SOSA aligned VNX+ lab platform from Elma will show at AUSA 2025
NewsOctober 09, 2025
2025 AUSA ANNUAL MEETING & EXPOSITION--WASHINGTON, D.C. Elma Electronic now offers the industry’s first development chassis for VNX+ (VITA 90) modules. The 3-slot FlexVNX+ -- aligned with the Sensor Open Systems Architecture, or SOSA, approach -- enables rapid board bring-up, validation, and testing of VNX+ plug-in cards (PICs), allowing system engineers to quickly and effectively evaluate and integrate VNX+ payload modules.
The FlexVNX+ has a 3-slot backplane (2+1), supports two payload slots (400-pin and 320-pin), and features a dedicated PSU slot and an internal power supply, enabling full system development. The unit operates using 110/220VAC or an optional 28VDC to support lab and deployed test environments. All I/O is accessed using the platform’s chassis sidewalls, which simplifies connectivity and eliminates the need for mezzanine cards. A maintenance port aggregator provides easy access for diagnostics and debugging.
The airflow-optimized design of the FlexVNX+ incorporates internal fans to cool payload modules, eliminating the cost and complexity of conduction cooling. Optional 46.11 chassis management support is available. The SOSA aligned platform also ensures ecosystem interoperability and future system upgrade paths.
Ram Rajan, senior vice president of Elma Electronic Inc., noted, “We’re seeing an increase in mission-critical applications that require extremely high-performance computing in severely SWaP-constrained applications. Our new 3-slot FlexVNX+ is geared towards early-stage developers and system integrators to help accelerate time-to-market for compact, VNX+ based systems, which use modules that are 30% of the size of 3U OpenVPX.”
VNX+ (VITA 90) systems -- one of the newest modular small-form-factor standards from the VITA Standards Organization -- are designed to handle mission control, secure communications and surveillance, target tracking, and display as well as weapons control and navigational and threat detection in compact and autonomous defense applications, such as uncrewed aerial platforms, wearable communications, and ISR/EW platforms. VNX+ supports data rates up to 25 Gbps between modules per lane and incorporates a naturally rugged design suitable for harsh environments without additional hardening.
Elma can be found at AUSA in Booth #867.
