Defense funding for unmanned and artificial intelligence (AI) systems is increasing by leaps and bounds, driving the need for computing systems to be smaller, faster, and more compatible. The demand for compatibility and commonality follows the convergence of open architecture initiatives like the Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA), C4ISR/EW [electronic warfare] Modular Open Suite of Standards (CMOSS), and Modular Open Radio Frequency Architecture (MORA), just to name a few.
Military Embedded Systems
Op-Eds
Radar/EW
Radar/EW
What defines a military-grade rugged tablet? - Blog
May 08, 2020
Laptops used by everyday consumers rest in relatively benign environments, indoors at room temperature, and are rarely, if ever exposed to harsh weather like rain or snow. Military laptop users face much more extreme environments than the average desktop user and need a laptop that can perform in harsh conditions. Warfighters also need mobile computing that can work basically in the middle of nowhere, that maintain connectivity in remote locations.
Radar/EW
SOSA and VPX - Blog
April 30, 2020
EVENT HORIZON BLOG: I've been heavily involved in a standards effort called the Sensor Open Systems Architecture, or SOSA. SOSA is interesting because it’s a government/industry consortium formed with the goal to create a hardware/software standard aimed at making it much easier to integrate and maintain defense sensor systems. As it is a huge undertaking with something like 70 organizations participating and usually upwards to 150 people at each semi-monthly face-to-face, there is a lot to say about SOSA. Today I'll discuss VPX and SOSA, but I’ll be touching on different aspects of SOSA over the coming months as there is far too much to tackle in a single blog post.
Radar/EW
2020 State of the VITA Technology Industry - Spring Edition - Blog
April 30, 2020
My report covers the state of the VITA technology industry in particular and of the board and system industry in general, in markets such as aerospace, defense, space, industrial, and more.
Comms
How the kill web manipulates time and space - Blog
March 31, 2020
WARFARE EVOLUTION BLOG: The best way to start this essay is with a simple formula that shows how the kill web manipulates time and space, and then explain how it works: t= (d/s)/i. Time (t) is equal to distance (d) divided by speed (s), divided by intelligence (i). The more intelligence we have about the enemy, the more we can manipulate time and space.
Radar/EW
Military power conversion: the value of strategic customization (Part 1) - Blog
March 30, 2020
As the military-electronics industry continues to transition toward commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products, established standards, and modular designs, the need for tailored solutions remains – there is a middle ground. In this, Part 1 of a two-part blog series, the benefits and drawbacks of custom parts are discussed.
Comms
POSTPONED dates announced for AEROSPACE TECH WEEK - Blog
March 24, 2020
Despite not being able to proceed with Aerospace Tech Week this month in France we do at least now at last have some positive news. The event is now officially confirmed as being postponed to 24-26th March 2021 in Toulouse again at the same venue. We are therefore delaying the return to Munich until 2022.
A.I.
A.I.
Radar/EW
Event Horizon blog series - Blog
February 28, 2020
Hello and welcome to Event Horizon, my periodic blog about embedded technologies, defense systems, and anything generally tech-related that I might find interesting (and hopefully you as well). I’d like to thank the kind folks at OpenSystems Media, and especially John McHale, Editorial Director at Military Embedded Systems Magazine for giving me a little space where I can muse on various topics that strike my interests.
Avionics
6G stealth fighter planes: The quarterback of the kill web - Blog
January 31, 2020
WARFARE EVOLUTION BLOG: There are 14 countries working on 6th Generation (6G) fighter planes these days: the U.S. (PCA, F/A-XX, NGAD); the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, and maybe India (Tempest); France, Germany, and Spain (FCAS); Japan (F-3); Taiwan (ADF); South Korea and Indonesia (KF-X); Russia (MiG-41); and China (J-XX). Before we get into the details, we need to define what a 6G fighter jet is. The F-35 and F-22 are 5G fighter planes. There are six aircraft generation classification charts out there: Hallion, Aerospaceweb, Air Force Magazine, Winchester, Air Power Development Center, and China’s Air Force. All these templates have been overcome by advances in technology and evolving mission requirements. So, we’ll be breaking new ground in this essay, by adding to the common 6G characteristics from the old charts and building an updated definition. Then, we’ll integrate those new aircraft into the kill web.
Cyber
Expanding hardware security trust - Blog
January 07, 2020
As security threats continue to grow and undermine the trust in systems performing critical operations, the ability to detect and prevent changes to vital system components is necessary to maintain system integrity. In order to get ahead of these threats, organizations need to deploy hardware roots of trust to monitor and defend critical systems. Hardware roots of trust use encryption and digital-signature technology to ensure only legitimate changes are made to system components.
A.I.
From gaming to the battlefield: the benefits of virtual reality in military training - Blog
December 11, 2019
Today?s technology allows gamers to wage battles against players around the world through immersive, cross-platform play. Beyond entertainment, this type of cross-platform, virtual technology could revolutionize the way the U.S. Army trains.
A.I.
What is a tensor and why should I care? - Blog
December 09, 2019Over time, the definition of a tensor has varied across communities from mathematics to quantum physics. Lately, it has joined the machine learning community's lexicon. If you search the web for the definition of a tensor, you will likely be overwhelmed by the varying explanations and heated discussions. In 1900, Gregorio Ricci Curbastro and his student Tullio Levi-Civita first published their theory of tensor calculus, which is also known as absolute differential calculus.
Comms
Satellites and the kill web - Blog
November 25, 2019
WARFARE EVOLUTION BLOG. In August 1990, Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. At that time, the US. .Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) had one communications satellite in geostationary orbit (GEO) operating over the Indian Ocean, covering the Middle East. Within the next few weeks, a satellite over the Atlantic Ocean was tilted to access the Persian Gulf. Another satellite in polar orbit was moved to 65 degrees East, and a reserve satellite over the Indian Ocean was activated. Some British satellites were linked-in, and these measures created the first space-based military communications network in history.
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Holt Releases First ARINC 429 Quad Line Driver
January 28, 2026
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Top 10 Military Embedded Systems stories of 2025
January 19, 2026
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E-2D identification friend or foe service depot to be established for U.S. Navy by BAE Systems
January 15, 2026
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GUEST BLOG: From code to behavior – Software assurance in safety- and mission-critical edge systems
January 15, 2026
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Missile production expansion agreements signed by Raytheon, DoD
February 04, 2026
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Counter-drone batteries to be provided to Poland by Kongsberg and PGZ
February 02, 2026
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Advanced sensing and targeting system for ship defense to be developed for DARPA by Raytheon
February 02, 2026
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V-BAT drones and Hivemind software to be supplied to Indian Army by Shield AI
January 30, 2026
Cyber
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Network-modernization contract for U.S. Space Force won by CACI International
January 05, 2026
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Air Force installation to begin M2M comms across systems, infrastructure
December 02, 2025
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DoD awards Hewlett Packard Enterprise a 10-year contract for cloud computing upgrades
December 01, 2025
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PRODUCT OF THE WEEK: Atek DataKey Mini-Bar Crypto Ignition Key series
November 10, 2025
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Amphibious combat vehicles to be provided to U.S. Marine Corps by BAE Systems
February 04, 2026
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Tactical data link terminals to be provided to U.S. Navy and allied forces by Data Link Solutions
February 02, 2026
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VITA 93 module group launches for use in demanding embedded applications
January 27, 2026
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Wireless MANET radio with mesh networking introduced by Silvus Technologies
January 22, 2026