Industry News

Comms

DARPA satellite salvage plan aims to save DoD dollars - News

January 24, 2013

Brandon Lewis - Technology Editor, Embedded Computing Design U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

ARLINGTON, VA. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has announced a plan to repurpose older satellites still in geosynchronous orbit. The plan, called the “Phoenix Program,” involves mining older, decommissioned satellites still in orbit with a permanently orbiting ground-controlled robotic mechanic named the Phoenix Service/Tender. After harvesting usable parts, such as transmitters, solar panels, and the antennas of retired spacecraft, the Phoenix Service/Tender would attach mini satellites or “satlets” to the antenna to create a new working satellite.

Unmanned

Raytheon PERM mortar munition to improve USMC fire support - News

January 24, 2013

Brandon Lewis - Technology Editor, Embedded Computing Design Raytheon Company

TUCSON, AZ. Raytheon has been awarded a contract to design, develop, and demonstrate a 120 mm Precision Extended Range Munition (PERM) for the United States Marine Corps (USMC). The long-range guided mortar munition will be fired from the Expeditionary Fire Support System M327 Rifled Towed (RT) mortar in support of the USMC’s air-to-ground taskforce.

Avionics

F-35 carrier variants complete first ever in-flight dual refueling - News

January 23, 2013

John M. McHale III - Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems Lockheed Martin

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md., Jan. 22, 2013 - The F-35C Lightning II carrier variant test aircraft completed its first refueling with a KC-130 Hercules from Lockheed Martin in a flight above Patuxent River, Md.

Avionics

Boeing and Sikorsky submit joint proposal for JMR FVL aircraft - News

January 18, 2013

Brandon Lewis - Technology Editor, Embedded Computing Design Boeing Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company

WASHINGTON. Boeing and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation have signed a teaming agreement to submit a joint proposal for the U.S. Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate’s Joint Multi-Role (JMR) Technology Demonstrator (TD) Phase 1 program. The JMR TD will support the Department of Defense (DoD) Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program for affordable, reliable, and high-performance next-generation medium-lift rotorcraft, perhaps the size of today’s Black Hawks and Apache helicopters.

Unmanned

Army's largest PV system to help provide $900k+ savings annually thanks to silicon technology - News

January 18, 2013

Brandon Lewis - Technology Editor, Embedded Computing Design Siemens Government Technologies

WHITE SANDS, NM. The U.S. Army’s largest solar Photovoltaic (PV) system has been dedicated at New Mexico’s White Sands Missile Range. Utilizing nearly 15,500 panels, the $16.8 million, 4.1 MW system spans over 42 acres. Developed in a collaboration between the Huntsville Center, Siemens Government Technologies, Bostonia, and the U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center, the system is the world's largest low-concentration PV facility.

Comms

Raytheon TSCE software delivered to U.S. Navy for DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer testing - News

January 17, 2013

Brandon Lewis - Technology Editor, Embedded Computing Design Raytheon Company

TEWKSBURY, MA. More than six million lines of code for the Total Ship Computing Environment (TSCE) integrated mission systems of the DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer program have been delivered to the U.S. Navy by Raytheon. One of the most complex software development programs in Navy history, as well as the first large-scale implementation of the Navy's Open Architecture strategy, the Raytheon TSCE software will support combat system and ship activation testing, which is scheduled for later this year.

Unmanned

Methods for embedding GPS on small UAVs and radios being developed by DARPA, Rockwell Collins - News

January 16, 2013

John M. McHale III - Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Rockwell Collins

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa. Engineers at Rockwell Collins and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) are embedding GPS navigation capability onto radios and even small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The work is being done as part of DARPA’s Dynamics Enabled Frequency Sources (DEFYS) initiative. Under this program DARPA created small electronic oscillators and Rockwell Collins eningeers are testing the miniature clocks on GPS radios.

Comms

Sikorsky CH-53K Helicopters to use area microphone preamplifier from Cobham - News

January 15, 2013

John M. McHale III - Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems Cobham

PRESCOTT, AZ. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. officials ordered Model 265-005 Area Microphone Preamplifiers from Cobham for use on CH-53K Super Stallion Heavy Lift Helicopters operated by the U.S. Marine Corps.

Radar/EW

Army orders small, hand held targeting system from Northrop Grumman - News

January 14, 2013

John M. McHale III - Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems Northrop Grumman

APOPKA, FL. Northrop Grumman won an Army contract to deliver Hand Held Precision Targeting Devices (HHPTDs) to the U.S. Army. The targeting system weighs less than 5.5 pounds and enables a greater degree of precision than prior systems.

From The Editor

Deputy Defense Secretary memo adapts industry to budget uncertainty - News

January 11, 2013

Brandon Lewis - Technology Editor, Embedded Computing Design

WASHINGTON. Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter released a memorandum yesterday informing the U.S. armed services, as well as defense agencies, to prepare for possible budget challenges in the coming months, allowing defense components to terminate temporary hires, freeze civilian hiring, and limit base overhead. Pointing to the threats of sequestration and the "continuing resolution" enacted by Congress, the memo also calls for components of the department to cancel third and fourth quarter ship maintenance, examine ground and depot-level maintenance, and review contracts for potential cost savings.

Comms

Local grids to be powered by DoD electric vehicles - News

January 11, 2013

Brandon Lewis - Technology Editor, Embedded Computing Design U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)

WASHINGTON. The Department of Defense (DoD) has allocated $20 million for a fleet of electric vehicles capable of exporting their own power in continuing efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Beginning later this year, the DoD plans to begin leasing up to 500 modified electric vehicles that cost between $30,000 and $100,000 a piece for six locations, including Los Angeles Air Force Base.

Unmanned

Infrared laser countermeasure technology for rotary and fixed-wing aircraft developed by Northrop Grumman, Pranalytica - News

January 10, 2013

Brandon Lewis - Technology Editor, Embedded Computing Design Northrop Grumman

APOPKA, FL. – A new variant of the All Semiconductor Airborne Laser Threat Terminator (ASALTT) that hosts a high power, high brightness Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) module has been announced by Northrop Grumman. The ASALTT family is a group of infrared countermeasure systems deployed on rotary and fixed-wing military aircraft. The QCL was integrated into the platform in conjunction with Pranalytica, Inc., who customized the performance and properties of the QCL for the new laser design.

Comms

USAF Air National Guard rescue helicopters equipped with next-gen radios from Rockwell Collins - News

January 09, 2013

Brandon Lewis - Technology Editor, Embedded Computing Design Rockwell Collins

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA. The first installation of ARC-210 Gen5 radios on a U.S. Air Force Air National Guard HH-60G Combat Search And Rescue (CSAR) rotorcraft has been completed, Rockwell Collins announced today. The next-generation radio installation is a major part of the HH60G’s Avionics Communications Suite Upgrade Program, and provides the ability to fully network the helicopter with troops on the ground thanks to the radio’s Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW).

Radar/EW

New radar for Fire Scout UAV Wide-Area Search operations to be provided by Telephonics - News

January 09, 2013

John M. McHale III - Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems Telephonics Corporation

SAN DIEGO. Northrop Grumman chose Telephonics Corp. in Long Island, N.Y., for a multimode maritime radar system for the U.S. Navy's MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

Comms

MUOS waveform for secure satellite communications completed by Lockheed Martin - News

January 08, 2013

John M. McHale III - Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems Lockheed Martin

SUNNYVALE, CA. Lockheed Martin engineers completed and delivered the new software waveform for the U.S. Navy’s Mobile User Objective System (MUOS). The U.S. government has made the waveform available for military satellite communications terminal providers via the Joint Tactical Networking Center (JTNC) Information Repository. Contractors also may integrate the waveform into their MUOS-compatible terminals to deploy WCDMA capabilities for their users.