The Impact of Advanced Technologies on Future Smart Munitions Protecting Advanced Electronics Across Multiple Domains
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.
By Buck Biblehouse, Senior Editor, COTS Journal
SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
The AIM-120 is an Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile or (AMRAAM) an American beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile capable of all-weather day-and-night operations. Using it’s active transmit-receive radar guidance instead of semi-active receive-only radar guidance.
Copyright 2024, RTC Media. Printed in the United States. All rights reserved. All related graphics are trademarks of The RTC Group. All other brand and product names are the property of their holders.
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The INSIDE TRACK
Dramatically increased detect and track capabilities for a wide range of large-scale security situations
ARES Security and MatrixSpace announce a technology partnership that combines the A.I. collaborative sensing capability of MatrixSpace Radar™ with ARES Security’s AVERT Mission Planning and Operations (MPO) software for autonomous systems.
The AVERT MPO software enables mission planning and control for squads of ground and aerial robotic systems from a single interface in a remote tactical operations center (TOC). The expendable low SWAP-C MatrixSpace Radar, which can be deployed on ground and aerial autonomous platforms, brings unparalleled adversary, vehicle, and sUAS detection capability into the AVERT MPO common operational picture.
Through this collaboration, customers, in particular branches of the Department of Defense, are now equipped with a decisive tactical advantage across a range of security and defense applications.
The new capabilities will be featured at the Department of Defense’s Thunderstorm 24.4 in
early November; an invitation-only field technology showcase focused on innovative solutions for expeditionary military operations.
“Battlespaces and secure sites have a myriad of objects they must detect accurately, moving at rapid speeds in all weather conditions, day and night. Building MatrixSpace Radar into the ARES solution takes it to the next level in managing and monitoring these secure locations. Enabling rapid counter UAS initiatives by bringing advanced technological solutions to the DoD is the key focus of our partnership,” stated Lori DeMatteis, CRO, MatrixSpace.
MatrixSpace Radar offers robust situational awareness of airborne and ground-based objects, regardless of lighting and weather conditions. This facilitates highly accurate detection and counter-uncrewed aircraft system (CUAS) capabilities, beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flight for uncrewed, autonomous, and tethered aircraft, and overall general awareness and security.
AVERT MPO integrates robotic platforms, sensors, and personnel using the tactical assault kit (TAK) into a common operational picture, providing critical data for informed decisions and rapid response. AVERT MPO is unique in its ability to automate robotic sentries using trusted A.I., intelligent pathing, and 3D modeling/simulation. It can integrate with over 450 sensors through an advanced C2 platform, providing a decisive advantage during tactical operations.
Ben Eazzetta, CEO of ARES Security, commented: “We are impressed by MatrixSpace’s powerful radar, which delivers new levels of 4D outdoor surveillance, enhancing detection range, accuracy, and adaptability to adverse conditions. Paired with AVERT MPO’s AI-driven control and intelligent pathing, the solution enables precise mission planning, faster threat responses, and optimized patrols, creating a more robust security ecosystem for any security force protecting personnel and assets.”
The INSIDE TRACK
Vita Inclinata Awarded Sole Source Fleetwide Air Force Contract for GameChanging Helicopter Rescue System
Vita Rescue System successfully completed AFWERX’s innovation program to move forward with deployment.
Vita Inclinata Technologies, a leading provider of intelligent lifting technology and solutions for aerospace and industrial construction
Readiness Level (TRL) of 3 to a TRL of 8 in a period of 5 years.
The Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Command Test Center was critical in advancing the VRS from concept to approval for delivery. From 2022 to 2024, the system underwent a comprehensive assessment program, which included operational unit assessments via challenging scenarios in California and Alaska, ensuring the new equipment’s suitability for use.
helicopter rescue operations up to four times faster.
“This is a significant milestone for Vita Inclinata, representing our successful passage through the challenging ‘Valley of Death’ in defense technology development. The strong collaboration between AATC, Air National Guard RQS squadrons, and the Vita team has driven the innovation necessary to overcome the hurdles in development and acquisition processes,” said Derek Sikora, co-founder and CTO of Vita Incli-
industries, announced the fleetwide deployment by the United States Air Force Reserve and United States Air National Guard of the Vita™ Rescue System® (VRS), marking a significant milestone in the system’s development and deployment. Vita Inclinata’s cutting-edge technology will enhance the Air National Guard and U.S. Air Force Reserve’s capabilities in domestic and international missions by advancing the safety and efficiency of warfighter helicopter rescue operations.
The VRS procurement is the culmination of a multi-year collaboration with AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force and powered by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). Since 2018, the VRS project has progressed through AFWERX’s rigorous Phases 1 and 2, advancing from an initial Technology
Another champion for this project included Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski. “Senator Murkowski is an incredible leader for Alaska and our military. Her forward-looking approach and investments in innovation will now provide Vita’s lifesaving technology to Alaska’s search and rescue operations. It will also accelerate the military’s MEDEVAC operations and improve our ability to bring every soldier home every time. Thank you, Senator Murkowski, for your amazing work; without you, we wouldn’t have gotten this far.” Caleb Carr, CEO Vita Inclinata Technologies.
The VRS controls rescue hoist motion by autonomously compensating hoist spin and swing. It reduces cycle counts for hoist rescues and enables tagline rescues, making MEDEVAC
nata. “Our commitment to delivering next-generation man-machine teaming solutions, such as the VRS, deliver force-multiplying capabilities that enhance mission effectiveness, ensuring the safety of operators and those they rescue in critical situations.”
This procurement aligns with AFWERX’s mission to accelerate the technology transition to operational capability, leveraging innovative solutions from small businesses to meet the Department of the Air Force’s most pressing challenges. The VRS exemplifies this mission, reflecting the collaborative effort of academia, industry, and government to forge an innovation ecosystem that delivers disruptive Air and Space capabilities.
The INSIDE TRACK
HII to Continue Supporting the Evolution of Autonomy and Navigation Technology for U.S. Defense
HII announced that its Mission Technologies division was awarded a task order to conduct research that will enhance the development and evolution of navigation and autonomy technologies for the U.S. Air Force and the broader U.S. Department of Defense.
An HII team at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, will develop and analyze research for the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) Autonomy and Navigation Technology (ANT) Center’s three research thrust areas: autonomous and cooperative systems, non-GPS precision navigation, and robust global navigation satellite system navigation/navigation warfare. The team’s findings will help identify and solve some of the most challenging problems in these areas while laying the groundwork for future groundbreaking technology development.
“This innovative work is vitally important to the future of defense and will have a signifi-
RTX’s Raytheon awarded a $736 million contract to produce AIM-9X missiles October 10, 2024
cant impact on how we navigate in the future,” said Grant Hagen, president of Mission Technologies’ Cyber, Electronic Warfare and Space business group. “We look forward to applying our expertise and supporting AFIT’s forward-looking research in these mission-critical areas.”
AFIT 3
A photo accompanying this release is available at: https://hii.com/news/hii-to-continue-supporting-the-evolution-of-autonomy-and-navigation-technology-for-u-s-defense/.
Eric Wright, vice president of operations for Mission Technologies’ Cyber, Electronic Warfare, and Space business group, added, “The use of autonomy and non-GPS technology to address problems associated with GPS-denied or underground environments, for example, is rapidly evolving, and
Raytheon, an RTX business, was awarded a $736 million contract from the U.S. Navy to produce AIM-9X® SIDEWINDER ® missiles.
the ANT Center team is building on a decade of experience to advance AFIT’s mission and find new ways to apply this technology.”
HII was awarded the task order under the U.S. Department of Defense’s Information Analysis Center (IAC) Multiple Award Contract (MAC) vehicle. The IAC MAC task orders are awarded by the U.S. Air Force’s 774th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron to develop and create new knowledge to enhance the Defense Technical Information Center repository and the research and development and science and technology communities.
Most work will be performed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.
This contract is for the improved Block II variant, which addresses hardware obsolescence through upgrades to ensure superior performance and long-term reliability.
“AIM-9X remains the weapon of choice for short-range air-to-air and surface-to-air missile defense, and worldwide customer demand is strong,” said Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Power at Raytheon. “We’re investing, innovating, and partnering with our U.S. Navy customer to significantly increase our AIM-9X production capacity starting with orders next year.”
AIM-9X is the world’s most advanced infrared-tracking, short-range, air-to-air, and surface-toair missile. It is configured for easy installation on a wide range of modern aircraft and provides proven layered defense with ground-launched capabilities, including the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS).
A U.S. Navy-led joint program with the U.S. Air Force, over 30 allied and partner nations use AIM9X and continues to gain international interest. In March 2024, the Czech Republic became the most recent international customer by signing a letter of agreement to procure the missile for use on its F-35 aircraft.
The INSIDE TRACK
RAFAEL has completed a test of the SPYDER All-In-One Air Defense system
RAFAEL announced the successful completion of a test for its advanced SPYDER air defense system in its newest configuration— All in One—conducted by RAFAEL with the Israeli Ministry of Defense Directorate of Defense Research & Development. The test involved intercepting an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in a challenging operational scenario, achieving a direct and effective hit.
RAFAEL, in collaboration with IMOD DDR&D, has successfully completed a test of the advanced SPYDER air defense system in its latest, unique configuration—All In One. The test included intercepting a UAV in a challenging operational scenario and achieving a direct and effective hit.
The SPYDER system, produced by RAFAEL, is operationally used by several mili-
tary forces worldwide, providing air defense solutions against various airborne threats, including missiles, UAVs, aircraft, helicopters, and tactical ballistic missiles (TBMs). The system intercepts threats using two families of RAFAEL-manufactured interceptor missiles, PYTHON and Derby. Recently, RAFAEL introduced a new configuration for the SPYDER – the All in One, featuring an integrated radar, electro-optical launcher, advanced control and command system, and PYTHON and Derby interceptors, all mounted on a single platform. This configuration is an optimal air defense solution for point defense or area defense, either as part of a SPYDER battery or deployed independently with minimal operator involvement.
In the test conducted last month in Israel, the SPYDER All-in-One system successfully intercepted a UAV in a complex operational scenario, successfully intercepting the target.
Brigadier
General (Res.) Pini Yungman,
Executive Vice President and Head of the Air Defense Division at RAFAEL, stated, “RAFAEL is a global expert and a leading developer of air defense systems that have proven themselves in combat against a myriad of advanced threats and at various ranges. Iron Dome, SPYDER, and David’s Sling are among the leading systems currently in operational use in Israel and worldwide. The success of the current test with the SPYDER All-in-One system represents another technological breakthrough that RAFAEL pioneered, providing solutions tailored to different evolving threats in various arenas. The test’s success is a significant milestone in developing the system against different threats and demonstrates the system’s outstanding effectiveness in intercepting challenging ground-launched threats. As a significant contributor to national security, RAFAEL will continue developing advanced air defense solutions incorporating the latest technology for the IDF and its customers worldwide.”
The INSIDE TRACK
Agamemnon, the latest Royal Navy Astute Class attack submarine, has been launched at BAE Systems in Barrow-inFurness, Cumbria
Named after the ancient Greek king, Agamemnon is the sixth of seven Astute Class submarines, all designed and built at the Company’s historic Barrow shipyard—home of U.K. submarine building. The nuclear-powered boat, which weighs 7,400 tonnes and is 97 meters long, rolled out of the Devonshire Dock Hall and entered the water for the first time today. Agamemnon will begin the next phase of its test and commissioning program before leaving Barrow for sea trials with the Royal Navy.
Steve Timms, Managing Director, BAE Systems Submarines, said: “This is a hugely significant milestone for everyone at BAE Systems, the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, and the Royal Navy. The design and build of a nuclear-powered submarine are incredibly complex and a truly national endeavor. I pay tribute to the thousands of highly skilled
people who have helped get Agamemnon to this stage.
“Submarines are a vital component of the U.K.’s defense capabilities, and we must now work collectively to ensure Agamemnon is ready to join her sister submarines in service with the Royal Navy.”
Agamemnon Commanding Officer Commander David ‘Bing’ Crosby said: “There is still plenty to do until we get to exit Agamemnon from Barrow, but the entire workforce should be totally proud of what they have achieved with this build so far.
“I am looking forward to working with our friends at BAE Systems, the Submarine Delivery Agency, and the wider Defence Nuclear Enterprise to get Agamemnon through these final tests and ready for her exit from Barrow.”
The Astute Class boats are the most advanced attack submarines ever built for the Royal Navy. Their state-of-the-art nuclear technology means
they never need to be refueled. They manufacture their own oxygen and drinking water for their 98 crew members so they can circumnavigate the globe without surfacing.
The Royal Navy has received the first five submarines in the class: HMS Astute, HMS Ambush, HMS Artful, HMS Audacious, and HMS Anson. Work is well underway on the final Astute boat, Agincourt.
The INSIDE TRACK
A.I. enhancement creates faster decision-making with a single click C2 (Command and Control)
Northrop Grumman Corporation announced a new artificial intelligence (A.I.) feature to help warfighters make real-time, informed decisions on the move. The Forward Area Air Defense (FAAD) Advanced Battle Manager (ABM) system addresses the growing complexity of threats in the counterunmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) mission space.
The new A.I. feature streamlines decision-making for optimal defeat of UAS swarms with a single button click on a mobile tablet. This enhances maneuverability for the U.S. military, allies, and coalition partners.
Successfully tested in spring and late summer at the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona, the ABM makes real-time weapon-target pairings across disparate kinetic and non-kinetic weapons by leveraging A.I. and years of live fire data.
Designed for efficiency and growth, the ABM can plan for complex aerial swarm scenarios with numerous weapons against varying threats. It supports real-time data processing with minimal delay, generating engagement plans in under a quarter of a second. The ABM continuously monitors the battlespace and replans engagements as necessary. It currently supports multiple weapon types, and its open architecture design enables the easy addition of new weapons in the future.
Northrop Grumman Adds Cutting-Edge A.I. Capabilities to Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control (FAAD) simultaneously integrates short-
range air defense, counter-rocket artillery and mortar, and counter-unmanned aerial systems missions. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman)
Expert:
Kenn Todorov, vice president and general manager of global battle management and readiness, Northrop Grumman: “As threats evolve, the need for operations to become simple and clear during high-stress multi-target engagements has increased. This critical A.I. enhancement will create a streamlined and intuitive engagement plan, giving service members more time to save lives with a single click. Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Army’s collaboration in innovation ensures the combat-proven FAAD system remains at the forefront of C-UAS technology.”
Details on FAAD:
FAAD simultaneously integrates short-range air defense, counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar and C-UAS missions. As these missions evolve, the need for the warfighter’s user experience to be simple and clear during high-stress multi-target engagement scenarios has increased. FAAD provides interoperability for the United States, allied forces, and coalition forces today by providing cutting-edge capabilities and enabling coordinated protection across the joint force with rapid, real-time defense against complex, maneuvering threats. By investing in and leveraging technologies like AI, Northrop Grumman ensures FAAD remains a leader in short-range air defense and C-UAS.
FAAD is a cyber-certified, real-time safety-critical command and control software, providing a single integrated air picture, airspace coordination and deconfliction, and fire control to support multi-domain missions. Its open, multi-domain architecture enables integration and interoperability across diverse platforms and systems. This facilitates rapid, cost-effective technology insertion and modernization at the speed of need. FAAD can be quickly deployed, providing command and control to areas limited in robust communication and permanent and reinforced support areas. FAAD is the centerpiece of the U.S. Army’s fixed site and maneuver forces and is actively employed worldwide.
The INSIDE TRACK
U.S. Space Force Awards Virtualitics
Contract to Increase Operational
Readiness
Virtualitics, a leader in A.I. decision intelligence applications, today announced that the United States Space Force (USSF) has renewed an SBIR III agreement to continue deploying its Integrated Readiness Optimization (IRO) Workforce product. This renewal highlights the solution’s essential role in enhancing mission preparedness through AI-driven analytics and predictive modeling. The product is designed to optimize workforce allocation and training to mitigate operational risks across all levels of USSF operations.
The Virtualitics IRO Workforce application enables USSF commanders and staff to develop a situational understanding of past, present, and future operations based on Defense Readiness Reporting System (DRRS) data, mission-essential task assessments, and combatant command requirements. By aggregating these classified datasets into a single environment that informs
machine learning models and A.I. algorithms, leaders can leverage A.I. insights to identify, quantify, and forecast risks across all levels of USSF operations.
“We’re proud to continue our partnership with the U.S. Space Force, delivering cutting-edge A.I. solutions that not only improve operational efficiency but also ensure that our nation’s space operations remain at the forefront of technological innovation,” said Michael Amori, CEO and co-founder of Virtualitics.
Using A.I. and machine learning analytics, combined with natural language processing (NLP) and automated correlation algorithms, Virtualitics enables commanders to increase organizational readiness more efficiently and effectively to enhance decision-making.
Core Applications Within IRO Workforce Readiness Include:
Unit Readiness: Dashboards that help USSF leaders assess, understand, and optimize workforce allocation and training. Identifies trends in unit readiness data and produces key performance indicators (KPIs) for strategic oversight.
Mission Readiness: Enhances overall mission readiness through a hierarchical representation of mission-critical KPIs and helps decision-makers understand the implications of various factors impacting mission success.
Risk Analysis: Consolidates outputs from
previous workflows and DRRS reporting to forecast and quantify risks across USSF operations, producing comprehensive risk metrics for strategic oversight and proactive management.
A.I. Pipeline: It ingests relevant data, trains NLP models for topic modeling, and generates essential data artifacts required for other USSF applications, ensuring seamless data integration and continuous improvement of preparedness assessments.
Topic Explorer: This tool enables users to navigate and research relevant topics stored in the Topic Bank. It integrates with Virtualitics Explore™ to enable users to modify topics and understand their impact on mission readiness through AI-guided 3D visualizations.
Advancing USSF Mission Readiness with Virtualitics IRO
The contract renewal underscores Virtualitics’ ongoing commitment to supporting the USSF’s mission to secure our Nation’s interests in, from, and to space. The IRO Workforce application is one of several A.I. readiness products on the Virtualitics AI platform that enable seamless integration with existing systems. These innovative, AI-powered solutions are designed to improve maintenance scheduling, predict asset failures, optimize storage planning, and enhance overall mission readiness, operational efficiency, and decision-making capabilities.
Virtualitics remains a trusted partner in defense innovation, continually delivering sophisticated A.I. solutions that empower the U.S. Space Force to maintain operational superiority in an increasingly complex and contested environment.
The INSIDE TRACK
Anduril and Impulse Space Partner on Highly-Maneuverable Space Missions
Anduril Industries is announcing a strategic partnership with Impulse Space, a Redondo Beach-based provider of agile and cost-effective space transportation services, to further enable rapid development and delivery of integrated space systems to high-energy orbits for the United States and Allies.
The partnership combines Impulse Space’s highly maneuverable, high-energy spacecraft expertise with Anduril’s core competencies in mission autonomy, edge processing, infrared imaging, command and control, and other autonomous technologies. Under the partnership, Impulse will provide its highlymaneuverable Mira vehicle to Anduril, allowing the two companies to move rapidly in pursuit of complex national security missions. Impulse Space will also onboard Mira into Lattice, Anduril’s AI-enabled software platform, to enable autonomous monitoring and mission management. Lattice will allow a single operator to control, task, and maneuver multiple
spacecraft simultaneously, accelerating inspace mobility for national security customers and enhancing responsiveness in increasingly contested orbital environments, including geostationary Earth orbit (GEO).
As a mission systems integrator, Anduril will integrate its payloads and other industry partner systems onto Impulse’s Mira spacecraft to support national security mission requirements. Together, Anduril and Impulse will merge best-of-breed technologies from across the commercial and defense industrial base to rapidly deliver integrated, impactful, and operational systems for complex missions, including Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO), Space Control, and other Space Domain Awareness (SDA) applications in high-energy orbits.
“In-space mobility is incredibly important for a range of national security space missions, including space domain awareness and dynamic space operations,” said Gokul Subramanian, Anduril’s SVP of Space and Engineering. “By combining Impulse Space’s advancements in propulsion and on-demand
maneuverability with Anduril’s Lattice software platform and a range of missionized, softwaredefined payloads, the partnership will bring agility and next-generation capability to some of the most critical missions that the DoD and I.C. face in the space domain.”
“One of our goals at Impulse is to unlock freedom of movement for national security missions that require rapid maneuverability and enhanced agility,” said Eric Romo, COO and President of Impulse Space. “Partnering with Anduril lets us bring these mobility capabilities to a wide range of operations that benefit the United States and allies.”
The announcement follows significant milestones for both companies, including Impulse Space’s $150M Series B fundraising round, Anduril’s $1.5B Series F fundraising round, and the announcement of Anduril’s Space business. Anduril remains committed to fostering partnerships with leading companies from across the commercial and defense space industries to deliver the most advanced, relevant capabilities to the warfighter on accelerated timelines and at an unprecedented scale.
About Impulse Space
Impulse Space, the inspace transportation company founded by Tom Mueller, is opening access beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with its fleet of in-space transportation vehicles. The flight-proven Mira vehicle uses a nontoxic, highimpulse chemical propulsion system to offer orbital transport, constellation deployment, and precision reentry services to customers from LEO to GEO. The high-energy Helios vehicle unlocks orbits beyond LEO with its powerful Deneb engine, dropping off payloads in MEO, GEO, heliocentric, lunar, and other planetary orbits.
Led by a team that delivered the most reliable rockets in history, Impulse provides economical and efficient inspace transportation by reliably and rapidly getting customers where they want to go.
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The Impact of Advanced Technologies on Future Smart Munitions The Impact
Advanced Technologies on Future Smart Munitions
Buck Biblehouse, Chief, COTS Journal
As weapon technology evolves with intelligent munitions, we see an increasing integration of technology with the explosive characteristics of weapons.
By leveraging high-reliability computing, advanced sensors, and guidance systems, these munitions can precisely identify and target enemies. While highly effective against high-value targets, using these advanced technologies for lower-value targets can sometimes seem excessive.
For example, Russian and Ukrainian forces are reportedly exchanging 15,000 to 20,000 155mm shells daily. With high-end munitions
like the Storm Shadow or Patriot missile costing nearly $1 million each, the conflict can be viewed as a war of attrition, where the winner may be the side with the deepest pockets. This raises an important question: how can we use technology to create precision munitions at a lower cost? Readers of COTS Journal know that we focus on computing technology and its interaction with sensors, rather than the underlying weapons systems themselves.
The concept of intelligent munitions traces back to the Paveway laser-guided bomb, developed in the 1960s through a collaboration between Texas Instruments and Rockwell International. First deployed in the Vietnam War in 1965, the Paveway had an accuracy within 75 feet of its intended target. Its successor, the JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munitions), played a critical role in Operation Desert Storm, offering an upgrade kit for standard bombs that included a GPS receiver, improving accuracy to within 35 feet. Additionally, the JDAM overcame limitations
EXACTO, an acronym of “Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance”, is a sniper rifle firing smart bullets being developed for DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency)
caused by poor weather, sidelining earlier models. The “fire-and-forget” capability became especially valued, allowing the launch platform to leave the area and reduce exposure to counterattacks.
Today, intelligent munitions benefit from
Pave or PAVE is sometimes used as an acronym for precision avionics vectoring equipment; literally, electronics for controlling the speed and direction of aircraft. Laser guidance is a form of Pave.
Architectural Requirements
advancements in high-reliability computing and greater sensor fusion, enabling over-thehorizon targeting with improved accuracy and reduced collateral damage. However, these capabilities have also introduced complexities that open the door to highly specialized solutions for unique applications.
To meet the demand for low-cost, highperformance, and SWAP (Size, Weight, and Power) optimized solutions, compact
multi-band sensor chain systems have been developed. By using mixed-signal architecture supported by advanced digital technology, manufacturers have created rugged packages less than one inch in diameter for sub-50mm munitions.
All-weather solution. The StormBreaker smart weapon gives operators an upper hand in combat by hitting moving targets in some of the worst weather conditions.
DARPA’s EXACTO (Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance) program has pushed the limits of miniaturization, challenging engineers at Lockheed to develop a sniper round with an optical guidance system. Though many aspects of the program remain classified, it’s clear that achieving such precision will require breakthroughs in miniaturization.
In the industry, systems designed for munitions are often referred to as “round board makers.” Beyond the size constraints and environmental challenges, the reliability of these solutions hinges on power delivery systems that ensure clean, precise power to maintain system stability while managing high transient temperatures.
While there are parallels between unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and smart maneuvering munitions, their purposes differ significantly, with many munitions being “one and done.” This necessitates building affordable solutions for mass production without bankrupting the country, especially when thousands are expended daily. The Ukrainian military, for
example, has blurred the line between reusable UAVs and disposable munitions, with drones dropping explosives into vulnerable points on enemy tanks.
The Future
As smart munitions continue to advance, compromise will play a key role. The VITA 90 VNX standard, for example, has attracted the interest of OEMs by providing a form factor designed for highly SWAP-optimized applications. However, the small size of VNX also imposes design challenges, particularly in terms of performance, storage, and I/O functionality. Wolf Technologies, one of the first companies to offer production-level products, recently introduced a frame grabber solution that could help meet ambitious market goals for 2025.
Although miniaturization is not a new concept, the increasing computing power in smaller packages allows for more advanced features. The VNX form factor, while not limited to munitions, was developed to meet the high-volume needs of a wide range of
applications.
Some believe that munitions will benefit most from remote, telemetry-based solutions that keep the intelligence in reusable systems, reducing the cost of disposable components. By integrating the autonomous features of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) or mannedunmanned teaming (MUM-T) with precisionguided munitions, it may be possible to significantly reduce the cost of such weapons, making them more affordable on a large scale.
In Conclusion
The balance between the lethality of munitions and their cost remains a significant challenge for the industry. The wide array of sensor inputs—from RF to real-time video— will drive real-time performance requirements, demanding faster and more efficient data links with minimal latency. The future will see purpose-built munitions capable of achieving levels of precision far beyond simply the blast radius, targeting specific objects even in crowded environments.
This is an example of a top-down mine that uses advance technologies to attack vehicles from above. The images from the Yuma Proving Grounds, in Arizona.
Protecting Advanced Electronics Across Multiple Domains Protecting Advanced Electronics Across Multiple Domains
By Matthew Tarney, Global Vertical Growth Leader for Aerospace & Defense at nVent SCHROFF
Modern electronics are rapidly changing the battlespace across all domains. Upgrades to C5ISR and electronic warfare systems are driving adoption of newer, faster, and hotter processors in every armed forces branch and every major defense platform. These improved electronics, while revolutionary to their applications, require careful design consideration to ensure they operate reliably and at peak efficiency in a wide array of challenging environments.
Challenges when Designing Multi-Domain Systems
For an electronics system to be effective in a given combat domain, its packaging (the physical housing, thermal management, and method of installation) must meet rigorous design requirements. In the past these requirements were typically met with highly customized rugged chassis, cabinets, and other physical infrastructure. Recent efforts by the DoD to reduce cost and increase standardization across branches has made
these program-specific designs less attractive. Initiatives requiring standardized hardware and interoperability, like MOSA, SOSA, and CMOSS, have led many designers to transition away from custom designs toward “MOTS” or modified-offthe-shelf electronics infrastructure.
The challenge with selecting a MOTS design lies in finding systems that are suitable for multiple domains and programs. Every project has unique environmental requirements that must be met. Space applications require
low-outgassing and radiation hardened components. Naval applications require high levels of shock and vibration resistance. Sensitive communications hardware requires advanced EMC protection. Due to the numerous and often overlapping MIL standards defining the attributes required for defense electronics applications, it’s vitally important to select the appropriate housing and infrastructure when designing or upgrading defense electronics systems.
The challenge with selecting a MOTS design lies in finding systems that are suitable for multiple domains and programs.
What to look for when selecting rugged electronics packaging
While there are many factors to be considered for each application, there are some commonalities that must be considered for every design:
• Form factor: Every application will have a designated form factor that will greatly impact the overall system design. If electronics are being retrofitted into an existing system, the design may be space constrained. Increasing processing speed in the same form factor results in higher heat densities, which creates cooling challenges. New designs may be intended for use across multiple programs, and need to meet the requirements of land, sea, and air-based platforms. Specifying a form factor early in the design process helps
• Interoperability: While many companies offer electronics solutions for the defense market, very few if any can offer a complete, integrated system ready for installation. It is critical that the components selected for each application, from the board through to the chassis, cabinet, and cooling system, are interoperable and compatible. Specifying alignment with open systems standards like SOSA, MOSA, and CMOSS ensures that systems comprised of parts from multiple vendor will not only be interoperable now, but are designed for easy upgrades in the future.
• MOTS v. Custom design: Selecting an electronics packaging platform based on a COTS product comes with significant advantages. Cost, lead time, and availability
of components are often improved when selecting COTS or modified COTS products over custom designs. Less NRE and design time means projects are completed faster and at less expense. Designing around MOTS electronics hardware also allows systems engineers to modify electronics packaging to meet specific application requirements while ensuring that the majority of components for their system will be commercially available for the life of program.
Standards for Defense Electronics Systems
The United States Department of Defense (DoD) maintains a comprehensive list of standards for equipment deployed in military applications. By selecting equipment qualified to these standards, design engineers can ensure COTS solutions already meet the minimum requirements to protect critical systems. Several standards directly address challenges found in defense electronics applications:
• MIL-DTL-901E: This standard replaces MIL-S-901D, which was the DOD standard for mechanical shock testing from 1989-2017. The new 901E standard specifies test criteria for high-impact shock testing to ensure enclosures can withstand harsh operation and combat environments, protecting mission critical equipment when reliability is most needed.
• MIL-STD-167-1A: Mechanical vibration testing for ensures the enclosure and electronics within operate reliably while experiencing vibration from common sources, including engine vibration across a range of frequencies.
• MIL-STD-461G: EMC testing ensures that the enclosure provides protection against external EMI as well as effective containment of emissions generated within the cabinet. Radiated and line emissions have the potential to transmit data that can be intercepted and exploited by adversaries, making effective electrical shielding imperative for sensitive communications equipment. In some cases protection beyond MIL-STD-461G is required, up to and including TEMPEST level signal protection.
• MIL-STD-810G: Environmental tests are critical to ensuring equipment will operate reliably in its intended domain. This MIL standard includes 29 different test methods to evaluate electronic systems. Common test include those for altitude, temperature, ingress protection, corrosion resistance, acoustic noise, shock, and vibration.
In addition to the standards listed above, DOD publishes dozens of standards addressing specific application environments. As every system is different, it is critical to specify compliance to a complete range of standards that address the unique requirements of a given installation.
Every Application is Unique
Standard testing can help provide peace of mind that common hazards have been considered in the design of an electronics enclosure. However, standards can’t address every possible condition a given platform may encounter. In addition to specifying enclosures
New standards in cooling from nVent are aiding in greater efficiencies in data centers.
that meet the tests above, design engineers can benefit from solutions that are modular, scalable, and customizable, but based on a common platform architecture. This MOTS approach ensures that components are readily available
while still allowing an enclosure to be modified to meet specific application needs. Common electronics enclosure modifications include:
• Custom vibration dampening and isolation
• Modified I/O and cable entry panels
• Active and passive cooling solutions
• Ruggedized power distribution
• Physical and electronic access control systems
• TEMPEST certification for sensitive communications
• EMC shielding
• Fire suppression systems
• Cable management and organization
Many of these unique application requirements call for specialized engineering during the design process to ensure the reliability of electronics in harsh conditions. A Finite Element Analysis should be performed for all enclosures mounted on vibration isolators to ensure reliable performance and appropriate tolerances under stress. Advanced thermal modeling is becoming increasingly necessary to ensure proper cooling of electronics as more computing power is being deployed in the space-constrained applications. Even simple considerations such as the bend radius clearance for cables inside the enclosure can cause significant installation problems if overlooked during the design process. Because every application is unique, starting with an easily modified COTS enclosure platform can reduce redesign time and improve supply chain resilience, while increasing confidence that electronics are prepared for any environment.
Thermal Management
Modern electronics cabinets require robust thermal management systems. The
Advanced thermal modeling is becoming increasingly necessary to ensure proper cooling of electronics as more computing power is being deployed in the space-constrained applications.
New standards in cooling from nVent are aiding in greater efficiencies in data centers.
implementation of advanced EW and C5ISR systems requires high speed, high availability computing hardware. This often results in higher densities that in the past. Traditional cooling methods such as convection and forced air are often insufficient to handle this increased thermal load. Designers need to rely on a full suite of cooling systems, from convection to liquid cooling, to successfully run modern electronics:
• Convection: Suitable for cooling up to 800W per rack, depending on ambient air temperature. Requires louvers or perforations to allow airflow into and out of the cabinet. Hot exhaust air must be vented away from the computer room or actively cooled
• Forced Air: Suitable for cooling up to 2000W per rack, depending on ambient air temperature. Requires louvers or perforations to allow airflow into and out of the cabinet. Hot exhaust air must be vented away from the computer room or actively cooled.
• Air Conditioners: Suitable for cooling up to 2600W per rack. Best for applications where the ambient air is not actively cooled or is inconsistent in temperature.
• Liquid Cooling: Suitable for cooling up to 45000W (45kW) per rack. Liquid cooling can
allow extremely high computing density per rack, optimizing space in the computer room and reducing the number of racks required on a vessel. Cold ambient air is not required, and the system can operate as a closed loop in a sealed cabinet. Cool water is required from the ship to act as coolant in the air to water heat exchanger.
Quality and Compliance
A final consideration is ensuring compliance to DFARS sourcing requirements and project flow downs. When selecting a supplier partner for naval electronics infrastructure it is critical to ensure that all relevant quality and sourcing requirements can be met. Common supplier considerations in the naval electronics market include:
• Compliance to DFARS material traceability requirements
• International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) certification
• ISO and AS9100 quality certifications
• A robust counterfeit parts prevention program
• First article inspection procedures
• A life cycle management program ensuring that once specified, equipment will be available and supported for the lifetime of a program
Summary
Ensuring the reliability and availability of electronic systems is critical to military readiness. While every application is unique, there are several ways that design engineers can address common mechanical, electrical/ electromagnetic, and environmental challenges when specifying electronics enclosures. Ensuring that equipment meet relevant MIL specifications, has been analyzed for physical and thermal performance, is customized to the application’s unique requirements, and are sourced from a supplier with robust quality controls all deliver peace of mind that missioncritical electronics equipment can withstand the harshest applications.
About the Author
Matthew Tarney is the Global Vertical Growth Leader for Aerospace & Defense at nVent SCHROFF. In this role he is focused heavily on finding solutions to the thermal challenges facing electronics in the Aerospace and Defense space.
SCHROFF
nVent Electric is a leading global provider of electrical connection and protection solutions. We believe that safer systems ensure a more secure world. We design, manufacture, market, install and service high-performance products and solutions that connect and protect some of the world’s most sensitive equipment, buildings and critical processes. We operate three business segments: Electrical & Fastening Solutions, Thermal Management, and Enclosures.
The nVent SCHROFF brand is nestled within the Enclosures business segment of nVent. SCHROFF contains a broad portfolio of products from printed circuit board (PCB) accessories, such as card retainers, conduction cooled frames, front panels and handles to subracks, cases, backplanes, power supplies, cabinets and pre-assembled chassis for embedded computing systems. nVent SCHROFF includes the Calmark and Birtcher product lines and has been a world leader in electronics packaging for over five decades. Calmark-Birtcher products have been used by top defense and aerospace manufacturers in rugged PCB retention and cooling applications for over 40 years.
About nVent
October 2024 COT’S PICKS
Mercury Introduces New Small Form Factor Digital Signal Processing Module Powered by Altera Agilex FPGAs
Mercury Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY announced the expansion of its Direct RF digital signal processing products that use Altera™ Agilex FPGAs to detect and process emissions from a wide portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Direct RF components and modules directly digitize radio frequency signals at the antenna signal frequency, eliminating the analog signal down conversion stages required by legacy hardware. This approach requires fast converters, high-bandwidth digital data links, and powerful real-time digital signal processing. The results are reductions in size, weight, power, cost, and latency that can benefit a variety of radar, communications, electronic warfare, SIGINT, and industrial applications.
In January, Mercury introduced the DRF2580, a playing card-size system-on-module (SOM) based on the Intel Agilex 9 SoC
FPGA AGRW014 that converts between analog and digital signals at 64 Giga samples per second. The company now offers the DRF4580L, a small-form-factor module incorporating the DRF2580 SOM within a ruggedized, conduction-cooled enclosure ready for defense applications. The product comes with Mercury’s Navigator® Board Support Package and FPGA Design Kit, allowing customers to develop custom IP for the module installed within hours. Mercury delivered the first DRF4580L unit to a customer in August.
“We continue to innovate to enhance the Mercury Processing Platform and make the latest commercial technologies available to the defense industrial base,” said Ken Hermanny, Mercury’s Vice President of Signal Technologies. “With a growing portfolio of products that make Direct RF spectrum digitization possible, our customers now have more options to deploy this technology to capture, process, and exploit signals at the edge.”
“Altera Agilex 9 SoC FPGAs deliver high-performance RF digitization capabilities in SWAP-constrained environments that can
now be placed closer to the sensor,” said John Sotir, Senior Director of Military Aerospace and Government Business and State-of-the-Art Heterogeneous Integration Packaging (SHIP) at Altera, an Intel Company. “By collaborating with Mercury, a trusted partner in transforming commercial technology for aerospace and defense applications, we can deliver this latest technology to our customers, developing future radar, electronic warfare, and mission-critical applications.”
The DRF4580L features:
• 6.4” x 6.4” x 1.7” form factor
• Four 64 GSPS A/D and D/A converters
• Altera Agilex 9 SoC FPGA AGRW014
• 16 GB DDR4 SDRAM
• Four 100 GigE optical interfaces
• Ruggedized and conduction-cooled options
• Optional fan kit for table-top development
• FPGA design kit for custom IP development
• Board Support Package (BSP) for software development
Mercury Systems mrcy.com
October 2024 COT’S PICKS
Stackable Rugged Power System with Extended Backup for Remote Applications
Elma Electronic has enhanced its RP24 rugged power supply system to include the RA24 rechargeable battery module, which improves the system’s uninterruptible power supply (UPS) capabilities. The RP24/RA24 Rugged Power Solution is a comprehensive power system designed for critical remote applications in challenging environments.
Combining the rugged RP24 Power Module with the high-capacity RA24 Battery Module ensures continuous, reliable power for mobile, semi-mobile, and stationary systems, even in extreme conditions.
Up to 10 RA24 modules can be cascaded, providing extended battery operation for several hours, while up to five RP24 units are stackable in a single configuration for a combined 4,500W of continuous power.
The rugged power system provides enhanced power monitoring with intuitive controls and a user-friendly interface. The RP24’s easy menu navigation and alphanumeric display provide real-time diagnostics and status updates. Remote monitoring is supported via SNMPv3-compatible Ethernet.
The high-performance, compact RP24 is a modular power supply in a 19-inch aluminum chassis. It is ideal for providing auxiliary DC power for field-deployed radios and other communications equipment in military, industrial automation, and
emergency response applications.
Oskar Schulthess, business development manager and head of power solutions for Elma Electronic, noted, “The criticality of reliable power in remote, harsh environments can’t be underestimated. This rugged power system not only offers a scalable infrastructure to meet the various needs of in-the-field applications but now provides a means for extended operation for increased peace of mind and reliability during military operations.”
The RP24 features a flexible 115/230 VAC input range, a stable 27 VDC output, Class II reinforced isolation, and IP67 protection. In addition to EMP, overvoltage, shock, and vibration protection, each 1000W AC/DC unit provides full load operation from -35°C up to +60°C at an altitude of 3500m.
The system can withstand shocks from falls up to 1.5 meters, ensuring reliability during transport and deployment compliant with MIL-STD-810G. It also complies with MIL-STD-461G for EMC and meets HEMP (High-altitude Electro Magnetic Pulse).
Fully charged in as little as four hours with sequential charging, the new, high-capacity RA24 provides a 50 Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery known for its safety and longevity. With a nominal output voltage of 25.6V, the RA24 ensures continuous power delivery during outages or without an external power source.
Elma Electronic elma.com
October 2024
COT’S PICKS
NEW Embedded SOM based on the fast, powerful i.MX-RT117x Processor
SoMLabs franchised distributor Inelco Hunter is pleased to announce the availability of the new VisionSOM-RT1170 (SLS14) System-on-Module (SOM), based on the extremely fast and powerful i.MX-RT117x processor. Incorporating dual ARM cores (Cortex-M7 + Cortex-M4), the processor offers a fast Core Clock Speed of up to 1GHz for the M7 core and 400MHz for the M4 core.
The new SOM features a 2MB on-chip RAM memory, up to 1Gb (128MB) of SDRAM memory, and up to 512Mb(64MB) of QuadSPI/Octal Flash memory. It is also low-power and cost-optimized, making it ideal for demanding applications such as automation and industrial IoT.
The display interface is a 24-bit Parallel RGB interface and MIPI-DSI. There are two Gigabit Ethernet interfaces (supporting TNS and AVB). Peripheral support includes GPIO, UART,
New NavePoint Accessories Line Unlocks Potential of 23-Inch-Width Network Racks
Line Includes Upsized Drawers, Shelves, Panel Spacers, Cable Manager
NavePoint, an Infinite Electronics brand and a leading provider of IT networking and A/V equipment, has launched 23-inch-width rack accessories. These network rack and cabinet accessories fit in 23-inch-wide equipment mounting rails instead of standard 19-inch-wide
I2C, USB, CAN, and I2S/SAI. The SOM features a compact form factor of SODIMM200 and has an industrial-grade temperature range of -40 to +85 °C. The O/S is FreeRTOS.
Inelco Hunter’s in-depth engineering support ensures rapid implementation, speeding up the customer’s time-to-market. Inelco Hunter’s
racks. They include rack-mount drawers, shelves, horizontal cable management, and blank panel spacers, as well as brackets for mounting 19-inch components in 23-inch racks.
The new 23-inch rack-mount drawers come in three sizes: 1U (1.7 inches tall), 3U (5 inches) and 4U (7 inches). The steel locking drawers are 13.3 inches deep and can hold up to 22 pounds of gear.
NavePoint offers two types of 23-inch steel shelves. The 1U fixed shelf is made for four-post racks, is 14 inches deep, and holds up to 220 pounds. The three 2U cantilever shelves hold less weight (55 pounds) but require only two attach-
engineers will work with the SME engineers. This added-value support is at the core of Inelco Hunter’s philosophy and has been for the last 30 years, setting them apart from the “stock and ship” distributors.
Inelco Hunter inelcohunter.co.uk
ment points. They come in depth options of 14, 16, or 18 inches.
The new 1U horizontal cable manager has six sets of 3.3-inch-deep brackets that neatly route cables away from the face of a 23-inch rack.
NavePoint’s steel mounting brackets enable the mounting of 19-inch-wide components into 23-inch racks. Choose between 5 or 10 sets of brackets.
The product launch includes a wide array of steel, 23-inch-wide blank panel spacers for closing off empty rack spaces. Choose from 1U, 2U, or 3U sizes, each available in three designs. Perforated spacers enable ventilation, while slotted spacers offer both ventilation and cable attachment points. Solid spacers have no ventilation openings, which prevents dust ingress and promotes directed air pathways inside a rack.
“Our 23-inch-width network racks hold a greater variety of gear than standard racks do and offer more port density and cable space,” said Product Line Manager Tim Houghton. “These accessories are key to truly unlocking the potential of the wider racks.”
NavePoint navepoint.com
October 2024
COT’S PICKS
Gigabyte Introduces Server family based on Advanced Intel® Processors
Giga Computing, a subsidiary of GIGABYTE and an industry leader in generative AI servers and advanced cooling technologies, announced its first wave of GIGABYTE servers for Intel® Xeon® 6 Processors with P-cores. This new Intel Xeon platform is engineered to optimize per-core performance for compute-intensive and AI-intensive workloads, as well as general-purpose applications. GIGABYTE servers for these workloads are built to achieve the best possible performance by fine-tuning the server design to the chip design and to specific workloads.
All new GIGABYTE servers support Intel® Xeon® 6900-series processors with P-cores with up to 128 cores and 96 PCIe Gen5 lanes. Additionally, for greater performance in memory-intensive workloads, the 6900 series expands to 12 channel memory and makes available up to 64 lanes CXL 2.0. Overall, this modular SOC architecture has great potential, with the ability to leverage a shared platform for running both performance and efficiency-optimized architecture.
General Purpose (Single-Socket) Servers
R164 Series: Compact 1U design that supports a single Intel Xeon 6 processor and a dual-slot GPU. Server variation focuses on the storage solution with 12x 2.5” bays or 4x 3.5”/2.5” bays for NVMe/SATA/ SAS drives.
R264 Series: Expanding to a 2U chassis, this se-
ries also supports a single processor but can support up to 4x dual-slot Gen5 GPUs.
General Purpose (Dual-Socket) Servers
R184 Series: Similar storage choices are possible like the R164 series; however, with the R184 comes greater compute density spread across two CPU sockets, and to accommodate this, less focus is placed on the expansion slots, and dual-slot GPU support has been removed. R284 Series: Moving to a 2U chassis, the greater server height allows dual CPU sockets and support for dual-slot GPUs. The models within the R284 series include options of up to 24x 2.5” Gen5 drives or 12x 3.5”/2.5” mixed storage.
Edge Servers
E264 Series: For those needing a short chassis depth, this series retains the ability to have a 2U form factor in support of a single processor and up to four dual-slot GPUs. The server depth has decreased by nearly 200mm compared to general-purpose servers, yet the overall compute performance can be maintained with a tradeoff in fewer storage bays.
E284 Series: This series emphasizes CPU compute. It is a dual CPU socket configuration with 6x FHHL expansion slots and 2x OCP NIC 3.0 slots for a wealth of I/O options.
NVIDIA MGX Modularized Servers
XV24 Series: An NVIDIA OVX™ optimized server platform, this new dual socket series supports up to four NVIDIA L40S GPUs and has additional FHFL slots for NICs and DPUs.
High-density, Multi-node Servers
H374 Series: This series supports up to eight CPU sockets spread across four nodes for the ultimate in-dense CPU compute performance. Each node also has four low-profile expansion slots and two or six 2.5” bays.
Server-grade Motherboards
MA34 Series: A high-quality server board packed with I/O options, the MA34-CP0 is rich in both MCIO 8i and SlimSAS connectors. It also has four Gen5 expansion slots and an OCP NIC 3.0 slot.
GIGABYTE continues to push the boundaries of server innovation, delivering solutions that meet the evolving demands of modern computing. The new servers built on Intel® Xeon® 6900-series processors are designed to empower businesses across various sectors, providing unmatched performance, flexibility, and efficiency. As industries increasingly rely on AI, cloud computing, and edge technologies, GIGABYTE’s commitment to aligning its server designs with the latest advancements in processor technology ensures that our customers are well-equipped to handle the challenges of tomorrow. As more is unpacked with the possibilities in the Intel Xeon 6 platform, GIGABYTE will ready systems to match all workloads and vertical markets. Additionally, GIGABYTE will announce a new GIGABYTE server that integrates Intel® Gaudi® 3 GPUs in the coming months.
Giga Computing gigacomputing.com
October 2024 COT’S PICKS
DT Research’s DT312RP Advances Rugged Tablet Design to be Thinner, Lighter, and Top Performing
DT Research, the leading designer and manufacturer of purpose-built computing solutions for vertical markets, today announced the DT312RP rugged tablet, a tablet innovated to be thinner, lighter, and exceptionally powerful for demanding environments. The 312RP offers an 11.6” high-bright capacitive touch screen, 13th generation Intel Core™ i5/i7 processors for powerful operation, and Microsoft® Windows® 10/11 IoT Enterprise operating system for seamless integration with a wide range of systems and applications.
The DT312RP redefines the landscape of rugged computing and introduces a suite of cutting-edge features designed to elevate the dynamic demands of field professionals in harsh environments.
Key features include an antimicrobial coating that inhibits microorganism growth, a fanless design to reduce noise and airborne contaminants, and IP65 (water and dust resistance) and MIL-STD-810H (shock and vibration) certifications to ensure durability to harsh field operations. With hot-swappable batteries and high-capacity battery packs, the DT312RP pro-
vides uninterrupted usage without downtime for charging and delivers top performance even when operating with only batteries.
The DT312RP Rugged Tablet offers several data capture options, including front and back cameras, 4G LTE/AWS, GNSS for precise mapping and measurements, and a 2D barcode scanner. The standard wireless communications create real-time data access, and the built-in microphone with DSP supports live video streaming.
“Designed with the fieldwork needs in mind, the DT312RP rugged tablet provides essential features without the non-essential extras,” stated Daw Tsai, President of DT Research. “Ideal for outdoor use, we made this tablet as sleek and lightweight as possible while still being a powerful Windows tablet.”
The tablet features a cleverly designed removable quick-release access cover for its solid-state storage (SSD), which doubles as a flipout kickstand for use on any flat surface. This quick-release door/stand allows fast adding/ removing of the SSD module to secure sensitive data effortlessly. The 312RP can also be configured without this quick-release access door and/ or stand.
DT Research dtresearch.com
October 2024 COT’S PICKS
New 1-slot 3U OpenVPX Backplanes From Pixus in MultiGig™ RT3 Version
SoMLabs franchised distributor Inelco Hunter is pleased to announce the availability of the new VisionSOM-RT1170 (SLS14) System-on-Module (SOM), based on the extremely fast and powerful i.MX-RT117x processor. Incorporating dual ARM cores (Cortex-M7 + Cortex-M4), the processor offers a fast Core Clock Speed of up to 1GHz for the M7 core and 400MHz for the M4 core.
The rugged HSR10 NAS system, with optional support for NSA CSfC encryption, now securely stores up to 32 TB of data
Nurtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division announced that it has doubled the storage capacity of the Removable Memory Module (RMM) used in both the HSR10 and HSR10-CSfC commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) Network Attached Storage
memory, up to 1Gb (128MB) of SDRAM memory, and up to 512Mb(64MB) of QuadSPI/Octal Flash memory. It is also low-power and cost-optimized, making it ideal for demanding applications such as automation and industrial IoT.
The display interface is a 24-bit Parallel RGB interface and MIPI-DSI. There are two Gigabit Ethernet interfaces (supporting TNS and AVB). Peripheral support includes GPIO, UART, I2C, USB, CAN, and I2S/SAI. The SOM features a compact form factor of SODIMM200 and has an industrial-grade temperature range of -40 to +85 °C. The O/S is FreeRTOS.
(NAS) solutions to 32 Terabytes (TB). The ITARfree HSR10 and HSR10-CSfC are designed to store and protect critical data-at-rest (DAR) on air, sea, and ground platforms and meet the DAR storage needs of modern deployed C5ISR platforms that capture and process large amounts of sensor data for mission success. The size, weight, and power (SWaP)-optimized rugged devices feature dual 10 GbE interfaces that support up to 1.97 GB/s of data throughput (write) and 2.35 GB/s (read) to provide the high bandwidth and storage capacities needed to support these critical applications. The increased storage capacity of the HSR10 NAS
Inelco Hunter’s in-depth engineering support ensures rapid implementation, speeding up the customer’s time-to-market. Inelco Hunter’s engineers will work with the SME engineers. This added-value support is at the core of Inelco Hunter’s philosophy and has been for the last 30 years, setting them apart from the “stock and ship” distributors.
Pixus Technologies pixustechnologies.com
devices will enable extended mission duration while ensuring that no valuable data is lost due to limited storage capacity.
The HSR10-CSfC variant supports National Security Agency (NSA) Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) encryption with two layers of encryption. It protects up to 32 TB of data with software full disk encryption (SWFDE) and hardware full disk encryption (HWFDE). The HSR10 and HSR10-CSfC support RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10 configurations and include a Trusted Platform Module (TPM).
“The HSR10 and HSR10-CSfC address the data capture challenge for modern ISR platforms with high-speed 10 GbE optical connections and now up to 32 TB of storage capacity to ensure uninterrupted data acquisition without compromising security,” said Brian Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions Division. “With optional support for CSfC two-layer encryption, these turnkey NAS DAR solutions are ready for plug-and-play deployment, faster and more easily than Type 1 encryption-based alternatives.”
The HSR10 and HSR10-CSfC feature a PCI Express (PCIe) architecture and NVMe memory that connects directly to the system processor at flash memory speeds. The NVMe memory (~50% faster than SATA-based memory) is housed in the rugged RMM to ease the secure data transfer for post-mission analysis. The HSR10 and HSR10-CSfC are ideal for manned and unmanned deployed network-centric system applications.
Curtiss-Wright curtisswright.com
October 2024 COT’S PICKS
New Family of Voltage-Controlled Saw Oscillators With Ultra-Low Phase Noise Performance for Radar Applications
Microchip’s VCSO 101765 devices are available in 320 and 400 MHz with a small form factor.
Mission-critical applications like radar, test, and measurement require specialized components with precise frequency control and ultra-low phase noise to enhance signal clarity, stability, and overall system performance. To provide the aerospace and defense market with specialized technology for generating precise signals and frequencies, Microchip Technology (Nasdaq: MCHP) today announces its new 101765 family of Voltage-Controlled SAW Oscillators (VCSOs) designed to deliver ultra-low phase noise and operate at 320 MHz and 400 MHz.
The 101765-320-A VCSO delivers ultra-low phase noise performance of 166 dBc at 10 kHz offset and an 182 dBc floor. Low-phase noise is
crucial for improving the lower detection limit in radar and other sensing applications. These devices are optimal for radar and instrumentation systems such as Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) that demand high fidelity in critical phase-locked loop timing applications.
Available in a small form factor, 1 inch × 1 inch hermetic Kovar package, the VCSOs are designed for applications where Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C) are important factors. They are offered with supply voltages from 4.75–15.75V and a supply current of 111 mA to provide a power-efficient timing solution.
“Microchip continues to deliver ultra-low phase noise and high-performance timing products at a competitive price point to meet the needs of our customers,” said Leon Gross, corporate vice president of Microchip’s discrete products group. “Customers can choose Microchip for their timing needs and select other components for their application including FPGAs, MPUs, MCUs, RF, power management,
security and connectivity.”
For aerospace and defense customers who require a higher degree of reliability, the 101765 VCSOs are available with MIL-PRF-38534 screening. The screening process ensures that only the highest-reliability components are used in critical applications where failure is not an option, such as military and aerospace systems.
The 101765 VCSO family is a fresh addition to Microchip’s family of SAW products for aerospace and defense applications. It is designed to offer high reliability levels for robust and mission-critical environments. The products are available in various package options for ruggedized applications and support a center frequency range from 30 MHz to 2.7 GHz. Additionally, Microchip can address ITAR, EAR, and classified specifications for hardware to meet customers’ security requirements.
