Before any military technology can be fielded, it must undergo a barrage of test and measurement (T&M) scenarios to ensure its operability. The importance of these evaluation systems and their criticality is simple yet profound: The lives of warfighters are dependent on them. In recent years, varying demands and challenges have pushed manufacturers to innovate. Military T&M systems are going digital, becoming software-defined, and are undergoing widespread standardization right alongside so much of the technology used by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) today. This inexorable march then prompts the question of what takes priority with the DoD: ensuring compatibility with reliable legacy systems or moving forward with the wave of standardization?

Military teams operating in the battlespace against opponents under often-adverse conditions must act and react incredibly quickly, as adversaries become more adept and gather data on the fly. Artificial intelligence (AI) will become increasingly critical in helping commanders and team members with decision-making.

Since its introduction in 2014, the National Security Agency Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) program has proven very effective in lowering the cost and speeding the accessibility of encryption for critical data-at-rest (DAR). Compared to the time and expense associated with acquiring certification and approval for Type 1 encryption solutions, CSfC has provided a breakthrough for defense and aerospace system integrators by establishing an approved means for using commercial encryption to protect critical data.

Substantial penalties wait for global defense and aerospace manufacturers and contractors that fail to comply with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which exist to track military- and defense-sensitive material and to keep that material out of the hands of adversaries. Many organizations opt to mitigate this regulatory-heavy environment by using manual, labor-intensive internal processes or employing third-party compliance entities.

Each issue, the editorial staff of Military Embedded Systems will highlight a different charitable organization that benefits the military, veterans, and their families. We are honored to cover the technology that protects those who protect us every day. To back that up, our parent company – OpenSystems Media – will make a donation to every group we showcase on this page.

As hypersonic missiles, stealthy drones, and myriad other threats continue to emerge, ships are adapting by bringing more sophisticated laser and radar technologies aboard.

Customization of power supplies provides a distinct yet obvious advantage to the design engineer to meet performance specifications. Whether it be saving a card slot in a chassis, reducing the number of power supplies required, or addressing a unique EMC requirement, customization can reduce total system cost and technical risk to put increased capabilities rapidly into the hands of the warfighter. It also provides a pathway to support the Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) open-architecture standards. When approached strategically, customization can be a cost-effective and low-risk approach to address requirements.