COTS Journal, November 2024

November 2024, Volume 26 - Number 11 • cotsjournalonline.com

The Journal of Military Electronics & Computing

JOURNAL

Making the Connected Battlefield a Reality: The five developments that are Helping to Harness the Data Deluge and Maximize Mission Success What’s Needed to Accelerate Defense Cloud Success?

It Goes Beyond Technology

The Journal of Military Electronics & Computing COTS (kots), n. 1. Commercial off-the-shelf.

Terminology popularized in 1994 within U.S. DoD by SECDEF Wm. Perry’s “Perry Memo” that changed military industry purchasing and design guidelines, making Mil-Specs acceptable only by waiver. COTS is generally defined for technology, goods and services as: a) using commercial business practices and specifications, b) not developed under government funding, c) offered for sale to the general market, d) still must meet the program ORD. 2. Commercial business practices include the accepted practice of customer-paid minor modification to standard COTS products to meet the customer’s unique requirements.

JOURNAL

—Ant. When applied to the procurement of electronics for he U.S. Military, COTS is a procurement philosophy and does not imply commercial, office environment or any other durability grade. E.g., rad-hard components designed and offered for sale to the general market are COTS if they were developed by the company and not under government funding.

SPECIAL FEATURE 14

Making the Connected Battlefield a Reality: The five developments that are helping to harness the data deluge and maximize mission success

DEPARTMENTS 6

The Inside Track

By Rob Mather, Vice President of Aerospace and Defense Industries, IFS

SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT 18

What’s Needed to Accelerate Defense Cloud Success?

It Goes Beyond Technology

By Gary Wang, Chief Technology Officer, DMI

COT’S PICKS 22

Editor’s Choice for November Cover Image: PHILIPPINE SEA (Sept. 28, 2024) A U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares to land aboard the expeditionary sea base USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5) in the Philippine Sea, Sept. 28, 2024. Elements of the 15th MEU are embarked aboard Miguel Keith conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. ESBclass ships, like Miguel Keith, enable sea-based expeditionary forces, such as the 15th MEU, to maintain forward presence with the capability to quickly deploy forces, supplies and warfighting capabilities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Capt. Staci Morris) COTS Journal | November 2024

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The Journal of Military Electronics & Computing

JOURNAL EDITORIAL

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JOURNAL

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COTS Journal | November 2024

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Honeywell and Curtiss-Wright developed cockpit voice recorders to help Boeing and Airbus meet the new 25-hour safety mandate We have collaboratively developed Honeywell Connected Recorder-25, which is now available to meet the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act’s mandate for longer recording capability..

together, we are ready to utilize our extensive experience developing flight recorders to deliver advanced technologies that provide open access for airline operators to retrieve their data.”

existing airplanes. The letter highlighted 14 NTSB investigations since 2018 that were hampered by a lack of CVR data because that data was overwritten due to insufficient recording capacity.

Honeywell and Curtiss-Wright Corporation announced they have collaborated to develop a Honeywell Connected Recorder-25 (HCR-25) cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) that is now available for applicable Boeing and Airbus commercial and cargo aircraft.

Using a 25-hour CVR dramatically improves the ability to identify the root cause of commercial aircraft incidents and accidents, resulting in more excellent air travel passenger safety and improvements to training, policies, and procedures.

Honeywell and Curtiss-Wright’s joint development of the CVR follows a letter from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) earlier this year that called for the installation of 25-hour CVRs in new aircraft production and the retrofit of

Honeywell HCR-25 CVR Based on Curtiss-Wright’s compact, lightweight Fortress® CVR technology, the HCR-25 complies with the latest FAA regulations and requirements for 25-hour CVRs and existing international rules in Europe, Canada, Mexico, and Singapore. The HCR-25 provides four audio recording channels, all with wideband performance, providing investigators with superior clarity over current-generation recorders.

The HCR-25 was type-certified for use on Boeing 737/767/777 aircraft last year and is scheduled to be type-certified for use on Airbus A320 series platforms in the first half of 2025. The development of this new technology supports Honeywell’s alignment of its portfolio to three compelling megatrends, including automation and the future of aviation.

“The Honeywell HCR-25 addresses the need for cockpit voice and data recorders that the FAA has mandated to increase flight safety,” said Steve Hadden, vice president of services & Connectivity at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. “Honeywell’s collaboration with Curtiss-Wright leverages our joint capabilities to deliver superior audio clarity in combination with data streaming to enable next-generation access to aircraft performance.”

The HCR-25 satisfies the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act’s directive that requires commercial passenger aircraft to be equipped with a CVR set to record the most recent 25 hours of flight data. The directive specifies that all newly manufactured aircraft must meet the 25-hour requirement while existing aircraft must comply within six years.

“We are proud to work closely with Honeywell to bring 25-hour cockpit voice recorder capability to both new OEM installations and retrofit applications, enhancing commercial aircraft flight safety with extended recording duration and real-time streaming connectivity,” said Brian Perry, senior vice president and general manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions Division. “Working 6

COTS Journal | November 2024

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Emproof and DDC-I Partner to Elevate Embedded Security with Deos and Emproof Nyx

nent-by-component, optimizing performance while maintaining robust protection where needed most.

emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership: “Our collaboration with DDC-I strengthens the security of Deos-based systems in critical industries like aerospace and defense. By integrating Emproof Nyx, system developers gain. powerful tools to protect their software at the binary level, helping to ensure that intellectual property and sensitive data remain secure, even in the face of advanced reverse engineering and exploitation attacks.”

Emproof, an innovator in embedded system security, and DDC-I, a leading supplier of software and professional services for mission- and safety-critical applications, have announced a strategic partnership. Together, the companies are introducing advanced security solutions for Deos™-based systems, detailed in their newly released whitepaper, Advanced Embedded Security with DDC-I Deos, and Emproof Nyx. This collaboration combines the robust apabilities of DDC-I’s Deos real-time operating system (RTOS) with Emproof ’s security solution, Emproof Nyx. Designed for industries where cybersecurity is paramount—such as aerospace and defense—this joint solution addresses sophisticated threats, including reverseengineering and exploitation attacks while offering flexible and tailored protection.

Advanced Protection for Critical Systems As cybersecurity threats escalate, all critical systems require advanced protection. Deos is known for its ability to minimize risks from vulnerabilities like Spectre and Meltdowready provides a secure platform with strong partitioning and encryption capabilities. However, even with such protections, embedded systems remain exposed to modern threats like reverse engineering, which can lead to IP theft and the discovery of exploitable vulnerabilities.

Emproof Nyx complements Deos by applying advanced binary transformation technology and safeguarding software at the binary level. This prevents reverse engineering and fortifies system components without disrupting the development workflow. System developers can tailor security measures compo-

“ T h e p a r t n e r sh i p b etween DDC-I and Emproof creates a bestin-class security solution for embedded systems,” said Gary Gilliland, Vice President of Marketing at DDC-I. “By combining Deos, a reliable real-time operating system, with Emproof Nyx, we are helping our customers defend against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats in the most demanding environments.”

Nils Albartus, Embedded Security Specialist and Technical Marketing Manager at Emproof COTS Journal | November 2024

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NVIDIA Contributes Blackwell Platform Design to Open Hardware Ecosystem, Accelerating AI Infrastructure Innovation

To drive the development of open, efficient, and scalable data center technologies, NVIDIA today announced that it has contributed foundational elements of its NVIDIA Blackwell accelerated computing platform design to the Open Compute Project (OCP) and broadened NVIDIA Spectrum-X™ support for OCP standards.

At this year’s OCP Global Summit, NVIDIA will share key portions of the NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 system electro-mechanical design with the OCP community—including the rack architecture, compute and switch tray mechanicals, liquid-cooling and thermal environment specifications, and NVIDIA NVLink™ cable cartridge volumetrics—to support higher compute density and networking bandwidth.

NVIDIA has already made several official contributions to OCP across multiple hardware generations, including its NVIDIA HGX™ H100 baseboard design specification, to help provide the ecosystem with a broader choice of offerings from the world’s computer makers and expand the adoption of AI. In addition, expanded NVIDIA Spectrum-X Ethernet networking platform alignment with OCP Community-developed specifications enables companies to unlock the performance potential of AI factories deploying OCP-recognized equipment while preserving their investments and maintaining software consistency.

“Building on a decade of collaboration with OCP, NVIDIA is working alongside industry leaders to shape specifications and designs that can be widely adopted across the entire data center,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “By advancing open standards, we’re helping organizations worldwide take advantage of the full potential of accelerated computing and create the AI factories of the future.”

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COTS Journal | November 2024

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General Atomics Energy Group Secures Contract for Advanced Research in National Security

Renewed Agreement with National Nuclear Security Administration Provides Cutting-Edge Components for US Nuclear Stockpile Stewardship Program For almost 35 years, General Atomics (GA) scientists in San Diego have collaborated with the US government to enhance homeland defense and advance fusion technology. This month, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a semi-autonomous agency under the Department of Energy (DOE), renewed GA’s contract to produce and deliver research components vital to maintaining the US nuclear stockpile. The contract supports the NNSA’s Stockpile Stewardship Program, which advances Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) research at national laboratories nationwide.

“We are proud to be a part of this decades-long collaborative effort with NNSA and several national laboratories,” said Paul Fitzsimmons, technical director for Inertial Fusion Technology at the General Atomics Energy Group.

“The contract lets GA use our unique capabilities to support a program vital to our country’s national security.”

As part of the contract, GA fabricates state-of-the-art ignition targets—small, peppercorn-sized spheres made from various materials,

including diamond and gold, among others. Researchers then fire lasers at these targets, rapidly compressing them to trigger a controlled release of energy lasting just billionths of a second. The data gained from these experiments allows researchers to study the behavior of matter under extreme conditions and is essential for ensuring the US maintains a safe, secure, and reliable nuclear deterrent without underground testing.

In 2022, the tiny targets were crucial in achieving a significant milestone at the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). LLNL scientists and more than 45 GA employees based at the facility to support the mission achieved fusion ignition for the first time—marking one of the most meaningful scientific breakthroughs of the 21st century.

Since then, the team has successfully repeated this accomplishment four more times.

GA’s renewed contract starts with an initial five-year term, with the option to extend it for an additional five years, potentially allowing this agreement to last a decade. This expanded commitment and increased funding reflect a significant shift from the previous five-year-only agreements.

“This is a long-term commitment unlike any we’ve had before,” Fitzsimmons said. “It truly reflects the NNSA’s confidence in General Atomics as a strategic partner while facilitating enduring investments that will support and shape the future of this dynamic program.”

COTS Journal | November 2024

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Strategic acquisition in the USA: Rheinmetall agrees takeover of vehicle specialist Loc

Performance Acquisition expands and strengthens Rheinmetall’s position in North America and the competition for high-volume major orders in the USA With a strategic acquisition in the USA, the Düsseldorf-based Rheinmetall Group is expanding its position in the world’s largest defense market and strengthening its core business in the field of land vehicles for military customers worldwide.

On August 13, 2024, Rheinmetall signed an agreement to acquire all equity interests in Loc Performance Products, LLC, a renowned vehicle specialist based in Plymouth, Michigan.

The acquisition expanded the Group’s business with the US military, increased its industrial base in the USA, and created further access to its technologies in North America. Furthermore, Rheinmetall is strengthening its production capacities in the USA to target high-volume major orders for US Army

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COTS Journal | November 2024

vehicle programs with a total potential of over USD 60 billion. Rheinmetall is one of the two remaining participants in the current prototype phase of the XM30 program. This program serves to introduce a new generation of infantry fighting vehicles. The volume is around USD 45 billion for around 4,000 infantry fighting vehicles. Furthermore, Rheinmetall is participating in the CTT (Common Tactical Truck) program, which has a volume of around USD 16 billion for around 40,000 trucks.

In addition, Rheinmetall expects the acquisition of Loc Performance to bring considerable benefits to its American and global businesses. For example, an experienced workforce with a high level of technical expertise—including in the maintenance, repair, and combat enhancement of military combat vehicles—will be integrated into Rheinmetall’s internal supply chains.

The purchase price agreed for Loc Performance, which will become due upon closing, is based on an enterprise value of USD 950 million. The transaction’s closing is subject to regulatory approvals.

With its skilled workforce of around 1,000 employees, Loc Performance generated significant and growing sales revenues. With its broad-based activities, the company will directly contribute to the Rheinmetall Group’s fast-growing US military vehicle business, managed by American Rheinmetall Vehicles based in Sterling Heights, MI. The acquisition provides the Rheinmetall Group with key capabilities in the US. It enables American Rheinmetall Vehicles to supply the US Department of Defense more effectively and comprehensively by expanding the company’s product portfolio and domestic manufacturing capabilities.

The investment follows Rheinmetall’s clear strategy for growth in the United States, which will be an important core business for the Group in the future.

Loc Performance is already pursuing a sustainable business model with robust organic growth and has highly skilled work.

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Mercury Selected by NAVAIR To Continue To Provide Advanced Data Transfer Systems for Navy Aircraft

Mercury Systems, Inc. announced it was awarded a five-year contract worth as much as $131.3 million from the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to continue providing secure data transfer systems for naval aircraft.

Mercury has been delivering Advanced Data Transfer Systems (ADTS) and components to the Navy since 2017 to support numerous rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft. These rugged, flexible, and proven systems simplify the secure transfer of data between ground planners and aircraft, significantly improving the operational readiness of these airborne assets. The new indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract will allow Mercury to deliver upgraded power-thrifty ADTS units that incorporate the company’s JDAR encryption module.

“Mercury has a strong partnership with the Navy, providing a range of data storage and transfer, video recorders, mission computers, and cockpit displays for the aircraft fleet,” said Roya Montakhab, Mercury’s SVP of Integrated Processing Solutions. “We are exceptionally proud to continue delivering ADTS systems that protect critical government data.”

Mercury’s ADTS features: • Up to 3 TB (3 x 1 TB) solid state memory modules (each module available from 128 GB, 256 GB, or 1 TB) with up to 450/300 MB/s read/ write transfer rates • Optional crash survivable memory module: Up to 30 GB of storage • 1 SATA port: optional for crash-survivable flight data recorder • Up to 250ms of response time • MIL-STD-1553B, four 1,000 BASE-TX Gigabit ethernet, analog/digital video/audio, and discrete interfaces • External command over an external communications circuit • Manual zeroize capabilities: via front panel switch • Meets information assurance requirements (S&U) Mercury Systems – Innovation that matters® Mercury Systems is a technology company that delivers mission-critical processing power to the edge, making advanced technologies more accessible for today’s most challenging aerospace and defense missions. The Mercury Processing Platform allows customers to tap into innovative capabilities from silicon to system scale, turning data into decisions on timelines that matter.

Mercury’s products and solutions are deployed in over 300 programs across 35 countries, enabling various applications in mission computing, sensor processing, command and control, and communications.

ECS Selects Axonius Platform to Help Modernize US Department of Homeland Security’s Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation Data Services Program Axonius Federal Systems LLC. announced that ECS, a federal systems integrator, has selected the Axonius platform to support ECS’s recent $528M task order to modernize the US Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) Data Services Program.

“We are thrilled to work with Axonius, the recognized leader in the federal CAASM space,” said Joanna Dempsey, vice president of CISA portfolio, ECS. “Leveraging the deep expertise of the Axonius team and their experience with dozens of Federal Civilian agencies in CDM and FISMA reporting was crucial to winning the CDM Data Services contract. We look forward to expanding this relationship across the federal civilian marketplace.”

Under the CDM Data Services program, ECS and partners are responsible for developing and delivering a solution that will standardize the integration of cybersecurity data coming from separate CDM data sources residing across dozens of federal, civilian, and executive branch agencies. The Axonius platform will be key to that integration challenge, ingesting and normalizing data from hundreds of siloed cybersecurity tools before delivering and actioning on that data.

Axonius brings several years of experience working with many government agencies, including the Departments of Homeland Security, Commerce, Education, Energy, and many others, on automating these processes. The end result will provide valuable context and actionable insights to federal cyber leaders.

“Axonius is excited to team with ECS on this new phase of the CDM program,” said Tom Kennedy, general manager of Axonius Federal Systems. “The ECS team was responsible for the original CDM dashboard, so it’s particularly exciting to help them take this program to new levels. CDM data services focuses modernization efforts on the integration layer, which relies on real-time access to high-quality data – something Axonius Federal Systems is perfectly designed to provide.”

COTS Journal | November 2024

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General Dynamics Mission Systems to Design, Test, and Deliver MEDUSA Prototype

General Dynamics Mission Systems announced that the US Navy awarded it a $15.9 mil-

lion contract to design, test, and deliver the Mining Expendable Delivery Unmanned Submarine Asset (MEDUSA) system.

MEDUSA is a tactical, clandestine mining system using an expendable Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) that can be launched from a submarine torpedo tube. The US Navy is developing MEDUSA to address the need for an advanced maritime mining system with long-range offensive mining capabilities. The scope of the newly awarded research and development effort includes the design, fabrication, and testing of the MEDUSA prototypes and associated risk reduction activities.

This contract includes options for prototype production and support that, if exercised, would bring its total value to

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$58.1 million. Design work on this contract will be performed in Quincy and Taunton, Massachusetts; Fairfax and Manassas, Virginia; Scottsdale, Arizona; Middletown, Rhode Island; and Greensboro, North Carolina, and is expected to be completed by September 2026.

“The critical operational need for advanced mine warfare assets like MEDUSA has increased dramatically,” said Dr. Laura Hooks, vice president and general manager of the Maritime and Strategic Systems business at General Dynamics Mission Systems.

“By leveraging our mature Bluefin Robotics unmanned underwater vehicle platforms, submarine platform integration experience, and our expertise in launching various torpedoes and payloads from submarines, General Dynamics Mission Systems will provide exceptional capability, military utility, and mission reliability to MEDUSA operators. We are proud to partner with the US Navy to deliver this vital technology to the fleet,” she added.

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Molex Announces Agreement to Acquire AirBorn, Expanding its Position in the Aerospace and Defense Market

Molex, a leading global connectivity and electronics solutions provider, announced the signing of an agreement to purchase AirBorn, Inc., an employee-owned company headquartered in Georgetown, TX. AirBorn specializes in designing and manufacturing rugged connectors and electronic components for global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), serving the aerospace and defense, commercial air, space exploration, medical, and industrial markets.

“The acquisition of AirBorn brings strong capabilities to Molex in the aerospace and defense market,” said Joe Nelligan, CEO of Molex.

Virtualitics Secures $46 Million+ Contract to Deliver Artificial Intelligence Solutions to Increase Mission Readiness on US Air Force Weapon Systems Multi-Year USAF Contract Underscores Company’s Commitment to Enhance Operational Readiness Virtualitics, the Mission AI company, announced the award of a five-year United States

“Combining Molex’s engineering breadth and manufacturing scale with AirBorn’s expertise in ruggedized, mission-critical products will enable us to serve better the evolving needs of our customers in this fast-growing global market.”

For more than 60 years, AirBorn products have been trusted to perform in extreme conditions where mission-critical reliability is vital to success. “AirBorn will serve as the platform for Molex’s aerospace and defense business, which is a powerful opportunity for our highly specialized team,” said Michael Cole, Presi-

Air Force (USAF) SBIR III contract worth more than $46 million. This contract builds upon a three-year effort between Virtualitics and the USAF to support multiple weapon systems and evolve how AI-guided applications can help flight line airmen achieve mission readiness goals and improve operational effectiveness.

Under this contract, the USAF will deploy Virtualitics’ Integrated Readiness Optimization (IRO) applications to provide unparalleled de-

dent and CEO of AirBorn. By uniting AirBorn’s unique expertise in the aerospace and defense market with Molex’s global scale, capabilities, and financial stability, we will ensure long-term success in a rapidly expanding category.”

The acquisition is expected to close by early December 2024, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. More information will be shared at that time. The details of the purchase price will not be disclosed. cision intelligence to maintain and sustainment units within the USAF. IRO enhances unit readiness posture by providing a holistic AI-guided approach to maintenance through the integration of Conditions Based Maintenance-Plus (CBM+) risk levels derived from inventory, manpower, and equipment constraints to optimize maintenance scheduling and operational planning. The platform preprocesses and fuses data, builds AI models, creates knowledge graphs, and helps teams discover insights using best-in-class data analytics and immersive 3D visualizations to support tactical and operational-level decision-making.

“Together, Virtualitics and the U.S. Air Force are leading the way to bring AI innovation into the hands of maintainers,” said Michael Amori, CEO and co-founder of Virtualitics. “Our partnership with the USAF is a strategic alliance that will enhance mission readiness through cutting-edge AI-driven decision technology.”

The new USAF contract aligns with the USAF’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) initiative to increase operational agility in response to an evolving contested logistics environment.

“We are very proud to partner with the USAF sustainment communities and operational wings to support such a strategic level mission, deploying some of today’s most sophisticated artificial intelligence technology to solve the growing challenges around generating air power,” said Rob Bocek, President, Public Sector at Virtualitics.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Making the Connected Battlefield a Reality:

The five developments that are

helping to harness the data deluge and maximize mission success

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By Rob Mather, Vice President of Aerospace and Defense Industries, IFS

Today’s battlefields and combat zones are characterized by a web of interconnected devices and data streams that provide real-time information about force readiness, soldiers, and equipment, even with some help from space. Rob Mather, Vice President of Aerospace and Defense Industries, IFS, explains how to harness the deluge and turn these data streams into critical insights to drive tactical and strategic advantages that maximize mission success.

Today, a technological revolution is sweeping across combat zones, transforming warfare into an even more complex information exchange. It’s called force connectivity and directly results from the ever-increasing presence of sophisticated technology on the frontline. From soldier health monitoring to real-time equipment diagnostics, a web of interconnected devices and data streams is becoming a vital tool for mission success.

Landmark legislation, such as the 1985 Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act, started the focus on better military connectivity. Driven by a need for

improved inter-service cooperation, this act mandated the development of comprehensive plans for intelligence sharing and operational coordination during joint military operations.

These efforts laid the groundwork for improved information exchange.

Technology accelerates the pace of change.

Fast-forward to now, and rather than regulatory-driven change, we’re moving into an era of technology-driven connectivity—as smart devices enter the battlefield to monitor the health of warfighters, equipment, and critical devices.

We’re seeing an explosion of asset connectivity that is starting to build a truly connected battlefield, not just on the ground, in the air, or at sea—but with some help from space, too.

Five key developments are powering the connected battlefield now and into the future: 1. The Internet of Military Things (IoMT) is driving a proliferation of data The Internet of Military Things (IoMT) is the growing militarization of IoT, where IoT— enabled sensors and devices provide a network of data that provides a deeper level of insight into a fighting force than ever before.

Systems Check Army Malek James observes a hydraulics systems check during Keen Sword at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Oct. 29, 2024. The exercise is designed to increase readiness and interoperability while strengthening the ironclad U.S.-Japan alliance.

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Low Light Op A Marine Corps amphibious combat vehicle enters the USS Somerset during Quarterly Underway Amphibious Readiness Training off the coast of Southern California, Oct. 27, 2024. The training is designed to develop and sustain essential amphibious skills for effective operations in maritime environments.

IoMT presents widespread opportunities, including enhanced efficiency, real-time decision-making, and improved situational awareness. The Australian Army has published a paper on IoMT, describing it as having “much scope for the development of additional capabilities in the future through the integration of sensors, robots, munitions, wearable devices, vehicles, and weapons.”

Successful IoMT deployments take Command, Control, Communications, Computers (C4) Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) processes to a higher level by exploiting large volumes of collected data for optimized decision-making. The ability to connect scattered systems and networks with IoMT data feeds into a large integrated network will be a key component in the move to a connected battlefield.

2. Every soldier can be monitored more closely – wearables and biometrics provide real-time data.

Another revolutionary and growing area of connectivity on the battlefield is the ability to monitor troops’ health. In most modern fighting forces, almost every soldier now has biometric monitoring devices that use 16

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sensors to track heart rate, body temperature, blood oxygen levels, and stress levels so commanders can make decisions based on this human data. NATO, for example, is currently supporting the development of new wearable technology: “designed to minimize casualties during combat operations. It involves soldiers wearing various body sensors that will help medics collect vital data and determine the extent to which a soldier may be injured more accurately than a field medic would be able to conclude.” Add to this communication transmitter-receivers, GPS devices, nightvision aids, and other comms devices—and a massive proliferation of tactical-level data is available. Furthermore, each device is an asset that forces the need to track the performance, further exacerbating the data deluge.

3. Assets themselves become stakeholders – and provide a direct window into force readiness.

There is no longer just a one-way flow of info out to the asset from the command. Many smart assets are now collecting data and engaging in two-way communication with other assets, turning them into stakeholders.

As per Deloitte, a single U.S. Air Force

unmanned aerial vehicle can generate 70 terabytes of data within an operational span of 14 hours. Multiply that by 1000 in a drone swarm scenario, and you can start to see the challenge facing commanders today in collecting the vast amounts of data available and distilling that data into actionable insights .

Or, consider a scenario where the asset itself, combined with predictive maintenance solutions, can tell the operator BEFORE the machine breaks down that a part will fail and alert the operator, possibly even self-triggering a repair workflow by picking parts and scheduling a technician.

However, getting a total view of asset readiness from this vast dataset can be challenging—and further complicated by the involvement of defense contractors who may be responsible for performance-based logistics (PBL) agreements to keep assets mission-ready.

4. Space – not just the final frontier, but a new tactical dimension The dimensions of the battlefield itself are also changing. What used to be air, land, sea, and time has become air, land, sea, and space. It could even be argued this is now

air, land, sea, space, plus cyberspace.

While not militarized, advances in communication satellites have become extremely beneficial in recent conflicts—even utilizing technology from the civilian side. For example, when SpaceX Starlink satellites were moved over Ukraine, that showed the flexibility and adaptability of an infrastructure to quickly move to support an emerging conflict.

Data reach broadens here, too. According to Deloitte, the amount of data being sent to and from space will likely grow to more than 500 exabytes of information from 2020 to 2030 (a 14x increase). On top of this, 98% of senior executives surveyed said that demand for space data is increasing as it has broader use and significance across end markets.

5. Data lake and intelligent analysis and distribution will truly connect the battlefield.

So, we have IoMT plus the asset operators.

Now, you add the munitions themselves—such as drone swarms and data feeds from space— and we are dealing with a very sophisticated connected battlefield. Common to all these connected battlefield advancements is the proliferation of data. Forces must be able to turn this vast pool of data into critical insights that can influence mission success.

collect, analyze, and redistribute all that data to the correct audience in a useful format.

Combining forecasting and predictability with a presentation layer drives Total Asset Readiness on a whole new level, giving commanders a clear real-time view of the assets at their disposal in the context of the mission they need to complete.

But suppose these developments operate in a decentralized manner. In that case, defense forces are not getting the immense value of the real-time aggregation of terabytes and terabytes of data every second in a wartime scenario. Per Capgemini, “This data must be sorted and digested for end-users, ensuring they can access essential insights quickly.” This is where a data lake for asset management can provide command-level insights on all inservice assets.

It’s war, Jim, but not as we know it – asset management infrastructure must match force connectivity requirements.

Defense contractors and forces can move beyond simply managing assets to actively orchestrating a high-performance logistics network by adopting an all-in-one asset management solution. This integrated approach fosters data-driven decisionmaking, enabling proactive asset readiness, optimized resource allocation, and streamlined workflows. The battlefield is only becoming more connected, and making the most of the deluge of data it brings will drive tactical and strategic success on the battlefield.

If you’re a fighting force, you need a framework overarching all of this to tie data together in a single solution and allow you to

Laser Focused A Marine Corps light armored vehicle shoots an M242 25 mm main gun during a low-light live-fire training at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Oct. 24, 2024. The training was designed to maintain readiness and proficiency in mission-essential capabilities.

COTS Journal | November 2024

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SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

What’s Needed to Accelerate Defense Cloud Success?

It Goes Beyond Technology.

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By Gary Wang, Chief Technology Officer, DMI

The road to the cloud has been an evolving journey for the defense community.

The first commercial cloud was launched in 2006. It was the year X, formerly Twitter, was founded and Pluto was demoted to a dwarf planet, a time when today’s AI capabilities would seem like science fiction and phones were not yet smart.

While cloud benefits from resilience to agility are clear, after many years adopting cloud computing to enterprise-level organizations, there is still work to do to

maximize the value of cloud migration and adoption in the defense community.

Recent initiatives such as DISA’s cloud migration rollout and the Navy’s effort to ramp up its Neptune Cloud Management Office highlight the DOD’s continued dedication to cloud migration.

However, the common barriers to desired cloud outcomes are not technology itself.

Cultural resistance, organizational readiness, resource constraints and cybersecurity challenges tend to be the top reasons why cloud adoption is not as broad or rapid as desired.

To achieve sustainable cloud adoption, agency leaders must put in place a wellrounded strategy that adequately considers personnel, financials and security along this journey. Prioritizing organizational change

To achieve sustainable cloud adoption, agency leaders must put in place a well-rounded strategy that adequately considers personnel, financials and security along this journey.

COTS Journal | November 2024

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At the root of most cloud migration challenges is a need for greater communications and effective enablement support to allow employees to build confidence and muscle memory on new technologies.

management, a FinOps practice and a zerotrust security approach can maximize the value of cloud.

Organizational Readiness No major advancement in the defense community—technological or otherwise— can succeed without first understanding and planning for its impact on the workforce.

Cloud, as a modern platform for technology and mission service delivery, is a paradigm shift for IT operations. It requires new skills, service management processes, and business and contract management approaches. As a result, if not managed properly, cloud migration tends to receive a lot of resistance and friction.

People do not resist changes, they resist losses—loss of job security, status and personal relationships. At the root of most cloud migration challenges is a need for greater communications and effective enablement support to allow employees to build confidence and muscle memory on new technologies.

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COTS Journal | November 2024

Agencies need to incorporate effective Organizational Change Management practices in cloud migration efforts, foster a culture of innovation, upskill employees and build trust through communications to make the cloud adoption frictionless and sustainable.

FinOps Practice While cloud adoption has the potential to deliver significant cost savings, it requires an understanding of cloud economics and rigorous practice in cost management. Cost of ownership and Return on Investment— both tangible and intangible—must be planned upfront and measured and reviewed periodically. Agencies need to ensure they are operating with the best cloud procurement model and pricing structure for their unique needs.

Too often, cloud resources are overprovisioned, wasted or improperly utilized, leading to unnecessary spending. Without continuous monitoring, right-sizing and architectural optimization, cloud operations

can result in surprising charges—a major issue for defense organizations looking to maximize every dollar.

FinOps prevents this with an operational framework that provides total visibility and clear allocation on cloud cost. An effective framework analyzes the correlation between cloud resource allocation, utilization and application needs and, from there, automates cloud spend governance, identifies trends, provides forecasting and continuously optimizes cloud resource configuration and utilization.

AI can further increase FinOps effectiveness by applying advanced analytics to capture service configurations in real time and process correlations at scale. AI helps identify opportunities for optimization in service architecture, resource provisioning and sizing, operation efficiency and cloud savings plans.

Cybersecurity and Zero Trust For the defense community, security is

a top priority. However, many traditional security toolsets and practices are insufficient in managing cloud security. Since cloud is a software-defined, API-driven and highly dynamic platform with ephemeral services, a zero-trust approach to cloud security is a must. This approach to security ensures least privilege access and continuous verification.

The DOD seeks to adopt zero trust principles, with strategic milestones throughout 2024.

While cloud is no longer an emerging technology, there are still unfulfilled benefits.

Considering cloud migration holistically, with a focus on not just the technology but the organizational change management, financials, and security behind the cloud, will be essential to long-term success.

Prioritizing these elements as defense organizations continue along their cloud journeys will ensure sustained success for mission operations.

Gary Wang, Chief Technology Officer, DMI

Considering cloud migration holistically, with a focus on not just the technology but the organizational change management, financials, and security behind the cloud, will be essential to long-term success.

COTS Journal | November 2024

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November 2024

COT’S PICKS VarTech Systems Inc. Launches the Bolt (Ai) – An Industry First Rugged Weatherproof Edge AI Computer

VarTech Systems Inc. has announced the launch of the Bolt (Ai), an industry-first weatherproof industrial edge AI computer. This product represents the company’s first foray into edge AI computing and builds on VarTech’s 36year history of providing customers with custom industrial computing and engineered solutions. The Bolt (Ai) was developed by VarTech engineers as an evolution of the ToughCube, one of the company’s small form factor computer (SFFC) products, and was adapted to meet today’s industrial AI computing requirements.

The launch of the Bolt (Ai) solidifies VarTech Systems Inc.’s commitment to providing cutting-edge industrial computing and engineered solutions built for the age of AI and its diverse base of customers around the world. VarTech Systems considers the specific requirements of each application when creating customized HMIs, ensuring that their customers’ needs are met.

“We are very excited to launch the Bolt (Ai), an innovative weatherproof AI hardware solution designed to meet the unique challenges of Industry 4.0. The Bolt (Ai) is engineered to seamlessly integrate with the artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities of our industrial partners and customers and delivers unparalleled computing power in a weatherproof shell.” – Kyle Coffman, Chief Operating Officer, VarTech Systems Inc. Solving a Major Industry Pain Point The advent of AI computing brings about a new host of engineering challenges, including heat dissipation away from high-performance components like GPUs, AI processors, and RAM. While most edge AI computers on the market are designed with ample ventilation in the enclosure to help push heat away from these components, this 22

COTS Journal | November 2024

luxury isn’t available for outdoor or industrial applications. In these environments, liquids and other materials can easily enter the unit and cause significant damage to internal components. Creating a fully sealed enclosure protects internal components simultaneously increases heat accumulation within the unit. The Bolt (Ai) was explicitly engineered to conquer these competing challenges head-on and can be configured to meet specific requirements. The Bolt (Ai)’s innovative cooling systems and powder-coated aluminum shell provide the solution to this unique set of challenges. VarTech’s revolutionary approach to the Bolt (Ai) design allows the unit to stay cool to maximize its computing power

while blocking any materials from entering the unit.

“Having personally witnessed the rapid evolution of the automation field over the past two decades, it’s truly exciting to see our Bolt (Ai) make its debut, hosting AI at the Edge in the most extreme environmental conditions imaginable.” – Richard Lachney, President, VarTech Systems Inc VarTech Systems Inc. vartechsystems.com

November 2024

COT’S PICKS Embedded I/O Available in the Newest Industrial COM Carrier Board

Sealevel Systems announces the release of the 12010 COM Express Compact Type 6 Carrier Board, which supports congatec® conga-TCA3 Bay Trail, conga-TCA7 Elkhart Lake, and conga-TC570 Tiger Lake COM modules.

With its diverse I/O mix, the 12010 carrier board meets the needs of a wide variety of applications, from systems integration to autonomous transportation.

“Sealevel’s foundation is rooted in industrial I/O: COM Express carrier board design and manufacturing enables us to capitalize on that experience and develop the industry’s leading embedded computers. Through selective COM partnerships, our team can focus on developing carrier boards that maximize performance and versatility. We employ COM architecture for many complete systems and have historically focused on board-level designs for custom configurations. The 12010 is the newest – and most I/O-intense – addition in our growing line of COM carrier boards that are available as standard products for evaluation or fielded installations,” said Earle Foster, Sr VP of Sales for Sealevel.

Abaco Systems Introduces the SBC3215: A High-Performance, Rugged Single-Board Computer for Long-Term, Mission-Critical Applications AMETEK Abaco Systems is excited to announce the launch of the SBC3215, a high-performance 3U VPX single-board computer engineered to bring energy-efficient processing power to the most

I/O to Support Critical Communications The 12010’s onboard I/O includes Ethernet, serial, USB, digital interfaces, and a mPCIe expansion slot. The 12010 COM Express Carrier Board design is fully SWaP-C2 optimized, allowing for a condensed 7.75” x 5.75” footprint without sacrificing I/O. (3) Gigabit Ethernet Ports (4) USB 2.0 Ports (2) Isolated RS-422/485 Serial Ports (2) Non-Isolated RS-232 3-Wire Ports (4) Open Collector Outputs (1) DisplayPort Connector (1) Touchscreen Connector (1) LVDS Connector (1) Backlight Connector (1) Power Connector (1) mPCIe Slot (1) CFast Slot Sealevel Systems sealevel.com

demanding environments. Built with the Intel 13th Generation Core i7-1370PRE processor, the SBC3215 provides a seamless upgrade path for existing users within the SBC32x family, retaining familiar

interfaces while delivering a powerful boost in capability.

Designed for customers prioritizing longevity and reliability, the SBC3215 enables extended program lifespans without the cost and effort of major system reintegration. This cost-effective, next-generation solution meets the demands of critical applications in defense and aerospace, allowing customers to sustain operations in the field with ease and confidence.

“The SBC3215 brings advanced processing power to our customers without requiring complex integration, offering an adaptable and robust solution for mission-critical systems,” said Simon Collins, Director of Product Management at Abaco Systems. “Its rugged design and comprehensive features extend program life cycles, reinforcing our commitment to long-term customer support.”

AMETEK Abaco Systems abaco.com

COTS Journal | November 2024

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November 2024

COT’S PICKS International Launch of GXA-1 AI Computer

Astute Systems launches its GXA-1, an NVIDIA®-powered computer designed specifically for advanced autonomy in the defense sector. The GXA-1 will debut at DVD2024, showcasing it to key stakeholders in the Land Equipment sector, marking a significant step towards engaging with potential UK customers.

Engineered for SWaP-sensitive (Size, Weight, and Power) platforms, the GXA-1 is the ultimate solution for enabling autonomy in harsh environments. Purpose-built to endure the extreme conditions typical of military operations—including extreme temperatures, moisture, vibration, and shock—the GXA-1 ensures reliable performance where it matters most.

For developers already familiar with the NVIDIA® Software Development Kit (SDK), the GXA-1 offers seamless migration, making it an attractive option for those looking to transition to a more rugged solution. Astute Systems highlights that the GXA-1 is ideal for those content with Commercial Off-TheShelf (COTS) systems while catering to Prime Contractors seeking Modified Off-The-Shelf (MOTS) versions tailored to their specific environmental needs. Pre-qualification units with a developer kit are now available, offering a head start to those interested in early adoption.

Key features (see attached specification for full data): • Based on the NVIDIA® Jetson AGX OrinTM Industrial SoM • AI Performance 248 TFLOPS • Mass storage options (dual M.2 M key SSD) • 10 Gigabit Ethernet data plane port

• Multiple legacy analog inputs are ideal for existing DVE (Degraded Visual Environment) day/ night cameras.

• Enabling autonomous workloads Ross Newman, Founder of Astute Systems, comments, “We believe we have the best solution for autonomous military systems and deployment in harsh environments: the NVIDIA high performance; the perfect SWaP optimization and proven technology. Initial interest confirms this, with one key potential customer explaining, “The GXA-1 is exactly what we were looking for. It is the right product, place, and time” – or put another way, we’re faster, quicker, lighter, and better value than anything currently available, delivering the best performance per watt of any device in this class.”

Astute Systems, a Queensland-based company, is part of Team Defence Australia, Australia’s national platform for export-capable Australian defense companies. As such, the company is well placed to understand the requirements of AUKUS Pillar 2, which focuses on jointly developing advanced capabilities, the trilateral security partnership between the UK, the USA, and Australia to cooperate on crucial defense capabilities, including AI and autonomy as defined in AUKUS. John Brosnan, Defence & Security Director of the Australian Trade & Investment Commission (Austrade), describes this as “Astute’s latest developments—designed to provide defense end users with an operational advantage—demonstrate the advanced capabilities of Australia’s defense industry and the increased opportunities for collaboration under AUKUS. Don’t miss your chance to connect directly with Ross and the team at DVD in September.”

Astute Systems astutesys.com

Teledyne e2v Now Sampling Arm® Based LX2160-Space Engineering Models Enabling Space Project Design and Validation Teledyne e2v announces engineering models of the LX2160-Space 16-core Arm® Cortex® A72based system on chip (SoC) processor, enabling early project design, hardware, and software validation for space-demanding applications.

LX2160-Space engineering models have the same fit/form/function as flight models (FMs).

LX2160-Space can be used in many heavy computing applications in Space, from Earth Observation Satellites to Early Warning systems and Telecom, including the processing of data in 5G NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks) satellite communications (SatComs). With its 200k DMIPS capabilities, the processor is suitable for handling compute-intensive data and image-processing tasks. Its rich set of peripherals and high efficiency versus power consumption per core of around 2W provides embedded engineers with unparalleled performance in the smallest form factor and optimized power envelope.

LX2160 benefits from Teledyne e2v’s 40+ years of experience and a track record in qualifying digital processing solutions for high-reliability environments, initially on PowerPC processors and now on Arm®. Today, the company offers the Arm® based LX2160 as a fully military-qualified device. Its LX2160-Space project is currently under development. Characterization against radiation is ongoing, and some reports have already been made available to customers. Teledyne e2v proposes to have a range of radiation-tolerant space grades qualified up to NASA Level 1 for H2 2025.

Thomas Guillemain, Marketing & Business Development Manager, Data, Processing Systems, said: “We are proud to have achieved the LX2160-Space Engineering Models availability milestone since we see a tremendous interest in this device. Indeed, with Telecom Satellites having to deal with more data packets to process at a higher speed, Earth Observation satellites handling bigger sensor resolutions and higher frame rate requirements, and bottom line, an increased amount of data to perform autonomous decisions on board, including running AI algorithms, LX2160-Space is the right processing chipset for Space applications”.

Teledyne Technologies teledyne.com

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COTS Journal | November 2024

November 2024

COT’S PICKS Launch day of Intellian’s Flat Panel Compact Series for Eutelsat OneWeb

Intellian Technologies Inc. feature-rich satellite user terminals and communications solutions, and Eutelsat Group, the only GEO-LEO operator in satellite communications, today announced the launch day of Intellian’s Compact Flat Panel Series of the active electronically scanned array, which is now available to buy globally and will deliver service from the OneWeb constellation.

Designed exclusively for use on Eutelsat Group’s OneWeb LEO network, Intellian’s three Compact Flat Panels for land fixed, land mobility, and maritime are meticulously engineered to meet the unique demands of end-users. They ensure Eutelsat Group’s fast, dependable connectivity everywhere in the world.

The Compact Flat Panels OW10HL (Land Fixed), OW10HV (Land Mobility), and OW10HM (Maritime) deliver unprecedented throughput in a user terminal of this size. Installation is easy as

Ventana Announces 2025 Shipments of Veyron V2 Platform with Broad Market Adoption Leading Hyperscalers and HPC Customers Embrace the Open, Scalable, Standards-Based Veyron V2 Accelerated Compute Platform to Power AI, Data Center, and Emerging Workloads

they are optimized for size, weight, and power (SWaP) - they are only 56 x 45 x 12 cm, making them the smallest terminals across the Eutelsat OneWeb portfolio.

Whether supporting cellular backhaul, ensuring business continuity, enhancing transportation networks, providing first responder connectivity, or enabling maritime operations, these Compact Flat Panels meet the rigorous demands of Enterprise, Government, and Maritime markets in even the most challenging environments.

Toni Kousiafes, VP of ADC Product Management at Intellian Technologies Inc., said: “Our journey of developing this cutting-edge technology and our dedication to innovation has culminated today, with customers able to buy our three Compact Flat Panels. This marks a fantastic milestone for Intellian. It demonstrates the advancement of our technological and manufacturing capabilities and heralds a new era of connectivity for Eutelsat OneWeb customers. Flat Panels are

Ventana Micro Systems Inc. announced that Veyron V2, its flagship accelerated compute platform, will begin shipping in 2025 to address the growing demands of data centers for AI and domain-specific computing. With commitments from leading hyperscalers and HPC customers in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, Ventana’s Veyron V2 platform is gaining traction as the industry’s

what customers want, and I’m excited for customers to get their hands on these exceptional products that are a game-changer across the industry.”

Javier Santolaria, Senior Director, UT Development and Production at Eutelsat OneWeb, said: “We’re delighted to have Intellian’s Compact Flat Panel Series joining our growing product portfolio. With the combined innovation of Intellian’s industry-leading technology and Eutelsat Group’s OneWeb network’s fast, reliable, low-latency LEO network capabilities, the Compact Series will deliver customers more choices and flexibility to match their needs. We are receiving very positive early reactions from our partners and end users on performance and ease of use, and we look forward to seeing these new terminals switch on for customers worldwide.”

Intellian intelliantech.com

most powerful scalable RISC-V compute platform.

To meet with the Ventana team and learn more about Veyron V2 during the RISC-V Summit in Santa Clara, please email info@ventanamicro. com or visit us at our presentations throughout the event.

Veyron V2: A Scalable Platform to Accelerate AI and More The Veyron V2 platform builds on Ventana’s RISC-V leadership by offering accelerated compute capabilities that empower customers to innovate and accelerate AI and domain-specific applications. With the flexibility to integrate accelerators and third-party IP, Veyron V2 helps organizations achieve unmatched performance and energy efficiency across applications, including data center, automotive, client, and intelligent edge.

“Our Veyron V2 platform isn’t just a high-performance CPU—it’s a foundation for scalable, accelerated compute solutions that enable AI and other next-generation workloads,” said Balaji Baktha, Founder and CEO of Ventana.

Ventana Micro ventanamicro.com

COTS Journal | November 2024

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November 2024

COT’S PICKS General Micro Systems Assures Highly Secure Gigabit Battlefield Communications Between Secure, Classified, and Insecure Comms Links with Four New Customizable Cross-Domain Systems (CDS)

New airborne and ground-based systems enable higher levels of real-time security across multi-domain secure and public systems during live combat in a compact, lightweight form factor with enhanced SecureDNA to prevent the removal or tampering of mission-critical data.

General Micro Systems (GMS) announced four cross-domain systems (CDS), culminating decades of system-level experience with increasingly complex and secure systems. It combines these four new systems: an airborne 3-domain CDS, two ground-based CDS systems, and a ¼ ATR OpenVPX-based CDS. Each CDS is based on the X9 distributed computing architecture and delivers mission processing, secure storage and authentication, encryption, networking, and options for SATCOM, AI, and data diodes. Each system supports GMS’ new Enhanced SecureDNA™ cyber suite

and will be TEMPEST certified.

“In an era of interconnected systems and sensors, ‘joint’ operations between the services, and increasing cooperation between the US and NATO (and other allies)—data is being slung around the battlefield at gigabit rates,” said Ben Sharfi, CEO and Chief Architect of GMS. “With more and more at the edge’ and embedded processing at the tip of the spear,’ data comes in different colors - red for classified and black for unclassified.

Keeping this data correctly categorized while sharing it between machines and allies requires robust cross-domain systems like the four we’re announcing at AUSA. No systems have ever been done like this before.”

Unlike multi-domain Red/Black systems, cross-domain systems (CDS) provide the gateway between highly secure, classified systems and insecure— often public—systems and networks. They offer higher levels of security than multi-domain, such as via data diodes for rules-based routing and beefier crypto and sanitization for data-at-rest within storage devices. Generically and insufficiently called Red/Black systems, the Department of Defense’s (DoD) SIPR (classified) and NIPR (unclassified) networks co-exist because data must often transit between US allies and disparate networks, and in an age of “connectedness,” often travels across public networks and systems such as Wi-Fi, 5G cellular, SATCOM such as Starlink or Starshield, and other public networks.

No other vendor or prime DoD contractor has systems that fit into such small spaces, weigh so little, and are full-featured and powerful while being completely off-the-shelf and ready to deploy. The airborne system, for example, has three domains—two in the Red enclave separated by a GD-MS TACDS for ultra-secure data within SIPRnet.

The other three CDS offerings are tailored to different use cases but remain customizable.

Exceptional Security in Airborne, Ground, and ¼ ATR OpenVPX Cross-Domain Systems The new cross-domain

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COTS Journal | November 2024

systems being shown at AUSA include: • airborne three-enclave (Purple, Red, Black) with user tablet interface • large ground-based CDS with storage canister, Ethernet switch, and user tablet interface • small-sized ground-based called “The Cube.”

• a ¼ ATR 3U OpenVPX CDS. All GMS cross-domain offerings include the General Dynamics KG-175N Type 1 encryptor provision.

The airborne system includes the GD-MS TACDS CDS between the “landing zone” (Purple) and Red domains for a rules-based dual simplex data diode configuration to separate ultra-secure from secure data. In this manner, data snooping isn’t possible since data is not on the same link.

Enhanced SecureDNA™ GMS has also beefed up the company’s SecureDNA cyber suite for these systems. All storage can be erased with the system’s firmware and BIOS via button press, software call, or external input such as general-purpose input/output (GPIO). Additionally, all SSDs include hardware secure erase and write-protect for a positive transaction, plus drive bay doors have switches that can trigger an intruder alert, which can start SecureDNA. Enhanced SecureDNA™ adds a Domain IO Controller with a CAC authentication card (SIPR token for the Red) for each domain to provide differing enclave security profiles and a chassis-level System Information Module with daisy-chained physical connection to all modules to prevent removal or tampering lest an intruder alert be triggered. All inputs are opto-isolated to prevent crosstalk or side-channel data analysis.

Two scenarios can be envisioned: opening a drive bay door can immediately trigger an intruder alarm, which causes SecureDNA to run, sanitize the drives, and wipe the BIOS. In another scenario, disconnecting one of the intruder lines to remove an X9 module triggers intruder mode, thus sanitizing the system and foiling a lousy actor. Optional internal UPS hold-up power allows Enhanced SecureDNA to run even if the system is off or disconnected from external control.

General Micro Systems gms4sbc.com

November 2024

COT’S PICKS New Miniaturized High Data Rate Modules Expand Capabilities of Flight Test Data Acquisition System with Bulk and Selected Capture of Digital Avionics Bus Data

New MDAU-1553 and MDAU-1394 miniature bus data acquisition modules capture 100% of MILSTD-1553 and IEEE-1394 digital avionics bus data while reducing module count and cost.

during flight tests. For example, capturing eight (8) channels of MIL-STD-1553 bus data with our traditional solution would require nine (9) modules with a height of 3.6”. The MDAU-1553 can perform the same operation with only three (3) modules and a height of 1.2”. These new DAU modules expand the capabilities of the MnACQ-2700 product line, which retains 100% backward compatibility with the MnACQ-2600 and is supported by over 200 I/O modules.

Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division today introduced two miniature avionics bus data acquisition unit (DAU) modules that enable flight test engineers to capture 100% of a test program’s digital MIL-STD-1553 and IEEE-1394 data and support selected data capture for insertion into the PCM telemetry stream. The MDAU-1553 and MDAU-1394 modules are designed with Curtiss-Wright’s MnACQ-2700, its industry-leading miniature network data acquisition (MnACQ) encoding system. The high data rate (HDR) modules significantly reduce the complexity, module count, and cost of simultaneously capturing bulk digital avionics bus data and telemetering select data

“Our new high data rate MIL-STD-1553 and IEEE-1394 avionics bus data acquisition modules for the MnACQ-2700 system enable flight test engineers to process more data in the same amount of space, which can help reduce the number of costly test flights,” said Brian Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions. “These miniature modules add next-generation capabilities to the MnACQ product line while retaining full backward compatibility with the industry’s largest catalog of data acquisition modules.”

Darveen Introduces Waterproof Stainless Steel Panel PCs – SPC-9000 Series

durability with easy sanitation, ensuring reliable performance and high productivity in demanding industrial environments.

Seamless, IP66 Fully Sealed Design, Perfect for Food Processing and Pharmaceutical Industries Darveen Co., Ltd., a global provider specializing in rugged industrial computer solutions, today announces the launch of its SPC-9000 Series IP66 stainless steel touch panel PCs. This series is designed to meet high hygiene standards, making it ideal for food processing, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, and humid or hot kitchen environments. The SPC-9000 Series combines

The MDAU-1553 is an 8-channel MIL-

Sleek, Seamless Design with Industrial Durability The SPC-9000 Series is crafted from high-quality SUS 304/316 stainless steel with a seamless, one-piece molded rear casing. This smooth, robust design resists harsh chemicals and acids, enduring high pressure and impact without aging. Its true flat front panel allows for easy cleaning of dust and grease, presenting a modern, refined appearance. The series is available in multiple screen sizes—10”, 12”, 15”, and 18.5”—to suit diverse application needs.

STD-1553 miniature bus acquisition module, and the MDAU-1394 is a 3-channel IEEE-1394b acquisition module. The modules enable selected data to be captured and inserted into a PCM format at rates up to 40 Mbps. This PCM format can be multicasted over Ethernet and transmitted as a traditional clock/data PCM. Simultaneously, 100% of the MIL-STD-1553 or 1394b data can be bulk captured and transmitted over dual Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) ports as multicast packets. Ethernet data can be encoded using IRIG-106 Chapter 10/11, IRIG-106 TmNS Chapters 21-26, or DARv3 encapsulation. Additional status and performance information is also available for insertion into the PCM format or transmission over Ethernet.

Curtiss-Wright’s curtisswright.com

Optimized for High-Performance HMI in Industrial Production The SPC-9000 Series supports 12th-generation Intel® Core™ i5/i3 processors, delivering powerful computing performance for a streamlined industrial IoT experience. Additional processor options include Intel® Celeron® and Rockchip ARM architectures to match varying performance needs. The system is equipped with M12 waterproof connectors, featuring 4 x USB 2.0, 2 x COM, and 2 x LAN. Customers can also choose blank I/O options to suit specific requirements. For wireless connectivity, an optional Wi-Fi module is also available for expansion.

Rugged and Reliable, Built for Demanding Conditions The SPC-9000 is engineered to withstand rigorous washdowns, redefining durability and reliability. With a fully sealed IP66 rating and M12 waterproof connectors, it effectively resists high-pressure, high-temperature water jets. Its corrosion-resistant design, wide operating temperature range of -10°C to 50°C, and a power input of 9-36 VDC ensure outstanding stability even in challenging settings.

Darveen darveen.com

COTS Journal | November 2024

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November 2024

COT’S PICKS Microchip’s RTG4™ FPGAs with LeadFree Flip-Chip Bumps Achieve Highest Space Qualification

Satisfying mission assurance requirements for the most critical space programs, Microchip Technology’s Radiation-Tolerant (RT) RTG4™ Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) with lead-free flip-chip bumps have earned the Qualified Manufacturers List (QML) Class V status. As designated by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), QML Class V is the highest level of qualification for space components and a necessary step to satisfy mission assurance requirements on the most critical space missions such as human-rated, deep Space, and national security programs. Because QML qualifications are standardized based on specific performance and quality requirements governed by the DLA, customers can streamline their design and certification processes using QML-qualified products.

In 2018, RTG4 FPGAs became the first RT FPGAs offering more than 150,000 logic elements to achieve a QML Class V qualification, and this next-generation solution with lead-free flip-chip bumps is the first to achieve QML Class V status. In

Robust resistive multitouch solutions support gesture operations Exceptional immunity to ESD enables use in challenging application environments.

Review Display Systems Inc. (RDS), a provider of display solutions and embedded systems, has announced the availability of a range of Resistive Multitouch (RMT) interface solutions from AMT, a leading provider of touch-based interface solutions.

advanced flip-chip package construction, such as that used in the RTG4 FPGA, flip-chip bumps connect the silicon die and the package substrate. Leadfree bump material will help extend the product’s longevity, critical to space missions.

“This is another milestone for our RTG4 FPGAs that will provide customers with added confidence in designing these devices in space flight systems while allowing them to take advantage of our high-reliability, zero-configuration-upset, and low-power consumption FPGAs,” said Bruce Weyer, corporate vice president for Microchip’s FPGA business unit. “For more than 60 years, Microchip solutions have powered space flight missions, and we are dedicated to product longevity and providing the highest quality solutions.”

RTG4 FPGAs are designed to bring high levels of density and performance to space applications, saving cost and engineering efforts through low power consumption and immunity to configuration upsets. Unlike SRAM-based FPGA alternatives, the programming technology used in RTG4 FPGAs provides low static power, which assists in managing thermal issues common in spacecraft. RTG4 FPGAs consume only a fraction of the total power AMT’s Resistive Multitouch (RMT) solutions provide precise input accuracy, multi-point touch operation, and gesture support, coupled with resistive touch technology’s reliability and noise immunity characteristics.

Critical-use equipment necessitates enhanced EMI performance and zero tolerance for false touch signals. Robust, dependable, and error-free touch solutions are essential for specific applications where uninterrupted touch functionality is paramount, even in challenging applications environments where the touch surface can become contaminated with substances and fluids such as water, saline, or seawater.

Renowned for their pressure-sensitive touch detection, resistive touch panels deliver reliable operation in electrically noisy or wet environments. Conventional resistive touch panels lack multitouch and gesture functionality, which are required for many diverse applications.

To overcome this obstacle, AMT has introduced an innovative resistive multi-touch solution has already been used in specialized touch de-

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compared to equivalent SRAM FPGAs while exhibiting zero configuration upsets in radiation and thus requiring no mitigation, reducing engineering expenses and total system costs.

To achieve QML Class V qualification, the RTG4 FPGA with lead-free bump has undergone extensive reliability testing, enduring up to 2,000 thermal cycles from −65°C to 150°C junction temperature.

The lead-free flip-chip bump interface connections passed MIL-PRF-38535 inspection criteria and exhibited no signs of tin whiskers. The flip-chip bump is inside the FPGA package, so there is no impact on the user’s design, reflow profile, thermal management, or board assembly flow when converting to lead-free bump RTG4 FPGAs. Microchip boasts one of the industry’s most comprehensive space product portfolios of radiation-hardened and RT solutions, including QML Class Q RT PolarFire® FPGAs and sub-QML FPGAs that bridge the gap between traditional Qualified Manufacturers List (QML) components and Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components.

Microchip microchip.com

vices, ensuring uninterrupted operation even in noise-prone surroundings.

Key features of AMT Resistive Multitouch solutions include: - support for dual touches - enables dual-finger gestures - ensures excellent linearity - allows gloved-hand and stylus operation - exhibit outstanding immunity to electrical noise - available in sizes up to 21.5-inch AMT’s versatile resistive multitouch solution can support a wide range of applications. It can be implemented on all available AMT resistive touch panel designs, including low-reflective (LR) sunlight-readable designs, GFG (glass-film-glass) structures, and combined GFG LR structures.

For mission-critical projects, AMT can integrate a layer of fine mesh film into the touch panel to enhance EMI performance. AMT resistive touch panels boast exceptional ESD (electro-static discharge) resistance, meeting stringent specifications of 15kV for air discharge and 8kV for contact discharge.

Review Display Systems review-displays.com

COTS Journal | November 2024

29

Military Systems Source

Our inventory is changing everyday with new and used solutions for military users. The consigned products are available at considerably lower prices and can be shipped within 24 hours of receipt of an order.

Mini-ITX Xeon Motherboard, 10GbE x 2

Manufacturer: Supermicro Part No: MBD-X10SDV-4CTLN2F-O-0005 SKU: PB004 Quantity: 25 Motherboard only. $293.75

We encourage you to take advantage of our lower prices in repurposing inventory. Not only does the buyer benefit, but the seller is unburdened of the inventory in exchange for cash.

EpicDealz Gigabit Ethernet Low Profile PCI Express Network LAN Card 10/100/1000 JUST 2 LEFT!

Manufacturer: Intel Part No:I210-T1 SKU: IN008 Quantity: 2 In clam-shell, both brackets included. $37.50

1920 x 1080 21.5 wide Rugged Display

Manufacturer: DITHD Part No: DTS-OR215W SKU: DP0011 Quantity: 6 Wide viewing angle, 250 NITS, 14 ms response time - bracket included $750.00

PCIe RAID controller, 8 channel

Manufacturer: Microchip/Adaptec Part No: 9460-8i SKU: CN005 Quantity: 25 With cache backup module attached. Low-profile bracket. $411.25

CAT6a Patch Cord (UTP), RJ45, 5 Foot Manufacturer: Micro Connectors Part No: I210-T1 SKU: CB009 Quantity: 84 Blue

OM3 Multimode LC to LC Fiber Cable, 5M $4.38

Manufacturer:Quantum Part No:I210-T1 SKU: CB010 Quantity: 84 Blue-Green

$4.19

8GB DDR4, 1 row x 8, PC4-2666

Manufacturer: SK hynix Part No: HMA81GR7CJR8N-VK SKU: SU006 Quantity: 25 Supermicro PN: MEM-DR480LHL05-ER26 $43.75

10TB SATA HDD (IronWolf)

Manufacturer: Seagate Part No: ST10000VN0004 SKU: SU003 Quantity: 15 Zero reallocated sectors $123.75

Contact John Reardon, Johnr@rtc-media.com or 949 697 4032 to have your questions. *MSS is a service of RTC Media, LLC. Companies wishing to liquid inventory are welcome to list items at no charge. Items are promoted to more than 50,000 defense member each month.

30

New Condition!

670p Series 512GB NVMe SSD

Gigabit Ethernet NIC

Manufacturer:Intel Part No: I210-T1 SKU: IN007 Quantity: 26 Low-profile bracket.

COTS Journal | October 2024

$25.00

Manufacturer: Intel Part No: MZ7LH3T8HMLT-0005 SKU: SU002 Quantity: 25 >99% Life remaining $48.75

PM883 3.84TB 2.5” SATA SSD

Manufacturer: Samsung Part No: MZ7LH3T8HMLT-0005 SKU: SU0001 Quantity: 40 99% Life remaining $375.00

For dditional information please contact;

John Reardon,

Johnr@rtc-media.com or 949 697 4032 to have your questions.

COTS COTS

ADVERTISERS

Index

Company

Page #

Website

Alphi Technology Corporation ................................

29

............................................ www.Alphitech.com

Annapolis Micro Systems ......................................

8

........................................ www.annapmicro.com

Behlman Electronics .............................................

2/BC

............................................. www.behlman.com

DITHD ...................................................................

7

................................................. www.DITHD.com

Great River Technology .........................................

12

.................................... www.greatrivertech.com

Interface Concept ................................................

4

................................ www.interfaceconcept.com

Military Systems Source ........................................

5

....................... www.militarysystemssource.com

MPL ......................................................................

26

....................................................... www.mpl.ch

OTEK ......................................................................

10

............................................. www.otekcorp.com

PICO Electronics, Inc ............................................

9/21

................................... www.picoelectronics.com

Pixus Technologies ................................................

IBC

............................... www.pixustechnologies.com

COTS Journal (ISSN#1526-4653) is published monthly at; 3180 Sitio Sendero, Carlsbad, CA. 92009.

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