Industry News

Cyber

State agencies explain Cybersecurity Executive Order - News

February 14, 2013

Brandon Lewis - Technology Editor, Embedded Computing Design

Experts from the Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and other government agencies met at the Commerce Department’s Washington, DC, headquarters on Wednesday to explain President Obama’s Cybersecutiy Executive Order (EO) in detail. Leaders from the primary government agencies stressed that the order, which is based on information sharing and a voluntary framework of cybersecurity best practices, will rely heavily on the willingness of private critical infrastructure industries to collaborate against cyber attacks.

Radar/EW

Electronic warfare for NRL to be developed by Mercury Systems - News

February 12, 2013

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

CHELMSFORD, MA. Officials at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Tactical Electronic Warfare Division (TEWD) selected Mercury Systems to supply advanced mixed signal digital receivers for prototype electronic warfare uses on airborne and surface shipboard applications. The award is a 3-year indefinite quantity/indefinite delivery (IDIQ) contract potentially worth as much $16.7 million.

Unmanned

Liquid-hydrogen powered Phantom Eye UAS finishes taxi tests - News

February 11, 2013

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

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE. The Phantom Eye liquid hydrogen-powered unmanned aircraft system (UAS) from Boeing finished taxi testing at getting ready for its second flight. During the taxi testing the UAS demonstrator aircraft sat atop its launch cart and reached speeds as fast as 40 knots, or about 46 miles per hour.

Unmanned

Northrop Grumman UAS Mission Management Control System completes successful flight demonstration - News

February 07, 2013

Brandon Lewis - Technology Editor, Embedded Computing Design Northrop Grumman

SAN DIEGO. The first successful flight of the RQ-4 Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) using Open Architecture (OA)-based Command and Control (C2) software and hardware has been completed by Northrop Grumman. Developed by Northrop’s Common Mission Management System (CMMS), the Mission Management Control System (MMCS) used in the demonstration is an open standards-based common hardware and software architecture intended for implementation across UAS platforms to ease training requirements and increase effectiveness. Held in December, the flight demonstration, was part of the Ground Station Technical Refresh contract and was sponsored by the U.S. Air Force Global Hawk Program Office.

Avionics

VectorNav IMU used in Autopilot solutions from Unmanned Innovations - News

February 06, 2013

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

DALLAS, TX. Engineers at Unmanned Innovation and VectorNav Technologies joined hands to integrate VectorNav's VN-100 iniature, calibrated MEMS-based, surface-mount measurement unit (IMU) into Unmanned Innovation's os-Series Autopilots. The autopilots enable rapid prototyping for helicopter, fixed-wing,, multi-rotor, and custom configuration Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs).

Comms

MIDS cryptographic module to be developed by ViaSat - News

February 05, 2013

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

CARLSBAD. ViaSat won a contract from the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) for the design, development, and production of a cryptographic module (LCM) for the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Low Volume Terminal (MIDS-LVT) Block Upgrade 2. SPAWAR officials awarded the contract on behalf of the MIDS Program Office (MPO) (JPEOJTRS10).

From The Editor

Proposed revision to Category XI of USML commented on by IPC - News

February 01, 2013

Brandon Lewis - Technology Editor, Embedded Computing Design

BANNOCKBURN, IL. Global industry association IPC commented on the U.S. Department of State’s (DoS’s) proposed revision to Category XI (military electronics) of the U.S. Munitions List (USML) yesterday, urging the department to revise proposed language regarding controls on International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)-controlled PCBs for defense electronics. In the current draft of the proposed revision, the DoS states that controls for PCBs in “which the layout is ‘specially designed’ for defense articles,” verbiage that IPC believes could be articulated more clearly to address lasting confusion surrounding ITAR’s treatment of printed boards.

Comms

Dissolvable military electronics investigated by DARPA program - News

January 31, 2013

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

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has begun a program for the development of electronics that are capable of dissolving into the environment after use. The Vanishing Programmable Resources Program (VAPR) is aimed at developing transient electronics that are comparable in ruggedness in functionality to Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) systems currently used, but that can be triggered to self-destruct in a controlled manner.

Avionics

Partnership to deliver 1553 technology on FPGA-based ComExpress modules - News

January 30, 2013

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

SAN DIEGO. Officials at Sealevel Systems, Inc. and Sital Technology LTD, joined hands to manufacture and deliver MIL-STD-1553 IP cores, board-level products, and components as well as custom computer designs for avionics and military applications. The companies made the announcement at the AFCEA West show in San Diego this week.

Comms

FAB-T software qualification testing, AEHF and Milstar C2 demonstration completed by Boeing - News

January 29, 2013

Brandon Lewis - Technology Editor, Embedded Computing Design U.S. Air Force

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA. Systems integration testing and software qualification testing of the U.S. Air Force Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminal (FAB-T) development program have been completed at the Boeing plant in Huntington Beach, CA. Along with a demonstration of FAB-T integration with the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) and Milstar mission control subsystem constellations, the recent tests prove the FAB-T system’s abilities controlling strategic satellite communications payloads on orbit.

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.