COTS Journal, November 2023 by RTC Media

November 2023, Volume 25 - Number 11 • cotsjournalonline.com

The Journal of Military Electronics & Computing

JOURNAL

The Evolution of C2 On-The-Move Tactical Systems: Meet the Game-Changer, ATMOS It’s time to rethink 5G drone connectivity

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 FEATURE 18

The Evolution of C2 On-The-Move Tactical Systems: Meet the Game-Changer, ATMOS

DEPARTMENTS

By John Reardon, Publisher

Publishers Notes Safeguarding GPS: Unraveling the Intricacies of GPS Jamming and Cutting-Edge Solutions

SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

The Inside Track

It’s time to rethink 5G drone connectivity By Macy W. Summers, President and CEO, Blu Wireless, Inc.

COT’S PICKS 24

Editor’s Choice for November

Cover Image A Sailor stands watch in the command control center aboard USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) as the ship arrives in Subic Bay, Philippines. SUBIC BAY, Philippines (Oct. 5, 2019) Lt. Andrew SUBIC BAY, Philippines (Oct. 5, 2019) Lt. Andrew Lagayada, from San Diego, stands watch in the command control center aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) as the ship arrives in Subic Bay, Philippines. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kyle Carlstrom/Released)191005-N-NB544-1061 COTS Journal | November 2023

The Journal of Military Electronics & Computing

JOURNAL EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL SUBMISSION AND RELEASES johnr@rtc-media.com

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PUBLISHER/CEO John Reardon Johnr@rtc-media.com

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COTS Journal | November 2023

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

John Reardon, Publisher

Safeguarding GPS: Unraveling the Intricacies of GPS Jamming and Cutting-Edge Solutions Introduction: In our technologically driven world, Global Positioning System (GPS) has evolved from a niche technology to an indispensable communication, commerce, and national security tool. This article delves into the critical role GPS plays in various sectors and the looming threat of GPS jamming. We explore how this intentional interference works and the innovative methods to prevent its potentially catastrophic consequences. The Vital Necessity of GPS: GPS has become the backbone of communication

COTS Journal | November 2023

technologies, commercial activities, and national security. Its significance spans from guiding ship and cargo truck fleets to enabling military operations, including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and loitering munitions. The reliance on accurate and reliable GPS data has led to integrating this technology into numerous aspects of our daily lives, making its vulnerability a pressing concern. The Vulnerability of GPS: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers face inherent vulnerabilities utilizing signals from

GPS jamming has grown into a major problem, posing threats to defense applications, commercial operations, and even civilian safety.

constellations such as GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo. The weak signals originating from satellites 20,000km above the Earth’s surface encounter obstacles like physical barriers and intentional or unintentional interference. Intentional interference, specifically GPS jamming, has emerged as a significant threat, thanks to the widespread availability of inexpensive jamming devices.

directions of jamming signals’ angles of attack. What sets infiniDome apart is its patented algorithms, allowing antennas to be flexibly deployed on vehicles while autonomously analyzing the geographical structure. By optimizing null directions based on the antenna array’s orientation, infiniDome achieves efficient isolation and attenuation of jamming signals.

The Threat of GPS Jamming: GPS jamming has grown into a major problem, posing threats to defense applications, commercial operations, and even civilian safety. Criminals employ GPS jammers in cargo theft and drug trafficking, with reports suggesting an alarming 85% usage in cargo truck thefts in Mexico. Furthermore, drug cartels along the U.S.Mexico border use jammers to conceal their activities from border surveillance drones. The potential for a catastrophic Denial of Service attack using a mere $20 jammer is a cause for concern in electronic warfare and communications.

Real-Life Application: In a real-life scenario along the Israel-Syria border, infiniDome’s GPSdome demonstrated its effectiveness against Russian GPS jamming. The GPSdome-protected receiver maintained GPS signal continuity during the attack, contrasting with the unprotected receiver’s signal loss. The innovative solution detected and distinguished jamming signals and attenuated them, enabling uninterrupted navigation.

Types of Jamming Attacks and Signals: GPS jamming attacks primarily involve Radio Frequency (RF) signals overwhelming the receiver, rendering it incapable of discerning satellite signals amid the interference. Continuous Wavelength (CW) jamming, where the full power is concentrated into a single frequency, is a common method. Attackers may also employ various modulations, such as Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) and Phase Shift Keying (PSK), to enhance their jamming signals.

Conclusion: As our dependence on GPS continues to grow, the threat of GPS jamming becomes more pronounced. Understanding the intricacies of jamming attacks and implementing cutting-edge solutions like infiniDome’s null-steering technology is crucial to safeguarding critical GPS-reliant operations. The constant evolution of anti-jamming technologies is vital to stay one step ahead in this ongoing battle to protect our navigation and communication systems from intentional interference.

Methods of Prevention: To counter GPS jamming, various anti-jamming approaches exist. Beam steering, beam forming, and null steering are strategies to protect GPS-reliant devices. However, current solutions utilizing null steering technology often suffer from drawbacks such as excessive weight, bulkiness, high costs, and latency. Overcoming these challenges is crucial for developing effective and scalable anti-jamming solutions. infiniDome’s Innovative Approach: infiniDome tackles the GPS jamming challenge with its null-steering technology, creating nulls in the precise COTS Journal | November 2023

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BLOOMY ® Receives Contract for Columbia Submarine Component Test Bed Bloomy Controls, Inc. announced it has been awarded a contract by General Dynamics Electric Boat, a business unit of General Dynamics, to provide the Flight-Critical Component Test Bed for the Columbia-class submarine. The test bed will perform certification testing for multiple flight-critical circuit card assemblies and absolute pressure transducers, which implement Electric Boat’s advanced fly-by-wire technology. Under the contract, BLOOMY is responsible for all design, development, fabrication, testing, training, documentation, and delivery related to the mission-critical test bed. Furthermore, BLOOMY will develop the test procedures for each unit under test (UUT), helping to ensure that each UUT is ready for

COTS Journal | November 2023

its flight-critical mission. “The BLOOMY team is pleased to provide the test bed for certifying the flight-critical components for the Columbia-class submarine,” says Peter Blume, President of BLOOMY. “We are acutely aware of the importance of our role in supporting this next generation of advanced submarines, their vital importance to our nation’s security, and the safety of the sailors aboard them. As such, Bloomy is proud to join forces with Electric Boat in service to the United States Navy.” BLOOMY has a depth of expertise with automated test equipment and a track record of successful performance on prior contracts,

including the Hovering and Missile Compensation Control System Components Test Bed that BLOOMY delivered in 2020. The test system will have an open architecture that maximizes the ease of component changes, upgrades, and replacements while minimizing user interface changes that necessitate personnel retraining. BLOOMY will use commercially available PXI hardware to provide the required computing and interface capabilities and will use NI LabVIEW and TestStand to implement the code module and test sequence software. As BLOOMY has learned in its 30-plus-year history, this approach will help ensure that the system remains viable for a program whose lifespan is measured in decades.

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SNC Wins $554-Million Contract to Modernize U.S. Army’s A-ISR Jets with RAPCON-X™

SNC has been awarded a multi-year, $554-million contract to deliver aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (A-ISR) jets in support of the Army’s Theater Level High-Altitude Expeditionary Next Aerial– Signals Intelligence (ATHENA-S) project. Currently, in production, the RAPCON-X family of systems is the newest addition to SNC’s turnkey, A-ISR-as-a-service model for contractor-owned-contractor-operated (COCO) capabilities – including aircraft, pilot, flight, and maintenance operations, and logistics support – that is deployable within just hours. “We are proud to continue supporting the Army as a prime contractor with forwardthinking solutions that put the warfighter first,” said Tim Owings, executive vice president of SNC’s MST business area. “This award is the direct result of SNC’s commitment to putting ‘skin in the game’ and staying one step ahead

by anticipating challenges and innovating solutions years in advance.” The ATHENA-S project is critical to the Army’s “campaign of learning” to familiarize its aviation and intelligence branches with highaltitude sensing operations. It seeks to inform the Army’s aerial surveillance needs until the Army-operated High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program of record enters service later this decade. SNC’s RAPCON-X solution is a fully shaped aircraft with a functional mission interior featuring workstations, a galley, lavatories, and crew berthing quarters. It is designed using model-based systems engineering (MBSE), creating the ability to rapidly engineer modifications. It utilizes an open architecture for mission systems, significantly reducing the time required to integrate new systems and add capabilities. To ensure readiness to meet the Army’s deadline, SNC took possession of two RAPCON-X Bombardier Global 6500 jets in

2022, positioning SNC to have both aircraft operational by Q3 2024. The aircraft has been undergoing engineering integration for more than 20 months through SNC’s internal investment channels. “Our born-digital design process and engineering techniques place RAPCON-X among the most capable and rapidly configurable A-ISR platforms worldwide,” said Owings. “RAPCON-X is a system-of-systems that arrives ready to complete the mission, whenever and wherever the need is, quickly modifying as the battlespace evolves.” Rapid configurability means the aircraft is swiftly adapted to specific recon missions by quickly switching out onboard equipment to match tactical needs. In its baseline configuration, RAPCON-X can collect and process signals intelligence, electro-optical reconnaissance, and ground moving-target signatures using a synthetic aperture radar. SNC will work on this contract from its aircraft integration facilities in Hagerstown, Maryland.

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PAC-3 Successfully Integrates With LTAMDS Radar

For the first time, Lockheed Martin’s Patriot Advanced Capability – 3 (PAC-3) successfully integrated with the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) radar to defend against an Air Breathing Threat (ABT). The LTAMDS radar is critical to advancing the U.S. Army’s modernized air and missile defense strategy. During the White Sands Missile Range flight test, PAC-3 sent and received data from the LTAMDS radar to engage the ABT. This mission demonstrates that PAC-3 can maintain its proven Hit-to-Kill intercept performance while integrating with the LTAMDS radar. “Today’s test is another example of how Lockheed Martin is advancing modernized air and missile defense capabilities for 21st Century Security,” said Brenda Davidson, vice

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president of PAC-3 Programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “Integrating with LTAMDS is a crucial step towards fielding a modernized IAMD solution for the U.S. Army to keep our Soldiers ahead of evolving threats.” To prepare for today’s flight test, Lockheed Martin worked in partnership with the U.S. Army to conduct a series of ground testing and captive carry tests. This builds upon previously demonstrated PAC-3 capability with the U.S. Army’s Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS). PAC-3 uses Hit-to-Kill technology to defend against threats through direct bodyto-body contact that delivers exponentially more kinetic energy on the target than can be achieved with blast-fragmentation mechanisms. PAC-3 is effective against current and evolving threats, including aircraft, tactical ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles.

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U.S. Navy Funds Mercury to Develop Photonics Chiplet Manufacturing Capability for Defense Applications

Mercury Systems, Inc. announced an agreement with the U.S. Navy to develop manufacturing capabilities allowing commercial photonics chiplets to accelerate edge processing in defense applications.

The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) Trusted and Assured Microelectronics (T&AM) Program’s Project KANAGAWA aims to mature the domestic supply chain and manufacturing processes for multi-chip packages, where copackaged optics are integrated with electronic integrated circuits to enable long-reach and high-bandwidth data transfer. Compared to conventional copper connections, photonics uses optical fibers to enable orders of magnitude improvement in data bandwidth at a fraction of the power needed. The promise of this technology for defense systems has been well-known for

decades. Still, demonstrations have relied on expensive, custom approaches incompatible with high-volume production. Under a $3.9 million, 17-month Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) with Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane Division, Mercury gains access to photonics devices developed for the commercial sector by Intel and Ayar Labs. These chiplet devices use optical technology to move data through systems such as data centers at speeds over a terabyte per second. Mercury plans to develop miniaturized and ruggedized packages using photonics chiplets for defense applications to allow edge sensor data to be ingested much faster, enabling faster decision-making in nextgeneration radar and electronic warfare systems. “We are excited to partner with the Navy to bring this game-changing commercial technology to the defense community,” said Tom Smelker, Mercury’s GM of Microsystems. “As we continue to drive innovation in defense microelectronics at the edge and move from board-scale to chip-scale, photonics chiplets will play a key role in advanced

packaging and benefit a wide range of systems and platforms.” “Breaking the data transfer bottleneck is a critical objective for the RF & Optoelectronics (RF/OE) program,” said Joshua Hawke, USD(R&E) RF/OE Execution Lead. “This partnership with Mercury will proliferate co-packaged optics within the Defense Industrial Base and accelerate the adoption of innovative technology by the warfighter.”

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LTAMDS radar shines in first tests

U.S. Army’s new radar proves its mettle against drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.

After driving over rugged terrain and dodging free-range cattle and antelope, Holland arrives at a remote site in southern New Mexico to test the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor, or LTAMDS, and prove its capabilities against a myriad of threats. “We’ve quite literally been in the trenches for months - prepping, testing, and rehearsing for this moment, this mission,” said Holland, LTAMDS technical lead at Raytheon, an RTX business. “Now it’s time to watch this radar shine ... show the world what it can do.” Holland is part of an engineering team that successfully led contractor verification testing on the LTAMDS radar at the U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range. The series of successful tests marked a critical milestone in the development of LTAMDS, a next-generation, 360-degree radar built to defeat threats, including unmanned aircraft, cruise missiles, and tactical ballistic missiles – even hypersonic weapons, which fly faster than a mile a second. The Army plans to use it as a replacement for its Patriot air defense systems, while international customers look to add the new radar to their existing Patriot architecture. “For 40-plus years, Patriot has had the

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watch, and there’s no denying its effectiveness. It’s a stalwart of air defense – reliable, effective, and combat-proven,” said Bill Patterson, LTAMDS program director at Raytheon. “If it’s possible to take that air defense radar to the next level, it’s LTAMDS.” Raytheon has built six LTAMDS radars since the contract award in 2019. They are advancing through developmental testing, which will continue in 2024. “It will search, it will acquire, it will track, it will discriminate, and it will guide a missile to an intercept. And we will demonstrate all that capability in U.S. government developmental tests,” Patterson said. Environmental and mobility qualification and expanded system-of-system testing will follow developmental testing in 2024, with full operational capability expected by year-end. Seeing the big picture LTAMDS has three antenna arrays – the primary in front and two secondaries in the back. Working together, they can simultaneously detect and engage multiple threats from any direction.

Raytheon uses an active electronically scanned array, or AESA, technology, and military-grade gallium nitride, or GaN, made at its foundry in Andover, Massachusetts, to strengthen LTAMDS’ radar signal and enhance its sensitivity for longer range, higher resolution,

and more capacity. “LTAMDS is a transformational capability. It’s ready for today’s fights, but it has the range, power, and software flexibility to deal with evolving threats and support the future fight,” said Bob Kelley, a senior director for Requirements and Capabilities at Raytheon. Going global Kelley said that The radar, specifically its ability to track threats in 360 degrees, is of keen interest to U.S. friends and allies. “The ability to detect and defend against complex, highly coordinated multi-threat attack scenarios is critical in layered defense.” In 2023, the Polish Minister of Defense approved a Letter of Acceptance with the U.S. Army to enhance its air and missile defense capabilities with 12 LTAMDS radars. When the foreign military sale is finalized, Poland, a NATO ally, will be the first international partner to purchase the radar, complementing their existing Patriot system. Patriot is the backbone of air defense for 19 countries, many of which have expressed interest in LTAMDS because “they see it as an important evolution in their air and missile defense capability,” Kelley said. “We’ve identified a set of design changes for Patriot that would allow it to accept LTAMDS and integrate it as part of a Patriot configuration,” Kelley said.

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AFRL signs CRADA to advance communications in sub-terahertz for NextGen networks Air Force Research Laboratory and Keysight Technologies representatives pose for a photo after signing a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement, or CRADA, to advance communications in sub-terahertz for NextGen networks. Air Force Research Laboratory and Keysight Technologies representatives pose for a photo after signing a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement, or CRADA, to advance communications in sub-terahertz for NextGen networks. The Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement, or CRADA, with Keysight Technologies, Inc., an industry leader in providing design, emulation, and test solutions that help engineers quickly develop and deploy innovations. The CRADA will allow AFRL to leverage new technologies with materials, devices, test techniques, and simulation to optimize wireless network performance. “AFRL continues to pursue technology development efforts associated with wireless communications capabilities across the electromagnetic spectrum, including the terahertz band for strategic and tactical net-

works,” said Michael Hayduk, deputy director of AFRL Information Directorate. “Collaborations such as this allow the exchange of information for ongoing research in terahertz communications and hardware development that is currently being performed independently at AFRL and in the commercial sector.” AFRL will work with the CRADA to leverage Keysight’s existing testbeds to evaluate test and measurement concepts at sub-terahertz, or sub-THz, frequencies, particularly full device characterization and measurement. Through the CRADA agreement, Keysight will gain access to AFRL’s expertise in modeling wireless channel characteristics and long-range outdoor end-to-end communications link development. AFRL researchers, in turn, will have access to Keysight’s resources and capabilities to do complete performance analysis, including digital twin modeling and simulation of the link. “Dynamic and assured access to the electromagnetic spectrum and network resources is critical to establishing resilient communication links and networks, and sub-terahertz frequencies are the next spectrum frontier for communications in congested and contested spectrum environments,” said Dr. Ngwe Thawdar, AFRL program manager. “This CRADA is a great example of how AFRL facilitates collaboration with partners like Keysight to enhance

research and development in next generation communications and networking technologies.” Almost all RF systems--commercial or defense-- utilize a combination of frequency bands below 100 gigahertz, or GHz, to create airborne and satellite links for voice, data, and command and control communications, Thawdar said. Since frequencies above 300 GHz remain unregulated, increasing demand for higher data rates in communications systems has led the research community, including AFRL and wireless industry companies, to seek the next available wide bandwidth by exploring new parts of the spectrum. “Keysight is looking forward to collaborating with AFRL to advance mutual research and development interests,” said Vince Ngyuen, vice president and general manager for Keysight’s Technologies Aerospace Defense and Government Solutions Team. “Keysight aims to significantly advance sub-terahertz wireless technologies to support defense and civilian communication links and networks through this CRADA with AFRL.” The CRADA was signed on Nov. 13, 2023, at the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate. The CRADA relationship is expected to help advance sub-terahertz and terahertz wireless technologies to support defense and civilian communication links and networks.

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Tabnine Raises $25 Million from Atlassian Ventures, Telstra Ventures, and More to Meet Demand for Enterprise-Ready Generative AI in the Software Development Lifecycle.

Tabnine, the creators of the industry’s first AI-powered assistant for developers, announced it raised $25 million in a Series B round, bringing its total funding to $55 million. The round was led by Telstra Ventures and included participation from new investors Atlassian Ventures and Elaia. Existing investors Headline, Hetz Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures, and TPY Capital also participated. The funding will be used to extend Tabnine’s mission to integrate generative AI into the end-to-end software development lifecycle (SDLC), following Tabnine’s successful application of AI to code creation and completion, which already serves more than one million monthly users. Tabnine will build its sales and global support teams to meet massive customer demand. The adoption of generative AI for the planning, development, testing, and deployment of software is growing at an astonishing rate. A survey by GBK Collective found that 78% of companies expect to use AI for software development within the next three to five years. Freshworks Inc. estimated that U.S. companies could save over $15,000 per IT employee annually by using AI to automate repetitive tasks. At the same time, an IDC study in May found that

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nearly 40% of IT executives said generative AI “will allow us to create much more innovative software.” Contrary to the fears of AI replacing jobs, large enterprises reported to IDC that they expect the technology will help them overcome the shortage of skilled developers and operators that persists today. “Organizations are racing to adopt generative AI and prove its value across most aspects of the business. However, the use of generative AI in the SDLC has already delivered real business results, and now is the time to meet soaring enterprise demand,” said Dror

Weiss, co-founder and CEO of Tabnine. “We’re grateful to partner with our new and existing investors to address customers’ development needs by offering a proven solution that also delivers on security, privacy, and consistency.” As an early adopter of generative AI, Tabnine continues to execute its vision to provide a platform that serves developers at every step of the SDLC — from code completion all the way to deployment — with some users already using Tabnine to complete more than 50% of their code. In June, the company unveiled Tabnine Chat, an AI code assistant that writes code and answers questions against organizations’ codebase. Built with security at the forefront, Tabnine Chat combines the latest large language models (LLMs) with codebase famil-

iarity to both accelerate development and improve the quality and reliability of a developer’s work. Most importantly, Tabnine is the only generative AI assistant operating at a scale that can be deployed securely and privately (either on-premises or via Virtual Private Cloud), respecting the integrity and privacy of each team’s codebase while ensuring that developers do not incorporate proprietary code from litigious vendors into their codebase. “There’s been a spectacular acceleration in generative AI systems over the last few months, and only a handful of researchers worldwide are advancing the science behind these systems. Tabnine is one of those companies,” said Steve Schmidt, General Partner at Telstra Ventures. “While other systems are black boxes that can’t be trained on company data and demand access to your code, that’s not the case for Tabnine. AI that ships software better and faster without IP exposure is a game-changer, and we believe Tabnine is at the forefront of this revolution.” “Developers have been our customers for over twenty years, and we are passionate about giving them the tools to accomplish their best work. Tabnine’s AI-powered coding assistant provides the support they need to accelerate their work and push through blockers faster to deliver more results,” said Peter Lenke, Head of Atlassian Ventures. “We’re excited to support and partner with Tabnine as they bring these exciting new capabilities to millions more development teams.”

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Low Earth Orbit Research and Development Workshop

The Biden-Harris Administration encourages using Low Earth Orbit (LEO) as a unique environment to address global challenges in science, medicine, manufacturing, communications, agriculture, and national security. In March, the Biden-Harris Administration released the National Low Earth Orbit Research and Development Strategy, highlighting the value of building partnerships and sharing findings from space-based research and development (R&D) across the federal government and with nongovernment research communities. This week, federal departments and agencies gathered at a workshop to explore opportunities and potentially pivotal programs for collaborative LEO research. At the workshop, federal departments and agencies showcased their commitment to strengthen coordination on high-impact LEO ventures by:

Coalescing efforts through a LEO National Laboratory as one of many customers of commercial space products and services; planning and preparing diverse research ideas, including biomanufacturing, tissue engineering, and studying immune cell aging, to sustain a U.S. presence in LEO in advance of the planned retirement of the International Space Station; Discussing safety protocols and standards to ensure timely access and flight safety to, within, and through LEO and working closely across the federal government to develop innovative solutions to enhance space situational awareness, reduce operational risks, and enable faster emergency response. This workshop enabled new ideas for developing LEO, provided opportunities for R&D on novel concepts, and encouraged forming new teams within the federal government. As we continue this work, the United States will expand opportunities to remain the global leader and partner of choice for orbital platforms for decades.

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The

INSIDE TRACK Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office Launches Access to Digital OnDemand Learning Platform

The Department of Defense (DoD) Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) announced the launch of “Digital On-Demand” today, an initiative to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) knowledge by providing access to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Horizon’s library of learning resources for the DoD enterprise. The CDAO is opening the MIT Horizon learning platform to all members of the DoD military and civilian workforce, providing users with flexible, mobile-friendly options to view the content. “The CDAO is rolling out Digital On-Demand to foster a baseline understanding of AI systems and other emerging technolo-

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gies,” said Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer Dr. Craig Martell. “This resource demonstrates to the DoD workforce how they fit into the future of these advancements and further enables their adoption throughout the Department.”

Data Analytics. One goal of providing this first step of entry level AI knowledge is to establish a common language and understanding to enable better communication across the DoD.

The CDAO provides this capability through Digital University, a joint venture of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, granting straightforward access to best-in-class training content. Digital –On-Demand can be used to gain foundational knowledge of specific technologies and as an easy reference tool to provide definitions or explanations of terms and concepts.

“The DoD is on a historical journey of building a digital workforce. When it comes to AI and emerging technologies, it is essential that their employees are all speaking the same language,” said Kathleen Kennedy, senior director of MIT Horizon and executive director of the MIT Center for Collective Intelligence. “We are excited to collaborate with DoD on this effort to accelerate AI knowledge and emerging technologies across their entire workforce.”

The MIT Horizon online platform consists of bite-sized learning assets on AI capabilities and other emerging technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, Edge Computing, Generative AI, Cybersecurity, and Big

The launch follows a successful soft launch that occurred earlier this summer to members of the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) workforce.

SPECIAL FEATURE

The Evolution of C2 On-The-Move Tactical Syst Meet the Game-Changer, ATMOS By John Reardon, Publisher Introduction:

Remember the notso-distant past when compromise was the name of the game in designing tactical systems? Those days are gone, and the future looks exciting, thanks to the ATMOS. In this article, we’ll explore the transformation of this cutting-edge tactical solution that leaves the compromises of yesteryears behind. A Trip Down Memory Lane: Let’s start with a quick flashback to the good ol’ days before tactical systems were all about “SWAP-C” – Size, Weight, Power, and Cost. Design constraints pushed system designers to their limits, leading to some pretty quirky solutions. Take, for instance, the UYK 7 tactical computer from the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. It had its quirks, to say the least. This clunky computer, developed by Univac, suffered from a severe lag. By the time it met all the environmental requirements, it was already a couple generations behind in processing power. It was like having a flip phone when everyone else had a smartphone. Plus, it came with proprietary software and I/O specific to the military. Trying to upgrade this beast was like navigating a maze with a blindfold. The EXEC VIII software was proprietary, and tools were scarce. These systems weighed a ton and tended to overheat, and their price tags were sky-high. Simply put, it was a headache. 18

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Image 1: The Rugged ATMOS-HRL from Core Systems

The design team’s mission was clear: create a scalable solution (one to five server nodes) that could evolve seamlessly over time by harnessing the enterprise world’s latest processor, storage, and interconnect technologies.

In response to all these historical compromises, enterprising engineers at Core Systems decided to take a leap into the future with the ATMOS. This tactical marvel was designed by Core Systems with the soldier and built for the soldier. The ATMOS: No Compromises Allowed: The design team’s mission was clear: create a scalable solution (one to five server

nodes) that could evolve seamlessly over time by harnessing the enterprise world’s latest processor, storage, and interconnect technologies. Open standards and off-theshelf components were the order of the day, promising the perfect blend of performance and affordability found in modern network servers. The ATMOS is C2 On-The-Move exemplified. This high-tech marvel had to be rugged enough for a submarine’s tight quarters, light enough for airborne missions, and robust sufficient for flagship duties in a battle group. It needed an upgrade path that would keep it relevant for decades, adapting to ever-evolving needs. Powered by 4th-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors, the ATMOS packs a punch with over 160 cores and a whopping 76.8 TB of FIPS 140-2 primary storage. This means it can easily handle the deluge of data generated on today’s battlefields and can manage multiple enclaves within the same server box. From gobbling up data from advanced sensor arrays to communicating with Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), the ATMOS is a force to be reckoned with. The ATMOS in Action: When it comes to transportability, the ATMOS is a champ. Typical configurations weigh a manageable 50 to 70 lbs., and fully decked-out solutions are airline overhead compatible. It makes the ATMOS easily transported by just two people. This versatile design allows the ATMOS to shine in various

airborne applications, from anti-submarine warfare (ASW) to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). MUM-T (Man, Unmanned Teaming): Through the dynamic growth in the use of UAVs, the idea of teaming manned and unmanned autonomous vehicles for greater situational awareness is an application ATMOS excels at. By coupling UAVs to forward aircraft, the mission parameters can be expanded into hostile and uncertain environments. In doing this, the amount of data being captured has increased dramatically. By fusing human intelligence with artificial Intelligence (AI) via onboard GPUs, the ATMOS can contribute considerably to the precision and accuracy of any engagements. In fact, the U.S. Army Aviation Centre (USA ACE) defines this teamwork as “the synchronized employment of soldiers, manned and unmanned air and ground vehicles, robotics, and sensors to achieve enhanced situational understanding, greater lethality, and improved survivability.” The ATMOS is a crucial player in this high-stakes game. The Heart of Innovation: The Core Systems Design team understood the common practice of compromise in prior tactical systems could be overcome through innovation and an eye for detail. One such detail is being made in the United States using genuine sourced components, assuring that inferior or non-certified components are never used. An incident occurred several years ago when a COTS Journal | November 2023

P-8 Poseidon’s tactical computer was rendered inoperable due to a counterfeit part that made its way into the supply chain, jeopardizing the mission and crew of the aircraft. Another example is the optional CISCO ESS 9300 10Gb data switch. It’s a familiar face for many, optimized for size, weight, and power in harsh environments. Plus, it packs some serious cybersecurity muscle to protect mission-critical networks from cyber threats. The ATMOS can be configured in various ways – multi-node, sensitive data separation, system redundancy – you name it. Battery backup, dual power supplies, and advanced system monitoring are all on the menu. As data loads grow and computing power gets pushed to the max, load optimization techniques ensure that ATMOS performs at its absolute best. A Step Ahead of the Game: While the ATMOS was designed from the ground up, it didn’t forget its roots. Lessons learned from past tactical computers were woven into its DNA along with direct consultation from the soldier. It adheres to industry standards, ensuring an upgrade path that aligns seamlessly with commercial markets. With its no-compromise approach and an eye for detail, ATMOS stands at the forefront of edge computing in the military. The Power of Data Fusion: In today’s theater of operations, data fusion is imperative. The ATMOS was tailor-made to be a universal computing platform that never backs down in the face of adversity. It’s a multidomain, multi-sensor tactical powerhouse capable of countering threats with ease. As data from various sources and types become vital for responding to hostile actions, the ATMOS steps up to the plate, handling vast volumes of data with precision. The Pentagon’s dream of creating a highly connected, on-the-move AI-driven battlefield (JADC2) finds its match in the ATMOS. It’s the perfect answer to the compromises of the past, offering an optimized solution for today’s warriors. Whether a forward command center or an airborne mission, ATMOS is ready to conquer any domain with its transportability and data center-like performance. In conclusion, the ATMOS represents a leap forward in tactical systems, where compromise is no longer the norm. It’s a testament to human ingenuity and innovation, shaping the future of military technology. Get ready for a new era of tactical excellence with the ATMOS! 20

COTS Journal | November 2023

SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

It’s time to rethink 5G drone connectivity By Macy W. Summers, President and CEO, Blu Wireless, Inc. Earlier this year, the renowned RUSI Journal reported that Ukraine is losing 10,000 UAVs per month, a substantial figure. While many commentators perceive these losses from the point of view of a shift toward mass procurement of disposable drones, the reality is that the electromagnetic signature of Ukraine’s drones is being detected by Russian forces, turning these assets into easy, defenseless targets. While 5G cellular networks have brought new capabilities to military connectivity (high bandwidth, low latency), the issue of Ukrainian

drones highlights significant challenges with conventional, cellular (3GPP) 5G networks being used for drones and similar unmanned vehicles. Some cellular 5G networks may even be the root cause of drone losses because of their easily detected (and located) electromagnetic spectrum. This article explores the complexities of wireless connectivity for drones and the various types of (tactical) networks best suited to different use cases.

The challenges of today’s 5G and Wi-Fi networks Drones in tactical scenarios nowadays are mostly connected using Wi-Fi technology, not 5G. In fact, and contrary to popular belief, 3GPP 5G technology (that is, 5G commercial networks) is unsuited to tactical scenarios because it requires subscriptions to a network operator and supporting infrastructure such as cell towers. Alternatively, private 5G networks are much

Image 1: Standing Watch - Sailors assigned to the guided missile destroyer USS Carney stand watch in the ship’s combat information center during an operation to defeat a combination of Houthi missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles in the Red Sea, Oct. 19, 2023. The Carney is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to help ensure maritime security and stability in the Middle East. The monitors in this photo have been obscured for security purposes. COTS Journal | November 2023

Alternatively, private 5G networks are much better suited to military operations because they use a dedicated (private) slice of the spectrum, enabling a direct connection and low latency better suited to military operations because they use a dedicated (private) slice of the spectrum, enabling a direct connection and low latency. However, spectrum use is tightly regulated, and there are already reports of regulators concerned about how commercial and military providers will share portions of the 5G spectrum. But all these challenges fade compared to the main one – the inherent detectability of all devices connected to any of these networks, be it Wi-Fi, 3GPP commercial, or private 5G cellular networks.

a centralized core network, meaning there is no single point of failure and no core infrastructure (e.g., cell towers) required. Importantly, mmWave technology exploits license-exempt, non-commercial spectrum frequency bands, such as the V-Band at 5771 GHz, which is, 14 GHz of continuous radio spectrum. Furthermore, as the unlicensed mmWave radio frequency band, the V-band has the unique

capability of being LPD by its very physics nature. V-band is unique because it causes radio signals to resonate perfectly with oxygen molecules in the air – a phenomenon called oxygen absorption. The oxygen creates an incredible spike in attenuation that almost appears like a brick wall at a distance and creates a curtain of invisibility between a tactical team and its adversary. Within portions of the V-band, connectivity truly has an LPD quality.

Many companies providing cellular 5G claim they provide encrypted systems. Still, the unmanned devices connected to these networks are easily detected at up to hundreds of kilometers because they generally use signals below 6 GHz. We all know that low probability of detection (LPD) and the associated element of surprise are crucial for success and survival in military scenarios. mmWave technology delivers superior latency, high bandwidth, and LPD IEEE 5G mmWave-based systems are emerging as the secure and stealthy solution to address tactical communications needs. They utilize distributed mesh networks rather than 22

COTS Journal | November 2023

Low latency is another essential attribute of a military network. mmWave networks deliver at least an order of magnitude lower latency compared to cellular 5G networks, partially due to the point-to-point nature of the networks rather than the centralized network architecture typical for cellular 5G. Horses for courses or why different networks are needed for other drone use cases There is no single perfect solution to solve all connectivity requirements for drones. For large military bases and in some urban scenarios, it makes perfect sense to leverage 5G commercial network or 5G private network technology with appropriate security enhancements.

of battle, providing huge amounts of information, high-resolution imagery, and data with relatively small budgets compared to manned reconnaissance vehicles. Unmanned drones, both in the air and underwater, can undertake scouting missions and be used as part of a broader fleet to defend against or attack the enemy. However, capturing and retrieving the data collected by unmanned drones can be difficult, particularly within a contested environment. Connecting drones to tactical vehicles or command posts provides added functionality, but, again, this can prove incredibly challenging in disrupted, disconnected, intermittent, and low-bandwidth (DDIL) environments.

In a high-threat battlefield environment, however, such as at a mobile command post or in non-urban forces engagement, tactical networks are subject to harsh environmental conditions, electronic warfare targeting, and jamming. In such an environment, military forces need a stealthy tactical network with LPD and LPI (Low Probability of Intercept) to avoid drone detection, takeover by counter-drone systems, or drone destruction.

IEEE 5G mmWave for use with drones provides a stealthy LPD connectivity and higher bandwidth than ever possible, with broadband speeds of 100s of Mbits per second and more, depending on range. The ability to swiftly transfer huge amounts of data means missions can be extended to collate more data over longer periods of time because that data can be transferred quickly and in full.

Drones as means of surveillance and data gathering Drones are becoming increasingly commonplace as a tactical means of surveillance, weapons delivery, and data gathering. Drones are now a fundamental part of a military order

For example, when working with a tactical vehicle, ISR drones can connect and communicate via nodes fixed to the top of the vehicle. With communication distances of up to and exceeding 4,000m, medium-sized drones can go over to inaccessible locations, and travel at

heights of 100m and more. Drones support communication with the command post. Tactical communications enable situational awareness and the creation of a common operating picture. Drones can play a key role here by acting as a relay point or a cell tower connecting a Local Area Network (LAN) with a Wider Area Network (WAN) and connecting tactical units with the command post. In the not-too-distant future, commanders will be able to see at a glance what is going on on the battlefield using dashboards displaying rich data (video, images, and voice) supplied by drones and respond accordingly. This has not been possible in the past, with (mostly) pushto-talk walkie-talkies being used for tactical communications. The connection from LAN to WAN networks, facilitated by drones and satellite links, will also enable tactical teams to call for fire digitally. There are several other use cases where drones will play an important role in the future, say swarms of drones or other distributed systems; however, drone capabilities will only be fully exploited with advanced connectivity. This means a high bandwidth, low latency, and stealthy connectivity, enabling communication with other unmanned devices, manned systems, tactical posts, and the command post. COTS Journal | November 2023

November 2023

COT’S PICKS Portsmith Expands Rugged Connectivity Solutions Into Rugged, Mission-Critical Market

Rugged products traditionally found in the Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) space are finding new life in mission-critical applications. After 25 years of success in the AIDC market, Portsmith has expanded its rugged connectivity solutions for defense, security, aerospace, aviation, radio communications, and autonomous driving. Technology must exceed basic compliance and security to meet these applications’ high-durability requirements. Portsmith engineers its ultra-rugged products accordingly, with 810G capable, double encapsulated, direct plug-and-play solutions that meet various applicational needs. A U.S. Department of Defense client requested the U.S.-manufactured MIL-STD

COTS Journal | November 2023

810-G-validated USB 2.0 to 10/100 Ethernet interface adapter, which was designed, certified, and tested from the ground up and then successfully delivered in 2023. Built for maximum durability in extreme environments, the product is appropriate for use on the base, field, or air. Another product in the family, Portsmith’s rugged USB-C-to-Ethernet adapter, won a prestigious 2021 Good Design Award for its engineering. The company’s fully encapsulated, one-piece USB-A and micro-USB-to-Ethernet adapters provide mobile device users with a direct wired connection to the network in unforgiving environments. These adapters are designed, engineered, and manufactured in the United States and are commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) in North America. Portsmouth’s rugged adapters provide hardwired connections that eliminate operational risks, such as those associated with RF signaling. They provide reliability and security that match the level of potential impact, pro-

tecting systems and data from serious threats. Having built custom solutions for DoD Prime Contractors, Portsmith designs its adapters specifically for mission-critical activities on the interconnected battlefield, such as: • Establishing secure connectivity for a drone’s advanced network tactical system • Vehicle-mounted recharging stations that require 810G cabling • Connecting a rugged computer like a Panasonic Toughbook to a software-defined radio, sonar array, or radar array • Interconnectivity among conductor-cooled boxes With their proven, stable BOM, Portsmith adapters won’t change over time — ensuring that once a product has been qualified for a use case, subsequent deployments will be identical. Portsmith portsmith.com

November 2023

COT’S PICKS Keysight Validates First Test Case for 3GPP Release 17 Non-Terrestrial Networks Standard

Keysight Technologies, Inc. has validated the first protocol conformance test case for 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 17 (Rel-17) standards for non-terrestrial networks using narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) technology. The validated test case, which is for use with Keysight’s 5G network emulation conformance test platform (TP168), was obtained at the Conformance Agreement Group (CAG) #76 meeting of the Global Certification Forum (GCF). Satellite-to-ground communication based on 5G standards is critical to building NTNs that

PX5 and Percepio Enhance Safety, Security, and Deep Visibility for Embedded IoT Applications PX5 announced the general availability of integration between PX5 RTOS and the Percepio Tracealyzer® system visualization tool. Combining the industrial-grade PX5 RTOS with Tracealyzer’s deep observability for critical-edge software gives embedded developers a competitive advantage in reducing time-to-market and improving software safety and security for resource-constrained devices.

deliver ubiquitous mobile connectivity and broadband internet access to populations living in rural areas where terrestrial infrastructure is lacking. Widespread 5G NTN deployments can provide critical health, safety, and financial benefits to rural populations while improving economic conditions for industrial sectors such as agriculture, energy, health, and transportation.

can handle the path loss and delays associated with NTN. Keysight’s Protocol Conformance Toolset provides designers with a comprehensive suite of test cases prioritized by GCF and PTCRB that can be used to certify chipsets, modules, and devices and accelerate time to market.

The new NB-IoT NTN test case is available through the S8704A Protocol Conformance Toolset and verifies that chipsets and devices

Keysight keysight .com

“It’s nearly impossible for developers to correct a safety, security, or performance issue if they can’t see it, and this integration between PX5 RTOS and Percepio Tracealyzer helps them dive deep into the real-time behavior of their systems,” said William Lamie, CEO, PX5. “PX5 RTOS is purpose-built to deliver safety, security, and portability benefits to devices across all IoT sectors, and Tracealyzer adds even more robust capabilities to see exactly what takes place before a system crash and understand firmware better to enhance and optimize applications.”

finitive step forward for the embedded industry, as the combination of native POSIX pthreads+ support with deep observability and visualizations offers new ways for developers to develop, deploy, and run critical edge software with confidence,” says Johan Kraft, founder and CTO of Percepio. “This integration allows manufacturers and their development teams to accelerate the development of safe, secure, and reliable products through a deep understanding of what their applications are doing.”

“PX5 RTOS support for Tracealyzer is a de-

Purpose-Built RTOS for Today’s Demanding IoT Devices The industrial-grade PX5 RTOS is an advanced, fifth-generation RTOS designed for the most demanding embedded applications with best-of-class size, performance, safety, and security. The PX5 RTOS is built on a native implementation of the industry-standard POSIX pthreads+ API, including semaphore, mutex, and message queues. It offers real-time extensions such as event flags, fast queues, tick timers, and memory management. This industry-standard support instantly enables a wide range of open—source and commercial software stacks for real-time embedded IoT platforms, reducing time-to-market, improving device firmware quality, and enhancing portability across platforms. Such benefits help device makers to maximize their investments in firmware development. PX5 px5rtos.com

COTS Journal | November 2023

November 2023

COT’S PICKS Fairview Microwave Releases New MILSTD-1553 Connectors TRB 3-Slot Cable Jack Connectors Are Made for the Toughest Environments. Fairview Microwave has announced its newest line of MIL-STD-1553 TRB connectors. These advanced TRB connectors have been crafted to accommodate the demanding needs of modern high-stress environments, emphasizing both robustness and user-friendliness. These connectors feature a bayonet coupling complemented by a center and intermediate cylindrical contact. Their twinaxial connectivity ensures that users benefit from stable and reliable connections crafted for twinax use. The fact that they can be employed in a wide range of popular twinax cable applications shows their adaptability. In addition, they are RoHS-compliant, a reflection

The IC-INT-VPX3l leverages Intel’s Xeon® W eight-core processor to deliver impressive processing performance Quimper, France, November, 07th 2023 Interface Concept, specialized in the design and manufacturing of high-computing board

of Fairview’s commitment to sustainability.

Fairview Microwave fairviewmicrowave.com

The three-lug bayonet coupling is a standout feature, offering a unique fastening design that resists accidental unplugging, enhancing the product’s reliability. This commitment to quality and environmental responsibility reflects Fairview’s dedication to leading the way in the RF and microwave sectors. What truly sets the MIL-STD-1553 TRB connectors apart are their inherent benefits. The robust design, built to endure, can withstand severe shocks and vibrations. This ensures unparalleled reliability and a longer product lifespan. Their ease of use ensures that users can employ the connectors in various applications regardless of their technical proficiency. Moreover, the connectors’ suitability for high shock and vibration environments allows them to function in extreme conditions, ensuring consistent, high-caliber performance.

solutions for industrial and defense applications is unveiling the brand-new IC-INT-VPX3l, a 3U VPX Single Board Computer based on the Intel® Xeon® W (also known as Tiger Lake-H) processor and aligned with the SOSATM Technical Standard. The IC-INT-VPX3l board design places the Intel® Xeon® W processor as the cornerstone

of the architecture. Ideally suited for mil-aero and edge applications, the security-enhanced IC-INT-VPX3l board-level product improves its processing performance with the rich-featured Intel® Xeon® W-11000E Series processor: 8 cores operating at 2.6GHz providing a spectacular performance per watt ratio, an advanced Intel® Xe graphics engine, new hardware and software security devices. Other features, including a 32GB DDR4 memory with ECC, a new generation of Network Interface Controller, and an XMC slot, make it ideal for the demands of highly secure applications requiring performance, interconnections, cyber security, interoperability, and robustness. The SOSA-aligned IC-INTVPX3l is designed to support the VITA 65.0 SLT3-PAY-1F1F2U1TU1T1U1T-14.2.16 Slot Profile; it provides a 100GbE interface on the data plane and is designed for air-cooled and conduction-cooled environments (-40°C to +85°C). “Interface Concept is expanding its range of SOSA-aligned Single Board Computers to enable them to easily integrate into various OpenVPX systems used by sensor system designers for Defense,” said Franck Lefèvre, Interface Concept’s Sales Director. Interface Concept interfaceconcept.com

COTS Journal | November 2023

November 2023

COT’S PICKS NVIDIA Supercharges Hopper, the World’s Leading AI Computing Platform HGX H200 Systems and Cloud Instances Coming Soon From World’s Top Server Manufacturers and Cloud Service Providersg. NVIDIA announced it has supercharged the world’s leading AI computing platform by introducing the NVIDIA HGX™ H200. Based on NVIDIA Hopper™ architecture, the platform features the NVIDIA H200 Tensor Core GPU with advanced memory to handle massive amounts of data for generative AI and high-performance computing workloads.

The introduction of the H200 will lead to further performance leaps, including nearly doubling inference speed on Llama 2, a 70 billion-parameter LLM, compared to the H100. Additional performance leadership and improvements with H200 are expected with future software updates. NVIDIA H200 Form Factors NVIDIA H200 will be available in NVIDIA HGX

ett Packard Enterprise, Ingrasys, Lenovo, QCT, Supermicro, Wistron, and Wiwynn — can update their existing systems with an H200. Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure will be among the first cloud service providers to deploy H200-based instances starting next year, in addition to CoreWeave, Lambda, and Vultr. Powered by NVIDIA NVLink™ and NVSwitch™ highspeed interconnects, HGX H200 provides the highest performance on various application workloads, including LLM training and inference for the most significant models beyond 175 billion parameters.

The NVIDIA H200 is the first GPU to offer HBM3e — faster, larger memory to fuel the acceleration of generative AI and large language models while advancing scientific computing for HPC workloads. With HBM3e, the NVIDIA H200 delivers 141GB of memory at 4.8 terabytes per second, nearly double the capacity and 2.4x more bandwidth compared with its predecessor, the NVIDIA A100.

An eight-way HGX H200 provides over 32 petaflops of FP8 deep learning computing and 1.1TB of aggregate high-bandwidth memory for the highest performance in generative AI and HPC applications. When paired with NVIDIA Grace™ CPUs with an ultra-fast NVLink-C2C interconnect, the H200 creates the GH200 Grace Hopper Superchip with HBM3e — an integrated module designed to serve giant-scale HPC and AI applications.

H200-powered systems from the world’s leading server manufacturers and cloud service providers are expected to begin shipping in the second quarter of 2024. “To create intelligence with generative AI and HPC applications, vast amounts of data must be efficiently processed at high speed using large, fast GPU memory,” said Ian Buck, vice president of hyperscale and HPC at NVIDIA. “With NVIDIA H200, the industry’s leading end-toend AI supercomputing platform, just got faster to solve some of the world’s most important challenges.” Perpetual Innovation, Perpetual Performance Leaps The NVIDIA Hopper architecture delivers an unprecedented performance leap over its predecessor. It continues to raise the bar through ongoing software enhancements with H100, including the recent release of powerful open-source libraries like NVIDIA TensorRT™-LLM.

H200 server boards with four- and eight-way configurations, which are compatible with the hardware and software of HGX H100 systems. It is also available in the NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper™ Superchip with HBM3e, announced in August. With these options, H200 can be deployed in every type of data center, including on-premises, cloud, hybrid-cloud, and edge. NVIDIA’s global ecosystem of partner server makers — including ASRock Rack, ASUS, Dell Technologies, Eviden, GIGABYTE, Hewl-

Accelerate AI With NVIDIA Full-Stack Software NVIDIA’s accelerated computing platform is supported by powerful software tools that enable developers and enterprises to build and accelerate production-ready applications from AI to HPC. This includes the NVIDIA AI Enterprise software suite for workloads like speech, recommender systems, and hyperscale inference. Availability The NVIDIA H200 will be available from global system manufacturers and cloud service providers starting in the second quarter 2024. NVIDIA nvidia.com

COTS Journal | November 2023

November 2023

COT’S PICKS Systel Launches Sparrow-Strike USFF Edge Processor

lightweight factor.

Systel announced the product introduction of Sparrow-Strike Sparrow-Strike—an ultra-smallform-factor (USFF) MIL-SPEC rugged edge mission computer.

Sparrow-Strike is engineered to withstand austere environments and is SWaP-optimized for integration and deployment in highly space-constrained platforms.

Designed using a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) with a modular chassis and architecture design, integrating either the NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX edge AI system on module (SOM) or an Intel x86-based processor, Sparrow-Strike provides the performance and flexibility demanded by emerging autonomous and uncrewed missions, in an ultra-compact and

Elma’s Newest Cisco Router Installed on a Rugged, Conduction-Cooled 3U VPX Board

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“Sparrow-Strike is a prime example of our disruptive approach to the defense sector; we are bringing products, not PowerPoints, to customers by identifying problem spaces and bringing breakthrough innovative products to

NetKit-3110 delivers mobile and fixed IP networking in harsh environments across defense and industrial applications. Elma Electronic now offers the NetKit-3110, based on the Cisco ESR6300 Ethernet router, designed for harsh, deployed industrial and military environments. With six high-performance Gigabit Ethernet interfaces (2 routed, 4 switched), the 3U conduction-cooled (VITA 48.2) VPX router is an aggregation point for on-demand network connectivity in mobile or fixed deployments. Mark Littlefield, director of system products for Elma Electronic, noted, “There has been a notable increase in data mobility demands across deployed military and industrial applications. No matter the harshness of the environment, our new rugged NetKit-3110 brings Cisco Mobile Ready Net capabilities to mobile and fixed IP-based network routing needs to systems based on 3U VPX.” From mobile ground operations, shipboard and air defense equipment, homeland security, and emergency services to harsh industrial environments such as drilling and mining operations, the new 3U VPX-based NetKit-3110 enables enterprise-grade routing and switching security using the Cisco IOS XE software, ensuring highly secure voice, video, and data communication.

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COTS Journal | November 2023

The NetKit-3110 efficiently manages network resources for increased performance. The included SD-WAN features enable unified distributed network management at the edge, and an onboard hardware encryption module offloads packet encryption and decryption from the routing engine.

market in a timely manner to help solve those problems,” said Brian Russell, vice president of product for Systel. “We are excited to see Sparrow-Strike take flight with a highly modular architecture and design approach.” Systel systelusa.com

To ensure that the code running on the ESR6300 hardware platform is authentic, unmodified, and operating as intended, the NetKit-3110 includes an Onboard Trust Anchor module (TAm), along with image signing, Secure Boot, and runtime defenses. The NetKit-3110 offers three throughput license tiers: 50 Mbps encrypted (Default), 250 Mbps encrypted (Performance), and 350 Mbps encrypted (Boost). The router weighs only 1 lb and meets MIL-STD-810H and RTCA DO-160G environmental specifications. Elma elma.com

November 2023

COT’S PICKS Supermicro Announces High Volume Production of E3.S All-Flash Storage Portfolio with New CXL Memory Expansion Offerings

Supermicro, Inc. is delivering high-throughput, low latency E3.S storage solutions supporting the industry’s first PCIe® Gen5 drives and CXL modules to meet the demands of large AI Training and HPC clusters, where massive amounts of unstructured data must be delivered to the GPUs and CPUs to achieve faster results. Supermicro’s Petascale systems are a new class of storage servers supporting the latest industry-standard E3.S (7.5mm) Gen 5 NVMe drives from leading storage vendors for up to 256TB of high throughput, low latency storage in 1U or up to a half petabyte in 2U. Inside, Supermicro’s innovative symmetrical architecture reduced latency by ensuring the shortest signal paths for data and maximized

to deliver maximum performance and capacities for our customers training large AI models and HPC environments. These solutions are now shipping in volume worldwide. With our Rack Scale Total IT solutions, we deliver turnkey or custom solutions, including liquid cooling, that are tuned to various workloads and are ready to deploy on day one.” Supermicro’s Petascale systems are the first in the industry to support up to 4x E3.S 2T (15 mm) CMM devices on Intel and AMD-based platforms. These systems now enable memory cache coherency between CPU memory and PCIe-attached DDR-based memory devices. The new lineup of optimized storage systems includes 1U servers supporting up to 16 hot-swap E3.S drives, or eight E3.S drives, plus four E3.S 2T 16.8mm bays for CMM and other emerging modular devices. The 2U servers support up to 32 hot-swap E3.S drives with single-processor and dual-processor models. The dual-processor models support the latest 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors, while the single-processor models support the latest 4th Gen AMD EPYC processors. Customers will experience increased performance with these latest technologies. These systems all include PCIe 5.0 (2X the performance of PCIe 4.0), 1.5X memory performance of DDR5 compared to DDR4, and up to 1PB in a compact 2U server when 30TB drives become available later this year.

airflow over critical components, allowing them to run at optimal speeds. With these new systems, a standard rack can now hold over 20 Petabytes of capacity for high throughput NVMe-oF™ (NVMe™ over Fabrics) configurations, ensuring that GPUs remain saturated with data. Systems are available with the 4th Gen Intel® Xeon® Scalable or 4th Gen AMD EPYC™ processors. “Supermicro continues to add to its industry-leading AI rack scale solutions with the addition of the latest in storage technology,” said Charles Liang, president and CEO of Supermicro. “Our broad range of high-performance AI solutions has been enhanced with NVMe-based Petabyte scale storage

“KIOXIA’s CM7 Series E3.S PCIe 5.0 SSDs, when used in the new Supermicro storage servers, are ideal for workloads requiring high performance and capacity,” said Neville Ichhaporia, senior vice president and general manager of the SSD business unit, KIOXIA America, Inc. “We continue to work closely with Supermicro to provide the memory required to enable the fastest storage servers available for end users that require quick access to large amounts of data.” “Solidigm is proud to partner with Supermicro to deliver the latest high-quality storage solutions. Our QLC E3.S hyper-dense NVMe SSDs have the largest capacity of any drives on the market, ranging from 7.68TB to 61.44TB, to give customers the capacity they need without sacrificing performance,” said Greg Matson, VP of Strategy Planning and Marketing at Solidigm. “We continue to work with Supermicro to create storage systems that address high-end requirements for real-world workloads.” Supermicro supermicro.com

Kontron announces the Development of a COM-HPC Mini Module COM-HPC Mini enables maximum performance in a miniature format. Kontron announced the development of a COM-HPC Mini module based on the COM-HPC 1.2 specification approved by PICMG on 6 October 2023. With the ratification of the COM-HPC 1.2 specification to COM-HPC Mini, PICMG has significantly extended the high-performance standard. Customers now benefit from the broad scalability of the standard, offering new application possibilities. The COM-HPC Mini module measures only 95 mm x 70 mm and thus complements the COMHPC standard with a more compact format than the COM-HPC client and server formats. With a high-speed connector of 400 pins, including two 10 GbE interfaces and 16x PCIe lanes that support up to PCIe Gen5, as well as 4 USB 4 interfaces, including Thunderbolt and DisplayPort Alternate Mode, the increasing requirements for high-speed IO interfaces are now being taken into account also in the small form factor segment. Kontron is developing a COM-HPC Mini module based on the next generation Intel® CoreTM technology, thus providing a solution with the highest possible performance in a compact and space-saving format for compute-intensive applications and demanding control and visualization tasks with minimal space requirements. With the expansion of Kontron’s wide range of COM-HPC implementations in various performance levels and functionalities, the perfect module can now be selected to match the requirements of the individual IIoT application. “COM-HPC Mini enables the integration of ultra-high-performance COMs in the smallest application areas. It is crucial that the technical possibilities of the Intel® Next Gen CoreTM platforms can be fully utilized,” explains Irene Hahner, Product Manager COM-HPC Modules at Kontron. Kontron Kontron.com

COTS Journal | November 2023

November 2023

COT’S PICKS New High-Density 3U VPX Switches and Chassis Support Dual 100Gb Ethernet, 8x Gen4 PCIe, or 16 LVDS

Ethernet, front panel I/O, separate data, and control plane switches, and two Zynq UltraScale+ processors that support encrypted secure communication.

Annapolis Micro Systems has an HD Switch and Chassis in final design verification, with customer shipping scheduled for December. They are the industry’s first COTS products to integrate high-density VITA 91 connectors that double the available backplane density.

The WP3E20 also has HD connectors, which deliver dramatic bandwidth increases and latency reductions. It features up to fourteen 40/100Gb and twenty-four 1/10/25Gb or six 40/100Gb Ethernet ports. This enables deployment for low-latency jamming or radar applications.

two switches chained together, but it facilitates a flexible, programmable expansion plane. The expansion plane supports either 8x Gen4 PCIe, 4x Gen4 PCIe plus eight LVDS, or 16 LVDS to each payload slot using the WP3P20 Switch, which is software-configurable on a per-slot basis. With the double-density WP3E20 100GbE switch, two existing standard VPX switch slots can be combined into a single high-density switch slot, freeing up a slot for the WP3P20 Expansion Plane Switch.”

The WILDSTAR 3U OpenVPX Switch (WP3E20) offers up to 128 different pairs of Ethernet. The WILD100 13-Slot 3U OpenVPX Chassis (WC31DH) offers up to 64 lanes of Ethernet or PCIe or 128 LVDS pairs.

“The new VITA 91 high-density connector allows for a completely switched backplane, so the expansion plane is no longer defined by a fixed backplane PCB but is now fully reconfigurable,” said Jay Grandin, Annapolis Micro Systems VP of Product Development.

The chassis includes a secure WILD Chassis Manager (WABGM2). It is SOSA-aligned, VITA 46.11 compliant, and powered by a Xilinx UltraScale+ ZU11EG MPSoC and Microsemi PolarFire MPF200T FPGA for security functions. Multiple security and advanced features are available.

“This not only allows for all the slots to be on the same non-blocking Ethernet switch instead of

Annapolis Micro Systems annapmicro.com

The rugged WP3E20 Switch is the next-gen version of Annapolis’ best-selling SOSA™-aligned WP3E10 Switch. Both provide switching between backplane slots of multiple channels of 100Gb

COTS Journal | November 2023

COTS COTS

ADVERTISERS Company

Page #

Website

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

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

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

5/BC

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

Index

Core Systems ........................................................ IFC/10/IBC ..................................... www.core-systems.com Great River Technology .........................................

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

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

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

Interface Concept .................................................

................................ www.interfaceconcept.com

MPL ......................................................................

....................................................... www.mpl.ch

OTEK ......................................................................

............................................. www.otekcorp.com

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

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

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

4/IBC

............................... www.pixustechnologies.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.