Industry News

Avionics

Lockheed Martin Apache helicopter M-TADS/PNVS team wins Army PBL contract - News

September 25, 2012

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

ORLANDO, FL. U.S. Army officials awarded Lockheed Martin a $111 million Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract for Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS).

Radar/EW

US Army exercises option on 44 Northrop Grumman STARLite radar systems for MQ-1C Gray Eagle UAS - News

September 21, 2012

Brandon Lewis - Technology Editor, Embedded Computing Design Northrop Grumman

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. – An additional 44 Northrop Grumman AN/ZPY-1 Small Tactical Radar – Lightweight (STARLite) wide-area surveillance radars will be leveraged by the U.S. Army for the MQ-1C Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). The STARLite systems are composed of ground moving target and discount moving target indicator ability, as well as synthetic aperture radar, and have proved an effective instrument in providing aerial intelligence to warfighters. The deliveries that commence in April of 2013 and end in March of the following year, will bring the total number of contracted systems to 174.

Radar/EW

Shipboard interrogator sets for Aegis combat ships contracted to Northrop Grumman - News

September 21, 2012

Brandon Lewis - Technology Editor, Embedded Computing Design Northrop Grumman

U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has inked an $11.5 million follow-on production contract with Northrop Grumman for fabrication, testing, and delivery of AN/UPX-24(V) interrogator sets. The firm-fixed-price contract will provide five open-architecture AN/UPX-24(V) processor sets to Aegis combat ships to enhance the vessels’ situational awareness and threat-detection capabilities.

A.I.

DARPA surveillance system uses EEG for image filtering - News

September 20, 2012

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

ARLINGTON – The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has released field test results of the Cognitive Technology Threat Warning System (CT2WS), a threat detection system utilizing a camera that interacts with operator brain waves to scan wide areas at extended distances. Test results revealed a 91 percent success rate in threat detection using the CT2WS, compared to the 53 percent successful detection rate of more traditional camera systems.

Cyber

SecureOne high assurance program from Rockwell Collins uses tools from AdaCore - News

September 19, 2012

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

BOSTON. Engineers at Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, are using the SPARK Pro and GNAT Pro High-Security solutions from AdaCore for the development of SecureOne Guard, a high assurance cross domain guard for military tactical systems. AdaCore officials made the announcement uring the Design East show in Boston this week.

Avionics

New code analysis tool released by LDRA at Design East - News

September 18, 2012

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

BOSTON. A new coverage tool for verifying application source code from LDRA, called LDRAcover completed structural testing. It is for companies that have to comply with safety and security certification standards such as DO-178B in avionics an defense applications. LDRA made the announcement this week during the Design East show in Boston.

Avionics

B-1 Bomber avionics displays to get upgrade from Rockwell Collins - News

September 17, 2012

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

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa. Boeing officials selected Rockwell Collins to deliver high-resolution 6-by-8-inch color cockpit displays for Air Force B-1 Bomber aircraft. The $21 million contract is part of the Air Force’s Integrated Battle Station Program.

Comms

Harris Falcon III AN/PRC-117G Radio JTRS-Certified - News

September 14, 2012

Brandon Lewis - Technology Editor, Embedded Computing Design Harris Corporation

MELBOURNE, FL/ROCHESTER, NY — Harris Corporation’s Falcon III AN/PRC-117G manpack radio has received Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) certification. The first Non-Developmental Item (NDI) to receive JTRS certification on the SRW waveform, the multiband AN/PRC-117G operating SRW v1.01.1 has met the open standards, interoperability, and security requirements of tactical DoD networks. Proven compliant with Joint Program Executive Office (JPEO) JTRS standards, the Harris wideband tactical radio system ensures the security risk reduction and interoperability of JTRS waveforms on Software Defined Radios (SDRs).

Avionics

General Dynamics Advanced Mission Computer Completes Super Hornet, Growler Flight Testing - News

September 13, 2012

Brandon Lewis - Technology Editor, Embedded Computing Design General Dynamics

ST. LOUIS – The Type 4 Advanced Mission Computer (AMC) has been successfully flight tested for use in the EA-18G Growler and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet by the U.S. Navy and Boeing. The mission computer, supplied by General Dynamics, has increased computing power and will improve image and mission processing for Distributed Targeting Systems, Infrared Search and Track, and high-definition touch-screen displays, among other systems.

Comms

Inertial Navigation System Eurofighter Tranche 3 to be supplied by Northrop Grumman - News

September 12, 2012

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

POMEZIA, Italy. Officials at Alenia Aermacchi and the Eurofighter Consortium selected Northrop Grumman Corp. to deliver inertial and satellite navigation systems for the Tranche 3 of the Eurofighter Typhoon multirole combat fighter aircraft.

Radar/EW

Lynx Multi-Mode Radar Tested by Department of Homeland Security - News

September 11, 2012

Brandon Lewis - Technology Editor, Embedded Computing Design General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

SAN DIEGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) have conducted testing of the two-channel Lynx Multi-mode Radar system onboard a Predator B Remotely Piloted Aircraft, according to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. Integration of the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Dismount Moving Target Indicator (DMTI), and Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) components of the Lynx Multi-mode Radar was successfully tested in May at the National Air Security Operations Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Radar/EW

Rugged video display released by Curtiss-Wright - News

September 10, 2012

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

LAINDON, United Kingdom. Engineers at Curtiss-Wright Controls Defense Solutions (CWCDS), have designed a new rugged widescreen display -- the Skyquest AVDU4300. The 17-inch device has full 1080p resolution and is designed for military and law enforcement applications.

Comms

GPS III first launch exercise completed - News

September 06, 2012

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

NEWTOWN, PA. Raytheon and Lockheed Martin officials announced that the Air Force’s GPS III satellites’ first launch readiness exercise was completed. The launch readiness exercise, which was completed over a three day period by mission operations personnel, validated the basic satellite’s command and control functions, demonstrated the basic on-console procedures required for space vehicle contacts during the launch and early orbit mission, and tested the software and hardware interfaces.

Comms

MIDS-LVT Link-16 Terminals to be delivered by Data Link Solutions for U.S. and Coalition Forces - News

September 05, 2012

John M. McHale III - Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems BAE Systems Rockwell Collins

WAYNE, N.J. Data Link Solutions (DLS), a joint venture between BAE Systems and Rockwell Collins, won an $18.5 million contract from the U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) for the production of Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Low Volume Terminals (LVT) for U.S. and Coalition Forces. The MIDS-LVT terminals will enable real-time data communications, navigation, situational awareness, and digital voice -- all in one jam-resistant and crypto-secured package.

Radar/EW

Firefinder Radar REX upgrade contract awarded to ThalesRaytheonSystems - News

September 04, 2012

Brandon Lewis - Technology Editor, Embedded Computing Design ThalesRaytheonSystems

FULLERTON, CA. – A $44.9 million U.S. Army contract to upgrade the Receiver Exciter (REX) of the Improved AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar has been awarded to ThalesRaytheonSystems. Part of an effort to extend the Improved AN/TPQ-37 counter-battery system’s performance and service life, the enhanced REX produces signals for transmission and conditions received signals for processing within the long-range weapon locating radar.