform to its Early Access Program customers. The shipment, just eight months after the product was taped out, underscores the Company’s focus on rapidly providing access to advanced Edge AI-native hardware and software solutions for companies of all sizes across various market verticals, from industrial manufacturing to smart retail solutions.

“Placing a comprehensive hardware and software solution directly into the hands of our customers within a mere 25 months is a pivotal milestone for our company,” said Fabrizio Del Maffeo, Axelera AI Co-Founder and CEO. “Our customer’s demand for and faith in our technology is a strong endorsement of our dedication to providing industry-leading performance and usability, all at a fraction of current market solutions’ cost and power consumption. I tip my hat to the Axelera AI team for their customer obsession and fast movement

Curtiss-Wright Announces New Dual AMD® Versal™ Premium Adaptive SoCbased 100 Gbit Ethernet SOSA Aligned FPGA Plug-In Card

Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division introduced the CHAMP-FX7 (VPX6-476), its highest-performance user programmable real-time processing module. Ideal for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) system architectures, the CHAMP-FX7 is designed to ingest enormous quantities of digital sensor data over optical fibers for wide bandwidth, latency-sensitive parallel signal processing applications. With unprecedented onboard

towards delivery, and I appreciate all customers that now have our technology in their hands.”

The Metis AI Platform offers practical Edge AI inference solutions, catering to companies developing next-generation computer vision applications. The AI-native, integrated hardware and software solution simplifies real-world deployment, providing a user-friendly path to development and integration. Available in industry-standard form factors like PCIe cards, M.2 modules, and vision-ready systems, it streamlines the integration of AI into business applications, meeting today’s market demands. With a starting price of just $159, the Metis AI Platform is democratizing access to industry-leading Edge AI products, placing its power within reach for

fast fiber optic and backplane connectivity, the module takes user programmability and functionality to the next level.

The rugged 6U OpenVPX™ board features dual AMD Versal Premium ASoC (Adaptive System on Chip) FPGA devices that add many advanced on-chip features not found on traditional FPGAs. Each device features advanced high-speed I/O and digital signal processing (DSP), supporting a range of Versal Premium devices. The devices speed internal data traffic with a unique low-latency deterministic Network-on-Chip (NoC) architecture that far exceeds the performance of the previous generation of AMD UltraScale+™ FPGA boards.

The CHAMP-FX7 Adaptive SoC devices, which support up to 64 lanes of VITA 66.5 fiber optic connectivity directly to the backplane and are rated at up to 28 Gbps/lane, support the most demanding de-

businesses that previously may not have had the means to leverage AI technologies.

Axelera AI was founded in July 2021 and recently announced a series A round of funding, bringing the total to $50 million. The Company grew quickly, hiring over 130 experts from world-leading AI companies and research centers. This past year, it introduced the groundbreaking Metis AI Platform and swiftly accomplished two product tape-outs, including the world’s most powerful AI accelerator for the Edge.

ployable EW, Radar, and SIGINT applications. Designed to deliver ultra-high-speed processing of digitized sensor data, the CHAMP-FX7 features quad 100 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) ports on the VPX Data Plane, dual 10 GbE TSN-capable Control Plane interfaces, and 32 flexible lanes of PCIe Gen 4 connectivity on the Expansion Plane. The CHAMP-FX7 module joins the recently announced CHAMP-XD4 Xeon D-2700 Processing module as the first 6U members of Curtiss-Wright’s new Fabric100 family of SOSA-aligned processing engines. This extremely high-performance board set delivers a powerful, closely coupled solution specifically designed for the most compute-demanding DSP applications, such as EW, Multi-mode Radar, SAR, SIGINT, and EO/IR.

Aligned with the SOSA Technical Standard, the rugged CHAMP-FX7™ module is in a conduction-cooled 6U VPX form factor with two-level maintenance covers. The module also supports alternate cooling mechanisms such as air flow-through (AFT) and liquid flow-through (LFT).

Curtiss-Wright curtisswright.com

Axelera AI axelera.ai

COT’S PICKS September

SWaP-Optimized and Reliable: NAI Introduces New SOSA™-aligned SIU32S Sensor Interface Unit for MilAero Applications

Concurrent Technologies Launches a New Switch Plug-In-Card, IRIS

Concurrent Technologies announces the launch of Iris, a Dual Enclave Switch Card. The Company will market Iris as a Plug-In-Card (PIC) to other system integrators and use it as the basis for its system-level products.

Iris acts as the system keystone to provide secure, high bandwidth switch connections between each PIC, critical in ensuring they work together in the most effective way possible. Typical applications include force protection, situational awareness, command and control, and mission computing.

Iris is designed and manufactured by an undisclosed partner company specializing in electromagnetic spectrum solutions primarily targeted to the US Department of Defense. Concurrent Technologies has signed a multi-year reseller agreement with extension options to enable the Company to sell and support Iris globally through its existing sales channels. Initial orders for development quantities of Iris will be fulfilled this year, with deployment volumes starting in 2024.

Miles Adcock, CEO of Concurrent Technologies, commented on the launch of Iris: “Iris fills the last high-value gap in our systems portfolio, and leveraging this functionality from a trusted partner enables us to deliver leading-edge products to market at an increasingly swift cadence. Over the last year, I have personally met our partner several times as we have built our mutual respect based on aligned values and the desire to support each other’s business.”

North Atlantic Industries, Inc. (NAI), a leading supplier of embedded computing solutions and power supplies, announces the launch of the SOSA™- aligned SIU32S. This highly configurable 3U OpenVPX Sensor Interface Unit is designed to meet the diverse needs of MOSA and SOSA™ Mil-Aero applications, offering highdensity I/O, processing power, communications, and Ethernet switching capabilities.

Built on NAI’s renowned Configurable Open Systems Architecture™ (COSA®) 3U OpenVPX boards and smart function modules, the SIU32S delivers off-the-shelf solutions that expedite the deployment of SWaP-optimized systems across air, land, and sea applications. Its rugged architecture ensures robustness and reliability for critical operations in challenging environments.

Key features of the SIU32S include 28 VDC dual input (Bus A / Bus B) power, 1.0” pitch slots, 12 & 3.3 VDC output power supply slot, SOSA™-aligned backplane profiles for 3U I/O-Intensive SBC Slot Profile SLT3-PAY1F1F2U1TU1T1U1T-14.2.16 and External I/O Slot Profile SLT3-PAY-2U2U-14.2.17. The SIU32S supports extensive I/O capabilities that seamlessly integrate with various sensors and peripherals, enabling efficient data gathering, processing, and transmitting crucial data.

Equipped with advanced processing options, the SIU32S offers a range of multicore processors, including the Intel® Core™ Tiger Lake i7-1186GRE or Xeon W-11865MRE, Freescale PowerPC™ QorIQ® T2080, or ARM® Cortex®-A9, -A53 or A72. This enables the unit to handle complex tasks such as mission computing, data acquisition, fire control and targeting systems, remote data concentration, and vehicle management systems, providing exceptional performance for military and aerospace applications.

The SIU32S incorporates intelligent communication and Ethernet switching capabilities, enhancing overall system

performance and enabling real-time data exchange between subsystems. Its modular design offers versatility and scalability, allowing customization and adaptation to specific project requirements. Whether it’s a data acquisition system, health and usage monitoring, or aircraft interface unit, the SIU32 meets various application needs seamlessly.

“We are excited to launch the SIU32S, our latest addition to the rugged embedded solutions market,” said Lino Massafra, V.P. of Sales & Marketing at NAI. “With its exceptional performance, configurability, and robustness, the SIU32 empowers our customers to accelerate the deployment of cutting-edge SWaP-optimized systems in challenging military and aerospace environments that require MOSA and SOSA™ solutions.

The SIU32S reflects North Atlantic Industries’ commitment to delivering innovative solutions in the rugged embedded market. With its exceptional performance, configurability, and robustness, the SIU32S is set to revolutionize the Mil-Aero industry by providing a versatile and scalable Sensor Interface Unit.

NAI is a leading independent supplier of embedded computing, Input/Output, communica-tions, measurement, simulation, power, and systems products for commercial, industrial, and military applications built on a Configurable Open Systems Architecture™ (COSA®). COSA offers the greatest modularity, flexibility, adaptability, and configurability in the industry, accelerating our customers’ time-to-mission. COSA supports a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) that delivers the best of both worlds: custom solutions from COTS components with No NRE. For over 50 years, companies like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon have leveraged NAI’s capabilities to meet the demanding requirements of a wide range of processing, I/O, and communication-centric applications and do so with uncompromising quality, efficiency, and responsiveness.

North Atlantic Industries naii.com

Curtiss-Wright curtisswright.com/

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