COTS Journal, June 2025

June 2025, Volume 27 - Number 6 cotsjournalonline.com

The Journal of Military Electronics & Computing

How SoC FPAA Technology is Bringing Analog Computing to the Frontlines of Defense Systems Rethinking the DIY Approach to Automated Test Equipment Design

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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 —Ant. When applied to the procurement of electronics for the 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 16

By Christian Jonglas, Technical Support Manager, GAIA Converter

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Publishers Note

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The Inside Track

Lessons from the Russia-Ukraine frontline: Autonomous vehicles, AI-driven logistics, and quantum-enhanced defense security are recalibrating military strategy.

By Chris Morton, Global Industry Director for Aerospace & Defense at IFS. & Bianca Nobilo, Executive Board at IFS

COT’S PICKS 24

Editor’s Choice for June

Cover Image: Island Formation

Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft fly in formation over Wake Island, June 7, 2025. Credit: Air Force Senior Airman Audree Campbell

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE John Reardon, Editor-in-Chief, COTS Journal

The Battle for the Future of Defense: Titans, Tech Upstarts, and the TrillionDollar Shift

In a Washington boardroom, defense officials pore over a sprawling concept: the “Golden Dome”—a trillion-dollar missile shield promising to stop hypersonic threats with AI-guided space interceptors. It is the kind of program once destined for legacy giants like Lockheed Martin or Northrop Grumman. However, today, that certainty is eroding.

Lockheed warns that the program is like “hitting a bullet with a bullet.” It is a subtle nudge to underscore the difficulty—and to position themselves as the only ones capable. However, the market’s reaction tells a different story. Lockheed’s stock hovers between trend lines, weighed down by a Relative Strength Rating (RS) of just 45. Northrop is in similar straits, stuck below its 6

COTS Journal | June 2025

moving averages, with an RS of 62. Textron and General Dynamics also struggle, caught between flat lines and investor caution.

The Pentagon’s move toward fixed-price contracts and performance-based procurement has shifted the power dynamics. No longer is size alone enough. It might be a liability.

Enter the New Guard While the old guard retools, a wave of fast, focused, sub-$100 million defense companies is cutting through. Espey (ESP), a rugged power systems supplier from Saratoga Springs, boasts a top Composite Rating of 99 but flies under most investors’ radar. Optex Sys-

tems (OPXS), which makes precision optics for night vision and targeting, is similarly small but efficient. Together, these firms generate under $100M annually in defense systems sales—yet their agility, focus, and strong fundamentals make them key players in the new order.

They are not alone. Astronics (ATRO), also sub-$100M in direct defense systems, is riding a 20% rally on demand for its work on the Bell V-280 and next-gen avionics. These companies thrive by being specialists— niche, hardened, and responsive.

Alongside them are the Silicon Valley-bred unicorns: Anduril, Scale AI, Shield AI, Epirus, Saronic, C3 AI, and True Anomaly. These firms did not grow up in defense, but they understand speed, iteration, and data. Their valuations have soared past $1 billion, not on volume, but on relevance. They develop autonomous drones, battlefield AI, and satellite-based threat detection systems. And the Pentagon is listening.

The Middle Grows Stronger A handful of mid-cap firms are also emerging as structural winners. Heico (HEI), with a 99 Composite Rating, is quietly becoming indispensable in global military aircraft services. Howmet Aerospace (HWM) is up 26% since May, supplying lightweight alloys for next-gen fighters and rockets.

as Rheinmetall, BAE Systems, and Leonardo are surging, meeting NATO’s renewed demand for armor, munitions, and sensing systems. U.S. firms with inflexible models—no matter how large—are watching from the sidelines.

The Risks Ahead However, not all small firms will succeed. Many face the infamous “valley of death”—the chasm between winning R&D contracts and scaling into complete programs. Fixed-price deals favor efficiency, but they also demand maturity. A misstep in delivery could put a company at risk with just a few defense customers.

Even among unicorns, the pressure to convert hype into sustainable DoD revenue is intense. The game is changing fast—and everyone is still learning the rules.

The Verdict This is not just a new defense cycle.

It is a reordering. Nimble, focused firms—many with under $100 million in defense systems revenue—are now shaping the Pentagon’s next moves.

Legacy primes may still build the battleships, but it is the startups and specialists that are steering the future.

If you want to understand the next 20 years of defense, do not just follow the big names. Watch the little companies that think big—and move fast.

Meanwhile, European players such COTS Journal | June 2025

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Fedrigoni and Palantir Partner to Accelerate Operational Transformation with AI Palantir Technologies Inc. announced a multi-year partnership with Fedrigoni, a global reference manufacturer of specialty papers for packaging and other creative applications, self-adhesive labels, graphic supports for visual communication, and RFID. This strategic alliance aims to accelerate Fedrigoni’s digital transformation by leveraging advanced AI capabilities and Palantir’s innovative solutions.

Initially focused on stock optimization and demand forecasting, the partnership is now expanding to support Fedrigoni’s comprehensive digital transformation objectives.

The collaboration between Fedrigoni and Palantir represents a pivotal step in enhancing operational efficiency and driving innovation across Fedrigoni’s global operations. By leveraging Palantir’s cutting-edge AI technology, Fedrigoni aims to strengthen its responsiveness to market dynamics and improve its ability to anticipate and meet customer demands. Fedrigoni is advised on this project by Avatar Investments, a preferred Partner of Palantir in Italy.

“We are delighted to deepen our partnership with Palantir as we embark on this transformative journey,” stated Marco Nespolo, CEO of Fedrigoni. “Our collaboration with Palantir will enable us to harness the power of AI to be increasingly agile and competitive in a rapidly evolv-

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ing market. This partnership is a critical component of our strategy to lead the industry in operational excellence and customer service.” Gionata Berna, CIO of Fedrigoni, also emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership: “Integrating Palantir’s AI solutions into our operations signifies a major advancement in our digital innovation strategy. The ability to accurately forecast demand and optimize stock levels is just the beginning. We are committed to building a data-driven organization that can swiftly adapt to changes and capitalize on new opportunities.”

Palantir’s Managing Director for Palantir France and EMEA Executive, François Bohuon, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership: “We are excited to collaborate with Fedrigoni on their digital transformation journey. This partnership highlights the transformative potential of AI in traditional industries, and we are honored to support Fedrigoni in achieving its strategic vision. Our technology will empower them to unlock new efficiencies and drive growth.” Guillaume Soule, EMEA Manufacturing AI Lead at Palantir, added, “Fedrigoni’s forward-thinking approach to digital transformation aligns perfectly with our mission to empower organizations through data-driven insights.

By leveraging AI, we are poised to deliver impactful results that will enable Fedrigoni to enhance its operational capabilities and achieve sustained success.”

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Ultra Maritime and General Atomics Announce Strategic Partnership to Revolutionize Unmanned Airborne Anti-Submarine Warfare General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. and Ultra Maritime are proud to announce a strategic partnership to substantially advance the state of the art in unmanned airborne detection and tracking of enemy submarines. By combining the world’s most advanced and prolific unmanned aerial system (UAS), GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SeaGuardian®, with the world’s only miniaturized, low-power sonobuoys and receivers, the strategic partnership will make it possible for the US and its allies to use sophisticated techniques to track submarines in hostile, GPS-denied environments.

As adversary submarines proliferate and become stealthier, unmanned underwater vehicles grow in number, and GPS jamming becomes more prevalent, the need for assured and affordable anti-submarine warfare (ASW) solutions is more critical than ever. While unmanned technologies are the clear best solution to this challenge, limitations to date in suitable ASW technologies have prevented real-world solutions

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Sagetech Avionics and MatrixSpace Collaborate to Enable Advanced Detect and Avoid Solutions Aerospace technology provider Sagetech Avionics has selected AI sensing system innovator MatrixSpace to support its advanced airspace solutions. Sagetech Avionics empowers safe flight in crewed and uncrewed aircraft with certifiable situational awareness solutions, serving military, public, and commercial organizations.

MatrixSpace and Sagetech Avionics recently partnered to win an HSWERX award from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for their work on advanced air detection supporting uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) operations. The solution has potential applications across various mission environments, including the US Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency.

From Rudy Johnson, Director of Business Development at Sagetech Avionics: “Our mission is to deliver low-SWaP certified avionics solutions that enable safe, scalable airspace integration. To achieve this requires a sophisticated level of airspace awareness informed by high-performance sensors. MatrixSpace is meeting the challenge, setting new standards in precision detection, making them key to meeting our customers’ demanding requirements.”

from emerging. This strategic partnership will provide a significant new capability, enabling small-form-factor sonobuoys and receivers to be deployed aboard a long-range unmanned aircraft, thereby providing autonomous, low-cost ASW in a GPS-denied environment.

The GA-ASI MQ-9B SeaGuardian provides unmatched multi-domain intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting (ISR&T).

GA-ASI will integrate the MQ-9B SeaGuardian with Ultra Maritime’s exclusive small form factor (half-size) sonobuoys to double UAS capacity.

These sonobuoys will provide Multi-Static Active (MSA) capabilities, achieving an unprecedented wide-area search. Furthermore, Ultra Maritime’s new acoustic receivers will be half the traditional size, making them ideal for UAS deployment. The receivers will enable more effective ASW in GPS-denied environments and will monitor more sonobuoys per MQ-9B mission through advanced communications technology. The solution is fully funded by internal research and development, and an integrated operational demonstration of this capability will take place in the Indo-Pacific and other theaters starting in 2025.

From Lori DeMatteis, Chief Revenue Officer at MatrixSpace: “As autonomous aviation becomes ubiquitous, the need to integrate it safely into the National Airspace is key. Working with Sagetech Avionics has demonstrated their commitment not only to high customer standards but also to reaching for the most advanced, innovative solutions possible to achieve this.”

The DHS project aimed to identify small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) equipped with onboard sensors that comply with Federal Aviation Administration guidelines for safe Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. Enabling smaller UAS (Group III and below) to operate safely in the NAS with Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) capabilities significantly enhances their ability to conduct comprehensive monitoring of secure, often large, and remote locations, such as borders, border crossings, and other points of entry. Due to their compact size and advanced capabilities, MatrixSpace Radar and Sagetech’s detect and avoid (DAA) onboard ACAS DAA computer were selected to support safe BVLOS operations.

MatrixSpace offers affordable, AI-enhanced sensor solutions for situational awareness, enabling advanced, large-scale drone operations and protecting infrastructure and public gatherings from security threats. Its solutions detect objects with high accuracy, allowing for rapid response and countermeasures. Its products combine cutting-edge radar sensors with additional technologies and AI-edge processing to sense, detect, and classify objects in any outdoor situation while enabling comprehensive compliance reporting.

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PiLogic Inc. Raises $4M Seed Round to Scale Exact AI for Aerospace, SpaceTech, and Defense Industries.

PiLogic was founded by a team of leading entrepreneurs and inventors: Mark Chavira, Johannes Waldstein, and Geoff Bough.

PiLogic Inc., a pioneer in “exact AI” – mathematically precise, expert-guided artificial intelligence – announces the closing of a $4 million seed round to expand its footprint in the aerospace and defense industries to upgrade rules-based systems with the power of exact AI. Scout Ventures and Seraphim Space led the round, which saw significant participation from Sovereign’s Capital, as well as investments from Flex Capital, FN Fund, and super angel Gokul Rajaram.

PiLogic builds exact AI models. On key problems, its platform is faster and more accurate than Generative AI Large Language Models (LLMs), and PiLogic’s engine uses drastically less compute power. The company’s unique approach employs a range of AI techniques, including logical inference, probabilistic inference, search, and machine learning.

RTX’s Raytheon delivers 250th RAM launcher to US Navy Raytheon, an RTX business and German industrial partner RAM-Systems GmbH, delivered the 250th RAM MK49 Guided-Missile Launching System (GMLS) to the US Navy.

It will be deployed on the USS Pittsburgh, a new-construction San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock.

The RAM program, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, is a bilateral partnership between the United States and Germany, with Raytheon serving as the prime contractor. In addition to the US and Germany, RAM customers include Egypt, Greece, Japan, the Republic of Korea,

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The models incorporate first engineering principles and expert knowledge directly into the decision-making process.

This approach does not require massive data sets or expensive hardware such as Graphics Processing Units (GPUs).

An early predecessor of PiLogic’s inference engine has been benchmarked as scaling dramatically better than competing techniques. Incorporating dramatic new advances, PiLogic’s latest inference engine is significantly more powerful, allowing the company to address complex problems that other inference engines cannot. Furthermore, PiLogic’s cutting-edge technology enables the deployment of exact AI on remote devices, such as satellites, without requiring additional compute resources.

PiLogic’s first two models address significant challenges in the defense and space industries: Radar Model: This model is designed to track and predict objects in 3D space, distinguishing between various types of objects, including airplanes and drones. It offers superior performance even when objects cross paths or are close together, making it several times more effective than existing solutions. The model is adaptable to sonar, GPS, and LIDAR technologies.

Electrical Power System Diagnostics Model: This model enables satellite operators to predict the health state of components using onboard sensor data while also providing remediation in near real-time. It can be implemented both on the ground and on the satellite itself. This model has been validated through work with NASA. Future use cases include supporting autonomous flights,

Mexico, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates.

“The RAM missile system has been a cornerstone of naval defense capabilities for decades, and this 250th GMLS delivery is a testament to the important role it plays in defending U.S. and allied forces,” said Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Power at Raytheon. “As we continue to modernize and expand the deployment of RAM, it remains a critical asset in protecting our sailors and ships from evolving threats.”

As the world’s premier ship self-defense effector, RAM protects naval assets ranging in size from 220-foot corvettes to 1,100-foot nuclear-powered aircraft carriers from advanced anti-ship cruise missiles, aircraft, drones, and other

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Inside Track automatic threat prediction and response, diagnosing and predicting electric power system failures on aircraft and spacecraft, other onboard diagnostics, radar tracking, and sensor fusion. PiLogic’s cutting-edge models and inference engine are designed for mission-critical scenarios where precision is paramount.

PiLogic is using its funds to grow its core team, expand its product suite, and support early customers with mission-critical challenges in two of the most critical domains of today: aerospace and defense.

PiLogic was founded by a team of leading entrepreneurs and inventors: Mark Chavira, Johannes Waldstein, and Geoff Bough.

Mark Chavira, Founder and CTO, is an AI expert with decades of real-world experience. Mark spent 12 years at Raytheon designing avionics operating systems, earned a PhD in probabilistic inference from UCLA, applied his research to problems at NASA, and spent 13 years at Google, where he became an Engineering Director, led an advanced AI/ML team of 125, and owned products generating billions in annual revenue in ad targeting.

Johannes Waldstein, Founder and CEO, co-founded and led five startups over the past 20 years with a focus on data science and AI innovations. His latest achievement was founding Fan.AI, an AI-driven ad tech company working with Coke and Pepsi on sports attribution, and was ultimately acquired by Spiqe.com in 2024.

Geoff Bough, Co-Founder, and Chief Revenue Officer has over 15 years of experience in business development, sales, and marketing. He was employee # 8 at FanDuel, where he played a

key role in the company’s growth. He has since held executive positions at Flutter, Caesars, and Triller, where he facilitated a $4B merger with AGBA. Johannes Waldstein, Founder and CEO of PiLogic, said: “We are incredibly excited about the potential of exact AI to transform industries at the point of need, where precision is critical. We believe that many of these critical applications, especially in defense and space, can’t feasibly be addressed by GenAI. And that is what we are here to solve. This funding will allow us to scale our team and expand our platform, bringing our innovative technology to more commercial and government clients.”

Brad Harrison, Founder and Managing Partner of Scout Ventures said: “PiLogic’s lightweight, efficient, and exact inference engine will help chart a new course for AI adoption in industries like Aerospace and Defense. At Scout, we are excited by the opportunity to support a team and technology that will ultimately enhance the efficacy of the critical systems supporting no-fail missions.”

Andre Ronsoehr, Partner Seraphim Space, added: “PiLogic’s approach to high-stakes decision-making on edge has the potential to transform the space industry. It is a sector still rife with rules-based systems and humans in the loop, often for the lack of viable alternatives.

PiLogic will change that, enabling satellite and spacecraft operators to realize the full benefits of AI. Notably, their approach is both differentiated and counterintuitive in a world currently obsessed with generative AI. And I very much like that.”

incoming threats.

Raytheon and its German industrial partners continue to invest in modernizing the RAM system to increase production capacity and meet growing global demand, as well as enhance the capabilities of the RAM effector and launch system. This includes Raytheon’s GMLS manufacturing facilities, which have recently doubled their production capacity, in addition to weapon system upgrades and supporting RAM integration aboard new naval platforms.

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Inside Track Vigilant Aerospace Selected for US Air Force EWAAC Contract as Preferred Vendor for Uncrewed Airspace Management

Multi-Sensor Traffic Management Solution FlightHorizon Provides New Capabilities for Next Generation of Warfighters Vigilant Aerospace Systems, Inc., provider of multi-sensor detect-and-avoid and airspace management software FlightHorizon, has been selected by the US Air Force as a new vendor on the $46 billion Enterprise-Wide Agile Acquisition Contract, or EWAAC IDIQ. The contract, designed to accelerate the development and delivery of innovative weapons systems, is set to run through 2031.

The US Air Force awarded 122 companies positions on the $46 billion EWAAC as part of the fourth selection round to the procurement contract meant to support the rapid development of novel weapons capabilities. The acquisition vehicle’s requirements include research and development, test and evaluation, production and fielding, prototyping, weapon design, system modeling, and modernization. The contract focuses on digital acquisition and sustainment practices, including digital engineering, agile processes, and open systems architecture.

“As the US Air Force embraces autonomous capabilities, we’re honored to play a role in helping them achieve this significant step forward,” said Zach Peterson, Vigilant Aerospace’s Director of Business Development.

“FlightHorizon fills an important technical gap for managing large-scale autonomous flight operations across a range of locations and scenarios, making it an ideal platform for the US Air Force’s needs.”

FlightHorizon utilizes NASA-patented technology to provide detect-and-avoid (DAA) alerts for uncrewed aircraft and to provide aircraft tracking. By integrating multiple sensors and utilizing industry-standard technical algorithms, the software offers real-time situational awareness to track nearby aircraft and prevent potential collisions through visual and auditory alerts.

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Anduril and Meta Team Up to Transform XR for the American Military Anduril and Meta are partnering to design, build, and field a range of integrated XR products that provide warfighters with enhanced perception and enable intuitive control of autonomous platforms on the battlefield. The capabilities enabled by the partnership will draw on more than a decade of investment by both companies in advanced hardware, software, and artificial intelligence. The effort has been funded through private capital without taxpayer support. It is designed to save the US military billions of dollars by utilizing high-performance components and technology originally built for commercial use.

This partnership comes at a pivotal moment in the evolution of national defense. America’s national security has benefited from the United States’ technological leadership at every phase of the computing revolution, from the first microchips and personal computers to today’s internet and mobile devices. As a new era of computing takes shape—built atop AI and body-worn devices—Meta and Anduril are committed to maintaining America’s technological edge while reinforcing our economic and national security.

“Meta has spent the last decade building AI and AR to enable the computing platform of the future,” said Mark Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO of Meta. “We’re proud to partner with Anduril to help bring these technologies to the American servicemembers that protect our interests at home and abroad.”

“I am glad to be working with Meta once again,” said Palmer Luckey, Founder of Anduril. “Of all the areas where dual-use technology can make a difference for America, this is the one I am most excited about.

My mission has long been to turn warfighters into technomancers, and the products we are building with Meta do just that.”

“The world is entering a new era of computing that will give people access to limitless intelligence and extend their senses and perception in ways that have never been possible before,” said Andrew “Boz” Bosworth, CTO of Meta. “Our national security benefits enormously from American industry bringing these technologies to life.”

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Inside Track Expanding the Ecosystem These joint mixed reality capabilities will integrate seamlessly with Anduril’s Lattice platform, the company’s AI-powered command and control system that integrates valuable data from thousands of sources to provide real-time battlefield intelligence. By incorporating role-specific AR/VR interfaces into the products, soldiers will gain intuitive access to Lattice’s analytical capabilities, a meaningful source of data for decision advantage.

This integration will transform how warfighters see, sense, and integrate battlefield information, providing immersive technology solutions that enhance tactical decision-making in combat scenarios.

For Meta, the partnership represents a significant expansion of its support for the US government’s adoption of its cutting-edge technology. The collaboration builds on Meta’s existing Reality Labs investments and its work in supporting the adoption of its Llama open-source AI models for national security uses by the US and its closest allies.

Anduril and Meta have already jointly submitted a white paper as a team for SBMC Next, formerly IVAS Next. Since the Army’s novation of the original IVAS (Integrated Visual Augmentation System) contract from Microsoft to Anduril, Anduril has made significant progress in transitioning IVAS from concept to a demonstrated, soldier-tested capability, streamlining operations, accelerating delivery timelines, and reducing costs.

Software updates that used to take 180 days now reach the field in under 18 hours, and Lattice-integrated IVAS headsets are in testing now.

Northrop Grumman-produced Engagement Operations Center at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. (Photo Credit: US Army)

Northrop Grumman and Marshall Land Systems Collaborate for Cutting-Edge Command and Control Systems Northrop Grumman Corporation and Marshall Land Systems signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance command and control hardware solutions for the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence.

Northrop Grumman and Marshall Land Systems intend to work together in support of the U.K.’s Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) program for medium- and short-range air defense. Northrop Grumman’s leadership in air and missile defense command-and-control systems will be integrated with Marshall Land Systems’ versatile containerized storage and shelter solutions.

Experts: Kenn Todorov, vice president and general manager, command and control & weapons integration, Northrop Grumman: “Northrop Grumman is modernizing air and missile defense around the globe with revolutionary command and control systems. The collaboration with Marshall Land Systems highlights the power of industrial partnerships and will capitalize on our combined expertise to enhance operational efficiency, readiness, and resilience.”

“This memorandum of understanding with

Northrop Grumman opens the door for Marshall to build on its track record of delivering for the UK’s armed forces,” said Marshall Chief Growth Officer Bob Baxter. “Marshall is at its best when working alongside industry partners, and I am confident that this will be reflected in the exceptional engineering and production support that we will provide to complement Northrop Grumman’s world-leading air and missile defense technologies.”

Details on Northrop Grumman: IBCS is a revolutionary command and control system that unifies current and future systems regardless of source, service, or domain. Through its network-enabled, modular, open, and scalable architecture, IBCS integrates sensor data to provide a single, actionable picture of the entire battlespace. This ready-now capability gives warfighters more time to make decisions on how best to defeat threats and is a foundational element for enabling joint and coalition, multi-domain operations. IBCS is in production, currently fielded in Poland, and planned for deployment in the Defense of Guam as part of the US Army program of record for integrated air and missile defense modernization.

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Inside Track BAE Systems awarded a $1.2 billion contract for a US Space Force missile warning and tracking satellite system

Israel MOD, Israeli Air Force, and RAFAEL Reveal: Scores of Enemy Threats Intercepted by High Power Lasers for the First Time in War

BAE Systems will serve as the prime contractor for the Resilient Missile Warning & Tracking (RMWT) – Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) Epoch 2 program. They will design and build 10 spacecraft under the agreement, including a four-year delivery for the space vehicles, plus an additional five years of operations and support.

The program will provide resilient, space-based missile warning and tracking of ballistic missiles and advanced threats, such as hypersonic glide vehicles.

BAE Systems will also develop the ground system to manage the satellite constellation, delivering mission management, command and control (C2), and mission operations solutions to enhance operational efficiency.

“This effort builds on our capabilities to facilitate low-cost, integrated satellite defense programs that bring together payload and bus builds while managing ground support, operations, and sustainment,” said Thai Sheridan, vice president and general manager of Military Space for BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems. “Our system enables close coordination through a ‘one-team’ approach across capabilities that are critical for missile warning and tracking success.”

Enhanced by advanced onboard data processing and data crosslinks, each satellite will feature a highly capable electro-optical/infrared sensor and communication payload.

The payload operation is supported by the Trek bus variant of BAE Systems’ Elevation spacecraft product line. Trek offers increased payload interface flexibility, an enhanced attitude determination and control system, and secure communication capabilities.

The program will enhance warfighter capabilities by supporting the continuous delivery of mission data, enabling seamless integration with operational missile defense systems.

The new contract builds on the company’s ongoing support of Department of Defense and Space Force satellite constellations that enhance national security and government resiliency across the enterprise.

During the Swords of Iron War, the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) Directorate of Defense Research & Development (DDR&D), the Israeli Air Force (IAF), and RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems executed an accelerated development program to deploy revolutionary interception systems. As a result of this initiative, soldiers from the IAF Aerial Defense Array operated high-power laser system prototypes in the field, successfully intercepting scores of enemy threats.

The deployed laser systems are part of RAFAEL’s portfolio of directed energy weapon systems, developed in collaboration with the IMOD, and complement the more powerful IRON BEAMTM system, currently under development, which is expected to be delivered to the IDF later this year.

Throughout the current war, the IAF, including its Aerial Defense Array soldiers, studied and deployed the laser systems in the field, achieving outstanding interception rates that saved civilian lives and protected national assets.

Head of the DDR&D, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Dr. Daniel Gold: “The State of Israel is the first in the world to demonstrate large-scale operational laser interception capabilities. For years, the Ministry’s DDR&D has been leading, together with defense industries and startups, the development of high-power laser technology. Our vision for deploying laser weapons was realized during the war with tremendous technological and operational success. IDF combat units demonstrated boldness in integrating and executing the first successful operational deployments of the systems, and the lessons learned will be applied as we deploy additional operational laser systems.

Laser interception systems will provide an additional layer within Israel’s multi-tiered air defense array, which has been meticulously developed through the tireless efforts of the defense industries and Israel’s exceptional human capital. We will continue to advance this technology and deliver world-leading systems and capabilities to the IDF, turning vision into security in air, sea, land, and across every dimension.”

Head of the DDR&D R&D Division, Brig. Gen. Yehuda Elmakayes:* “During the war, we deployed several high-power laser system prototypes, resulting in significant achievements, culminating in the world’s first successful high-power laser interceptions on the battlefield. Throughout this period, we gained substantial experience in optimizing and operating laser technologies in the field. We are currently integrating these insights into the systems under development while expanding the range of laser-based systems to protect Israeli civilians and IDF forces.”

RAFAEL Chairman, Dr. Yuval Steinitz:

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The

Inside Track “Israel is the first country in the world to transform high-power laser technology into a fully operational system – and to execute actual combat interceptions. We are extremely proud of RAFAEL’s achievement in leading this operational and technological breakthrough. Based on its unique development of adaptive optics, RAFAEL’s IRON BEAM system will undoubtedly be a game-changer with an unprecedented impact on the modern battlefield.”

RAFAEL CEO Yoav Tourgeman: “RAFAEL is leading the energy weapon revolution, with operational laser systems among the most advanced of their kind worldwide. The ingenuity and boldness of Rafael’s top scientists, combined with the company’s substantial investment in R&D, have yielded a monumental operational and technological achievement.

Rafael’s defense and strike systems have proven their effectiveness on the battlefield, making a meaningful contribution to Israel’s national security, particularly during the current war. Later this year, we will deliver the first IRON BEAM system from RAFAEL’s production lines to the IMOD. This system will fundamentally change the defense equation by enabling fast, precise, cost-effective interceptions, unmatched by any existing system.”

Brig. Gen. G., Head of the IAF’s Aerial Defense Array: “The initial operational successes of our laser systems against numerous aerial threats and munitions during this conflict represent a significant achievement for Israel—showcasing both the innovative capabilities of our defense industries and the exceptional adaptability of our Air Force personnel, especially the Aerial Defense Array soldiers who have integrated and deployed these cutting-edge systems during combat. This breakthrough reflects the dedication of countless individuals—brilliant minds committed to protecting our homeland.”

The Open Group Sensor Open Systems Architecture® or SOSA® Consortium Releases the Technical Standard for SOSA Reference Architecture, Edition 2.0, Snapshot 3 The Open Group Sensor Open Systems Architecture® or SOSA® Consortium has announced the release of the Technical Standard for SOSA Reference Architecture, Edition 2.0, Snapshot 3. The new features and functionality described in Snapshot 3 are intended for inclusion in Edition 2.0 of the standard when it is officially released.

Snapshot 3 includes a wide range of additional features and functionality, such as updates and improvements to the SOSA Data Model, a complete revision and separation of the Electrical and Mechanical section, and new Hardware Acceleration content, which reflects efforts to develop standard interfaces at the Hardware Acceleration level. The Snapshot also includes a general update and improvements to Hardware (3U and 6U) sections, as well as updated language in Section 14 for Containers and updates to In-Band (IB) and Out-OfBand (OOB) content.

“The release of the Technical Standard for SOSA Reference Architecture, Edition 2.0, Snapshot 3 is a testament to the Consortium efforts to deliver an open standard that is both widely adopted and useful to the marketplace,” said Nick Borton, SOSA Consortium Steering Committee Vice Chair. “This document is a summary of new technical features that will support the commitment to enable interoperability and rapid product insertion and is published to clearly define the path the Consortium is taking in the development of the Reference Architecture.”

The newly released Snapshot also provides Security content updates for Attestation, SOSA Module 6.3, and Encryptor/ Decryptor. New content and an Appendix have been added to integrate OSD Directed Energy Weapon System (DEWS) Reference Architecture v1.1 with SOSA Technical Standard, including updates to Task Manager, Tracker, PNT, and HPI modules.

SRC’s Nicholas Borton Named SOSA Consortium Steering Committee Vice Chair Other key updates include: SOSA Space Appendix with an initial set of 3U form factor Plug-In Card (PIC) Slot Profiles that will enable interoperability within space sensor and avionics systems. The appendix also includes space-specific extensions to existing SOSA content for Power Supply Cards (PSCs), PIC Slot Profile pitches and board length, and space-specific Alternative Module Profile Scheme (AMPS) strings for the Appendix’s 3U Slot Profiles.

Directed Energy Weapon System (DEWS) Appendix with details on the SOSA Modules that are unique to the directed energy weapon SOSA modality, including Directed Energy Source, Beam Transport, Beam Director, Deconfliction Safety, Thermal Management, and local DEWS Sensors.

Standardization of function and interaction tables, including module and function IDs, and general updates to the Interaction Binding (Section 15).

Updated taxonomy to integrate notional system cardinality for SOSA Modules, added Instructure Elements and updated SOSA Module definitions to merge PNT and define Host Platform Interface.

Snapshots are draft documents that provide a mechanism for the Consortium to disseminate information on its current direction and thinking to an interested audience, representing the interim results of technical activities that advance the Technical Standard. A copy of the Technical Standard for SOSA Reference Architecture, Edition 2.0, Snapshot 3 is available.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

COTS FOR MILITARY POWER WITHOUT THE HIDDEN COSTS

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By Christian Jonglas, Technical Support Manager, GAIA Converter Reliability and performance are absolute requirements in electronic systems for defense applications. Engineers in the sector have traditionally met these needs by using highly customized designs assembled from discrete, military-specification components, resulting in bespoke power supplies through a lengthy and expensive process.

However, governments in places like Europe and the US have encouraged military users to prioritize cost-effectiveness in procurement and, to that End, to utilize commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products whenever possible.

In the case of DC/DC converters for military or avionics applications, the COTS path offers numerous end-user benefits, primarily because it provides standard, ready-to-use, multiple applications-oriented products. The use of mass-produced commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) parts is cost-effective, offering versatile components that can be configured in either distributed or centralized power supply formats. They can be used and qualified in a broad range of different applications, drastically shortening development times compared to the custom approach.

However, simply dropping into COTS converters for avionics and military power supplies requires careful analysis, as some specific barriers and requirements must be met.

COTS issues So, let’s take a look at the special requirements for high-reliability military COTS. The issues fall into four major categories: input and efficiency requirements, electromagnetic compatibility, environmental performance, and the specific needs of military and avionics systems. These problems can be overcome by employing a modular design approach, such as that adopted by GAIA Converter. This allows the use of COTS technologies where they offer the best performance. It also enables the use of additional components and subsystems to meet the specific requirements of military-grade systems.

Input requirements Power inputs for military electronics can come from a variety of sources during operation, as the need arises to provide backup power from batteries when onboard generators cannot supply sufficient energy. The resulting changeovers in running systems can lead to significant fluctuations in input voltage, accompanied by brief, transient spikes. A secondary effect of these changes is a drop in efficiency if the converter was not designed from the beginning to handle input voltages well above or below nominal.

It is a challenge to design a power supply subsystem that can handle voltage changes from 9 to 80V, for example, and still provide a stable or constant conversion efficiency compatible with military needs. Many COTS converters are designed to work at their highest efficiency at nominal voltage. These products sometimes use variable-frequency topologies to support zero-voltage switching across the input voltage range.

Army Sgt. Sebastian E. Fara conducts a radio check during the New Jersey Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J

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Whilst variable frequency switching can render the noise less predictable and thus more challenging to mitigate, the implementation of Zero-Voltage Switching (ZVS) can significantly reduce the level of noise, often to the extent that it becomes less intrusive to sensitive systems such as radar and radio receivers. However, it is worth noting that variable frequency may also introduce stability issues, particularly when the load is subject to variations such as Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) or pulsed loads.

Moreover, the efficacy of tuning out conducted Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) is contingent upon the DC/DC converter featuring a synchronization function, which allows for a slight adjustment of the noise frequency to avoid interference with the bandwidths of radar or radio systems. This feature is common in many of GAIA Converter’s products. Regarding high-frequency soft-switching, it should be clarified that while it can improve efficiency, it does not categorically eliminate the need to manage efficiency across the entire input voltage range.

Transient and EMI protection A broad input range can obviate the need for front-end voltage transient limiters, which are designed to manage transients and can otherwise diminish overall conversion efficiency compared to a conversion topology that inherently accomHigh-reliability grade 40W multi-standard low noise modates tranpower supply with 100ms hold-up capability sients. In military

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applications, significant transients may arise from scenarios such as engine cranking or during the transition between disparate energy sources. According to the Mil-Std-1275 standard, a cranking level at 12V is stipulated, which the GAIA Converter MGDD series can comfortably support, given that they commence operation at a threshold of 9V, thus providing a considerable margin.

Additionally, at the higher End of the input range, the MGDD series can easily handle the 80V/100ms surge imposed by the DO160 standard, thanks to its capability to operate across a 9 to 80V input range.

A related problem arises from undervoltage and brownouts that can occur when energy sources fluctuate or due to intermittent faults. The interruption could last from 10ms to as long as 1 second. Military standards test for the ability to withstand these outages. COTS supplies designed for mainstream markets are unlikely to have the required resilience. However, it is possible to create this into supplies by combining an appropriate power-conversion topology with additional modules. For example, a common technique for increasing hold-up time is to place a large capacitor in the circuit to deliver a charge large enough to temporarily sustain the rest of the system. However, a simple COTS design using this approach risks creating large inrush currents when the energy source is restored. A technique pioneered by GAIA uses a boost voltage across the capacitor. This provides a larger amount of energy storage for a given capacitance. This maximizes hold-up time while reducing inrush-current problems.

Modular design techniques, such as those employed by GAIA’s power architectures, provide a mechanism for dealing with larger transients. They enable the combination of specialist military circuit design with advanced technologies found in commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) implementations. Numerous military standards from organizations worldwide enforce stringent controls on transients and electromagnetic interference (EMI).

An example is DefStan-461 from the UK, which stipulates that ground-based equipment with a nominal supply voltage of 28V must be capable of withstanding a surge of up to 202V (28V nominal plus a 176V surge) for 300ms. This presents a challenge to

any circuit topology. However, the use of specialized front-end filters provides a means to clamp this voltage to an acceptable value, thereby handling this energy and protecting the rest of the system.

A combination of defense-focused designs in the core circuitry and the use of modular front-end filters provides the ability to meet the demands of relevant standards. Most radiation usually emanates from the input cabling or load circuitry, and that is where careful system design is essential, taking into account the circuit topology and grounding strategy, as well as shielding and cabling.

By employing high-frequency fixed switching in the core design, power converter designers can ensure a predictable frequency, simplifying the task of filtering out low-frequency conducted emissions and thereby facilitating compliance with stringent emission standards.

GAIA’s approach encapsulates the circuitry with metal on five sides. The system designers then have the option to complete the shield on the sixth side using a PCB ground shield under the converter.

es, such as those employed by GAIA-Converter, which also facilitate the integration of emerging technologies. Wide-bandgap semiconductors, such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), have gained traction in sectors like automotive and renewable energy due to their low switching losses and high conductivity when in operation. SiC, in particular, offers high robustness and reliable operation at elevated temperatures. These attributes enable increased operational frequencies, resulting in the development of high-density, high-power modules.

However, GAIA Converter currently does not utilize SiC or GaN technologies in their products, which are designed for relatively low voltage (28V nominal) and low power (less than 500W), as these wide-bandgap semiconductors are not yet technically competitive with the best MOSFETs for such applications. Nonetheless, it is anticipated that as these technologies continue to proliferate in the high-voltage automotive sector, they will eventually become more prevalent in low-voltage and low-power domains, a trend that GAIA Converter is closely monitoring for future designs.

Environmental performance The packaging design is as crucial to the environmental performance of a military power converter. Where many COTS power supplies can utilize an open-frame design, these often perform poorly in defense applications due to the stresses of shock and vibration. Another technique not widely used in COTS designs is the use of potting to encapsulate individual components within the package. To ensure high reliability in vibration-prone environments, power converters designed for the defense sector extensively utilize potting. Such potting compounds, if chosen for their ability to conduct heat as well as insulate against vibration, can also enhance internal thermal conduction. In the case of GAIA’s modules, the technique simplifies design because the case-to-ambient thermal resistance can be specified for an entire brick within a modular power supply.

Conclusion As we have seen, the trend toward using COTS components and subsystems in the defense sector presents several challenges.

However, by engaging with suppliers who recognize the limitations of these products, along with a fundamental understanding of the needs of military projects, it is possible to leverage the technological advances and the learning curve that accompanies mass production. This combination brings innovation and forward-thinking to applications that need high reliability and longevity. Suppliers such as GAIA-CONVERTER play a crucial role in applying these concepts to shape the future of military and avionics power systems.

Keeping pace with technology As with environmental factors, longevity and long-term reliability are key requirements for military components that are not best served by mainstream commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products. Although the reliability of the components used plays a crucial role, an associated issue is the longevity of the design. Mainstream COTS products often have much shorter production lifetimes than the length of defense contracts and their equipment. As a supplier to the defense sector, GAIA has maintained continuity, even with its first DC/DC converter, a product introduced to the market in 1993.

While mainstream COTS hardware may have limitations in defense applications, these can be mitigated through modular design approach-

Printed circuit board drawing of the 40W power supply.

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SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

Lessons from the Russia-Ukraine frontline:

Autonomous vehicles, AI-driven logistics, and quantum-enhanced defense security are recalibrating military strategy.

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By Chris Morton & Bianca Nobilo, Chris Morton is the Global Industry Director for Aerospace & Defense at IFS. A retired attack helicopter pilot with 21 years of military and aviation experience, his career ranged from leading combat units in operational theatres to shaping strategic planning at the Pentagon. He now advises A&D clients on transformation while driving industry strategy within IFS. Bianca Nobilo leads AI ethics, government relations, and thought leadership on the Executive Board at IFS. She spent a decade at CNN as an anchor and correspondent, covering major global events and conflicts, and previously worked across Aerospace & Defense in the UK Parliament.

The War That Shattered Assumption Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now entering its third year, continues to expose persistent vulnerabilities in Western military readiness — from munitions stockpiles to supply chain resilience and procurement agility. What was initially predicted by Moscow to be a swift campaign has evolved into a grinding, high-intensity war that is reshaping global assumptions about force structure, deterrence, and the future of military power.

The conflict has demonstrated the battlefield potency of blending low-cost asymmetric technologies with traditional kinetic operations.

Ukrainian drone swarms have disrupted Russian armor formations; long-range artillery such as 155mm howitzers remains decisive, yet Western production capacity has struggled to meet ongoing demand. Wars of attrition, once thought relics of the 20th century, have returned to center stage.

As the war continues, nations are recalibrating their force posture and defense planning — not just to support Ukraine but to prepare for the new contours of prolonged, multi-domain conflict. The next chapter of military evolution will be shaped by AI, quantum computing, and automation — technologies that are already altering not only tactical outcomes but the deeper question of which nations can sustain war over time.

Defensive Industrial Base: Built for Peacetime, Unprepared for Protracted War Ukraine’s artillery consumption outstripped NATO’s production capacity within months, underscoring a fundamental issue: Western defense industries had become structured for peacetime efficiency rather than wartime urgency. For decades, spending priorities reflected counterinsurgency operations rather than large-scale conventional warfare. Defense manufacturers followed slow, bureaucratic procurement cycles, building to long-term program specifications rather than operational needs. This model is no longer tenable.

A key lesson from the Ukraine conflict is the critical link between battlefield endurance and industrial adaptability. Russia’s defense industrial base was not built for a prolonged war and has struggled to pivot under pressure. In contrast, Ukraine’s ability to draw on external support networks has created a more resilient long-term position, underscoring the strategic value of a flexible, modernized defense industrial base (DIB).

AI-driven logistics and quantum-enhanced simulations will determine which militaries can sustain modern war. Predictive logistics, already in use in Ukraine, anticipates battlefield demands, ensuring supplies are replenished before critical shortages occur. Indeed, in the context of contested logistics at the strategic level, variables that include a dynamic, quickly changing threat environment require analysis

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at the speed of AI. At the operational and tactical levels, commanders on the battlefield who have access to sophisticated pattern analysis that incorporates political, military, social, and physical environments, among others, can sustain combat operations in theater and force the enemy to consider multiple, complex dilemmas.

AI-driven supply optimization will analyze real-time battlefield conditions to dynamically adjust production and distribution. Nations that fail to integrate AI into logistics, manufacturing, and deployment will be less responsive and fall behind their competitors.

The Defense Industry’s AI-Powered Reboot Mass production of high-tech weaponry has failed under wartime conditions. The U.S. Replicator Initiative is attempting to reverse this inefficiency by integrating AI-driven automation into defense production. This shift mirrors World War II when industries like Ford, Hershey, and Singer Sewing Machines pivoted to war manufacturing. The difference now is that software-defined warfare demands companies capable of real-time iteration, rapid scaling, and autonomous system integration.

Ukraine is already deploying AI-driven drone manufacturing, battlefield analytics, and intelligent munitions at a pace that outstrips traditional defense manufacturers. At the Munich Security Conference, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned: “We have a problem, friends, if a country at war can produce faster than the rest of us.” The future of defense production will favor firms that leverage AI to shorten the OODA loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act), accelerating design, testing, and manufacturing cycles.

AI-Driven Asymmetric Warfare: Cost vs. Complexity Low-cost, high-impact technologies are undermining traditional military platforms. A $500 drone can turn off a $10 million tank.

Ukrainian drones have neutralized one-third of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. AI-powered swarm warfare—networked, autonomous loitering munitions—has compelled militaries to reassess large, centralized command nodes, which are now vulnerable targets.

Ukraine’s success in AI-assisted reconnaissance, drone coordination, and battlefield analytics has compelled Russia to adopt similar tactics, signaling the rapid evolution of AI in modern conflict.

Speed and scale now outweigh cost and complexity. Monolithic, exorbitant, and slow-moving weapons programs—designed for decades-long procurement cycles—are being reconsidered in an

asymmetric context where AI is already embedded in ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), autonomous drone targeting, and automated force coordination. In previous conflicts, nations without the resources to repel a larger, wealthier adversary were at a significant disadvantage. Whereas Ukraine has demonstrated that through the precise application of low-cost asymmetric capabilities, they can effectively even the stakes against a much larger foe. Many smaller nations will likely take note and adopt this same acquisition strategy as a hedge against potential aggression.

Larger, wealthier nations cannot ignore this trend – they will not only need to counter this asymmetric threat, but they will need to develop these capabilities to work alongside major weapon systems.

Power projections and global deterrence still require the employment of “majestic” type weapon systems on a global scale; however, low-cost AI-driven asymmetric capabilities allow a military to present multiple dilemmas to a potential adversary. A great example is CCA’s – collaborative combat aircraft – autonomous, uncrewed aircraft that are developed in concert as part of traditional fighter development.

AI in Command and Control: Will Humans Always Be in Charge?

Lethal Autonomous Weapons (LAWs) are no longer theoretical.

AI-assisted targeting is already operational, with Ukraine leveraging AI-enhanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) to predict enemy movements. The debate is no longer about whether AI will be used in battlefield decision-making but rather how to ensure its use remains ethically constrained, legally accountable, and aligned with international human rights norms.

The key ethical and legal distinction now lies between humanin-the-loop (oversight required), human-on-the-loop (oversight optional), and human-out-of-the-loop (fully autonomous lethal decision-making). A shift toward removing human oversight in lethal engagements risks violating the fundamental principles of proportionality, accountability, and distinction in warfare. If AI decision loops become too fast for meaningful human intervention, we risk ceding moral and legal responsibility to algorithms, diminishing the very accountability that underpins the laws of war.

A nation that first entrusts real-time combat decisions to AI would not just redefine military power but could also fundamentally alter the rules of engagement, setting a dangerous precedent for warfare devoid of human ethical judgment. This shift would mark the most profound military transformation since the advent of nu-

Airmen refuel a B-2 Spirit at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. The 509th Bomb Wing and its fleet of B-2s serve as part of the Air Force’s combat force to project U.S. airpower anywhere in the world. Credit: Air Force Staff Sgt. Joshua Hastings

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clear weapons. Still, unlike nuclear deterrence—where human deliberation remains central—fully autonomous weapons could remove the last safeguard between war and unchecked machine-driven violence. Strict legal frameworks and international oversight must bind any integration of AI in lethal force to prevent an irreversible slide toward algorithmic warfare without moral restraint — a step closer to the cliff edge of dehumanized conflict.

Quantum Computing: The Coming Cyber Arms Race Quantum computing’s military potential remains largely theoretical, but its longterm implications are existential. The most immediate concern is encryption: current cryptographic systems will be obsolete the moment quantum decryption achieves practical deployment. NATO, China, and Russia are already racing to develop quantum-resistant security protocols. The winner of this race will have a significant advantage in the future of digital warfare.

Technology is not just reshaping the theatre of war but also the preparation and context. Quantum-enhanced simulations could transform military planning, allowing strategists to model complex, multi-variable conflicts with greater precision. Not to mention, AI-driven cyber warfare is already escalating — deepfake

disinformation campaigns, as part of a broader psychological operation, automated hacking, and AI-enhanced cyberattacks are becoming standard tools of statecraft.

Who is Leading the AI-powered arms race?

The AI-powered arms race is unfolding on multiple fronts. Traditional defense firms are struggling to match the speed and adaptability of AI-driven warfare, while AI-native companies, ranging from agile startups to tech giants, are rapidly entering the defense sector. China and Russia have embedded AI into military doctrine at a strategic level, ensuring tight integration across defense, intelligence, and cyber warfare. However, the U.S., the UK, Israel, and key European nations are also integrating AI into military operations through private-sector partnerships, autonomous weapons programs, and AI-enhanced command and control systems. The outcome of this race will determine who dictates the future of military power in the 21st century—not just through AI adoption but through the ability to scale, iterate, and operationalize AI-driven capabilities faster than their adversaries.

As the war in Ukraine continues, it has become a live testing ground for the future of conflict—one where asymmetric tactics, real-time decision systems, and digital capabilities are recalibrating how power is

projected and sustained. The states that will shape the 21st-century security order are not simply those that integrate AI first but those that can scale it fastest—across defense, logistics, manufacturing, and industrial resilience.

Just as nuclear weapons redefined deterrence in the 20th century, AI and quantum technologies are redefining the conditions for strategic endurance in the 21st century.

The future of warfare is not about which nation fields the most advanced fighter jets or missile systems; it is about who fuses intelligence, autonomy, and agility across the entire defense ecosystem.

Beyond its direct military applications, AI’s economic leverage is equally decisive, as nations that harness AI for industrial productivity, financial systems, and technological innovation will generate the economic surplus necessary to fund sustained defense efforts. A nation’s ability to sustain a war economy is inextricably tied to its domestic AI capacity, as AI-driven efficiencies in manufacturing, energy, and resource management form the productive base that underwrites long-term military power. In an AI-dominated era, economic resilience and defense capability will be inseparable, reinforcing the idea that technological supremacy is not just a battlefield advantage—it is the foundation of strategic endurance.

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June 2025

COT’S PICKS Dragoon Selects Teledyne FLIR OEM Prism Software for LongRange Unmanned Platform Prototyping Teledyne FLIR OEM announced Dragoon is using the Prism™ Supervisor and Prism SKR software for its AI-driven object detection, tracking, real-time autonomy flight control, and mission planning capabilities within its long-range unmanned platform prototypes under Project Artemis, a Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) initiative.

Project Artemis is a program designed to evaluate and deploy long-range loitering munitions capable of operating in highly contested electromagnetic environments and large numbers.

Dragoon is one of four organizations within Project Artemis tasked with demonstrating low-cost, adaptable, long-range, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) platforms that have the potential to maximize operational flexibility.

“The integration of Dragoon’s Cinder unmanned aircraft—our low-cost, longrange platform—and Teledyne FLIR’s OEM Prism software unlocks new, highly autonomous mission capabilities in complex environments,” said Jason Douglas, co-founder of Dragoon Technology. “By combining our platform and payload with Teledyne FLIR’s autonomy, we offer an ideal solution for the DIU Artemis project.”

Prism SKR is a best-in-class automatic target recognition (ATR) software providing a drop-in solution for the FLIR Boson® thermal camera module that optimally addresses the seeker requirements for the Dragoon UAS platform. It operates efficiently at the edge on low-power embedded processors and is compatible with both infrared (IR) and visible camera data. Prism SKR provides real-time target position, identification, direction of motion, and aim-point localization, guiding the platform’s autonomous flight system for various operations.

In combination, Prism Supervisor further enhances mission readiness by providing end-to-end autonomy and mission oversight. It seamlessly integrates with Dragoon’s onboard autopilot system to support real-time decision-making capabilities and an intuitive mission-planning interface. The advanced autonomy in Prism Supervisor closes the loop between the onboard navigation subsystem and real-time AI-based observations, enhancing UAS operational capabilities while reducing operator intervention and workload.

“Dragoon selecting Prism software for its Project Artemis work underscores our ability to deliver mission-critical capabilities for national defense,” said Jared Faraudo, vice president of product management and programs, Teledyne FLIR OEM. “Prism SKR and Supervisor are purpose-built to enable Dragoon’s unmanned systems to perform in demanding battlefield environments, ensuring reliable performance when it matters most.”

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Cost-Optimized PolarFire Core FPGAs and SoCs from Microchip Technology Deliver High Performance with a 30% Lower Price Tag PolarFire Core devices streamline costs while retaining the market-leading power efficiency, security, and reliability of classic PolarFire families.

In the current marketplace, Bill of Material (BOM) costs continue to rise, and developers must work to optimize performance and budgets. Recognizing that a significant portion of the mid-range FPGA market does not require integrated serial transceivers, Microchip Technology (Nasdaq: MCHP) is releasing PolarFire® Core Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and System on Chips (SoCs). The new devices are a derivative of the base PolarFire families, reducing customer costs by up to 30 percent through optimized features and the removal of integrated transceivers. Offering the same industry-leading low-power consumption, proven security, and dependability as classic PolarFire technology, Core devices provide savings without sacrificing functionality, processing capability, or quality.

Designed for automotive, industrial automation, medical, communication, defense, and aerospace markets, PolarFire Core families feature Single Event Upset (SEU) immunity for mission-critical reliability and integrate a quad-core, 64-bit RISC-V® microprocessor (MPU) for flexible compute capabilities. Additionally, the Core devices are designed to be pinto-pin compatible with the entire line of PolarFire FPGAs, accommodating various design SKUs and enhancing value for applications that prioritize cost efficiency over a range of unnecessary features.

“Many FPGA manufacturers have raised prices recently, creating new challenges for OEMs needing to bring products to market quickly, at the lowest possible cost and power targets,”

June 2025

COT’S PICKS said Bruce Weyer, corporate vice president of Microchip’s FPGA business unit. “Our PolarFire Core FPGA and SoC families address price and power budget challenges directly, providing market-leading solutions at a favorable price point.”

Development Tools PolarFire Core devices are supported by Microchip’s Libero® SoC Design Suite, SmartHLS™ compiler, VectorBlox™ Accelerator SDK, and Microchip’s Mi-V ecosystem of partner platforms for rapid RISC-V application development. They are compatible with currently available PolarFire FPGA and SoC development boards, thereby expediting silicon development.

Nuvotronics Launches StrataWorks® Platform, Ushering in a New Era of Radio Frequency Design

Nuvotronics announced the launch of the StrataWorks platform, a webbased design solution that enables customers to rapidly create and customize PolyStrata-based passive RF components. The first capability in the StrataWorks suite, StrataWorks® Filters, allows engineers to design high-performance, surface-mount RF filters with exceptional speed, precision, and flexibility.

“Our customers told us they needed a faster, more flexible, and cost-efficient way to create custom filters without sacrificing performance or reliability,” said Scott Meller, General Manager, Nuvotronics. “With the StrataWorks design tool, users can go from concept to simulation in minutes, receiving quotes within 24 hours. These designs are ready for volume production with the quality and repeatability Nuvotronics is known for.”

The StrataWorks platform streamlines the design and specification process for producing RF devices using the company’s proprietary PolyStrata microfabrication technology. The tool incorporates intelligent design rules that empower engineers with complete freedom to tailor components to their exact specifications, enabling true design innovation without compromise.

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June 2025

COT’S PICKS Avalon Holographics Launches NOVAC — The World’s First True Holographic Display High-Fidelity Holograms for Digital Twins and High-Consequence Environments; New NVIDIA Omniverse Integration Avalon Holographics releases NOVAC, the first commercially available, accurate holographic table display. For the first time, groups can visualize detailed holograms together, transforming their 3D content into mechanisms for high-powered decision-making without the need for glasses, headsets, or tracking systems that can leave them feeling worn out or nauseous. With the ability to leverage AI, digital twins, and more, NOVAC is a powerful way to gain insights and create experiences that enable people to do more with their data.

Because NOVAC is an accurate holographic display, it can deliver unparalleled real-time depth and accuracy without the stereoscopic tricks that limit experiences to a single person. Instead, multiple users can walk around the display at once as they explore different perspectives, just like they would with a real object. This freedom encourages real-time collaboration that not only gets everyone, from military commanders and doctors to factory executives, on the same page but also helps them retain more information as they do it.

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“If you can’t see it, you might miss it,” says Wally Haas, President of Avalon Holographics. “NOVAC gives decision makers all the visual information they need to make the right choice — in a format that is as easy as using a TV. Groups can now simulate scenarios, assess risks, and adjust strategies on the fly, ensuring that everything from space missions to surgical training goes off without a hitch.”

NOVAC can be applied to any high-stakes environment where real-time insights are needed to gain confidence and clarity. With research funding from tier-1 contractors, NOVAC has already achieved success in the defense industry, where commanders are prioritizing next-generation visualization tools for situation awareness, mission planning, and other purposes. Because NOVAC can also ingest nearly any 3D asset, it is primed for any industry utilizing digital twins. A recent Omniverse integration will make this technology instantly valuable to executives in manufacturing, automotive, robotics, aerospace, and other industries, especially when paired with future voice command updates.

With 61 patents and $65 million in funding, Avalon is at the nexus of three rapidly accelerating markets (holographic, digital twins, and immersive experiences), which have projected growth rates between 25-40% over the next five years. As the creator of the first commercially available true holographic display, Avalon is uniquely positioned to open up new opportunities, bringing holograms to a much wider audience.

To build NOVAC’s successor, Avalon is actively raising USD 50 million in additional investment to accelerate the transition from projector-based holography to OLED-based tiles.

When available, these 6-inch flat tile panels can be linked together to make massive tables, walls, and showroom displays at an accessible price point.

Not only will this be effective for digital twin environments but also for immersive brand experiences in theme parks, esports, retail, and location-based entertainment.

10 GbE COTS Network Attached Storage Solution Features First NVMe In-line Hardware Full Drive Encryptor Placed on NSA CSfC Components List Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division announced that the hardware and software encryption layers for data-at-rest (DAR) provided on its High-Speed Recorder 10 GbE (HSR10) network attached storage (NAS) device have been approved for placement on the National Security Agency (NSA) Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) Components List. Earlier this year, the HSR10’s encryption layers successfully completed Common Criteria certification and were added to the U.S. National Information Assurance Partnership (NIAP) Product Compliant List. The

June 2025

COT’S PICKS

high-performance, high-capacity HSR10 NAS device uniquely features the industry’s first NVMe in-line hardware full drive encryption (FDE) enabled storage solution, supporting two CSfC encryption layers within a single device.

These notable milestones provide system designers with a cost-effective and proven, turnkey commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solution for DAR storage and protection of Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI), ready for plug-and-play deployment.

Also, because the HSR10 is ITAR-free, it is readily available for use by Five Eyes and NATO member countries.

“We are very proud to announce that another of our industry-leading rugged storage solutions has been successfully added to the NSA CSfC Components List for both hardware full drive encryption and software full drive encryption layers,” said Brian Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions Division. “What’s more, the HSR10 features the industry’s first rugged, NVMe in-line hardware full

drive encryptor to be placed on the NSA’s list. At Curtiss-Wright, we are committed to providing the broadest range of high capacity, highspeed encrypted storage solutions available on the market.”

The dual-channel 10 GbE HSR10’s NVMe in-line hardware encryptor delivers higher throughput compared to SATA architecture alternatives, with support for near-line-rate data throughput. To capture highspeed sensor data on today’s deployed platforms, the HSR10 provides a write data throughput speed of 1.97 MB/s with two layers of encryption. For deployed platforms, larger storage capacity extends mission duration. Currently offered with up to 32 TB of removable data storage (support for 64 TB is expected in 2025), the HSR10 delivers superior storage capacity roadmaps that leverage advances in higher density and cost derived from commercial NVMe memory technology.

The HSR10 is ideal for storing and protecting critical data assets (DAR) on deployed air, sea, and ground platforms.

SCALEXIO FSX – Modular and Scalable Extension of the dSPACE SCALEXIO Real-Time Platform dSPACE is expanding its SCALEXIO real-time platform for hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) applications with the new SCALEXIO FSX product line. SCALEXIO FSX completes the product family of SCALEXIO real-time systems and enables improved electrical fault injection, signal conditioning, and customized extensions. The new product line, therefore, forms the basis for a significantly expanded range of standardized HIL solutions. The modular architecture of SCALEXIO FSX allows the simple construction of scalable test solutions. It shortens project-specific adaptations of the HIL system in the field so that the test system can “grow” over the course of the project.

SCALEXIO HIL systems are designed to validate real-time applications in the automotive, aerospace, and industrial sectors.

With SCALEXIO FSX, dSPACE enhances the flexibility of its HIL offering, providing test engineers with several benefits. The modular design enables the efficient implementation of customized test systems tailored to different requirements within a comprehensive test strategy. SCALEXIO places particular emphasis on the seamless transition between the systems.

This means that not only real-time applications but also system configurations can be expanded and reused. Additionally, the systems are easy to manage – hardware modifications and extensions can be implemented by users themselves.

In addition to the hardware, the software also has a modular structure. The FSX extension is configured using the External Device Editor, and the system and controls are accessed via the ASAM-XIL API standard. The External Device Editor can be used to define pin assignments and the cable harness required for connecting control units and other external devices.

“With SCALEXIO FSX, we are increasing the flexibility of our market-leading HIL offering and responding to current challenges in the context of highly dynamic development projects,” explains Christian Wördehoff, Lead Business Field Manager HIL Testing at dSPACE.

COTS Journal | June 2025

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June 2025

COT’S PICKS Sodern Presents Astradia, A Daytime Star Tracker For A Reliable And Robust Navigation System Sodern is pleased to announce the commercial launch of Astradia: a daytime star tracker capable of aiding navigation systems, making them independent of GNSS radio-navigation signals.

After several years of research and development, Sodern produced Astradia, an endo-atmospheric star tracker that, when combined with an inertial navigation system (INS), provides daytime and nighttime attitude measurement to guarantee precise, robust, and reliable onboard geo-positioning data.

This high-performance tracker is thus autonomous, no longer reliant on radio navigation signals, and aims to counteract the natural drift in inertial navigation systems. It also offers the advantage of emitting no waves, which could otherwise expose an aircraft to detection.

Unlike satellite-based GPS systems, a combined “inertial unit/tracker” navigation system offers reliable absolute Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) measurements.

Most geo-positioning systems today have the drawback of being extremely vulnerable because they use technology based on satellite radio navigation signals (GPS, Galileo, etc.). These geo-positioning services can not only be scrambled or temporarily jammed but can also be easily deceived into generating false data.

With Australia, Sodern proposes an entirely new technology for civil or military aircraft that requires a reliable system or needs to maintain stealth by not emitting any waves.

Astradia benefits from the extensive in-flight heritage of Sodern’s star trackers and high-performance resources such as its certified calibration benches.

Astradia is the fruit of Sodern’s know-how and a proven cutting-edge technology. Astradia benefits from the legacy of several

thousand star trackers already in service in space, along with a star catalogue and proven detection algorithms. This technology has also undergone conclusive in-flight testing.

“At Sodern, we are proud to design dual-use technologies that require both precision and robustness to meet the specific needs of the armed forces, allied with an industrial design to help optimize costs. Astradia is a very good example of this and will be of interest to civil and military aircraft operators” states Sandra Feilles, Head of Innovation and Programs.

Australia, a tracker specifically designed to meet the needs of both civil and military aircraft operators.

Astradia is compact (176 mm x 185 mm x 207 mm) and weighs less than 3 kg. It was specifically designed for easy integration on all types of aircraft. This optimized design makes Astradia ideal for a wide range of applications, including drones and surveillance aircraft. Its monobloc design and easy integration make it a versatile and practical choice for various aerial missions.

High-precision tracking capacity Astradia offers tracking capacity to within a few arc-seconds, equivalent to 1 meter at a distance of 70 km. This function, which is extremely useful for aligning inertial navigation systems or their registration during missions, also opens the door to future applications with particularly demanding tracking requirements.

During the day and at night, this sensor delivers measurements to the aircraft every second without interruption, providing operational capacity at any point on Earth, including over oceans, with no need to update maps or charts to carry out the mission.

This sensor effectively reduces navigation drift during long flights and, more generally, improves the security of in-flight positioning.

Infineon launches new radiation-hardened GaN transistors, including one of the first DLA JANS-certified GaN devices.

Infineon Technologies AG announced the first of a new family of radiation-hardened Gallium Nitride (GaN) transistors, fabricated at Infineon’s own foundry, based on its proven CoolGan™ technology. Designed to operate in harsh space environments, the company’s new product is the first in-house manufactured GaN transistor to earn the highest quality certification of reliability assigned by the United States Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to the Joint Army Navy Space (JANS) Specification MILPRF-19500/794.

The new radiation-hardened GaN High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) devices are engineered for mission-critical applications required in on-orbit space vehicles, manned space exploration, and deep space probes. Combining the robust performance of GaN HEMTs with Infineon’s 50+ years of experience in high-reliability applications, the new power

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COTS Journal | June 2025

transistors deliver best-in-class efficiency, thermal management, and power density for smaller, lighter, and more reliable space designs. The devices complement Infineon’s proven legacy of radiation-hardened silicon MOSFETs, providing customers with access to a comprehensive catalog of power solutions for space applications.

“The Infineon team continues to push the limits of power design with our new GaN transistor line,” said Chris Opoczynski, Senior Vice President and General Manager of HiRel at Infineon. “This milestone brings the next generation of high-reliability power solutions for mission-critical defense and space applications that utilize the superior material properties of wide bandgap semiconductors to customers serving the growing aerospace market.”

The first three product variations in the new radiation-hardened GaN transistor line are 100 V, 52 A devices featuring an industry-leading (R

June 2025

COT’S PICKS DS(on) (drain-source on resistance) of 4 mΩ (typical) and total gate charge (Qg) of 8.8 nC (typical). Encased in robust hermetically sealed ceramic surface mount packages, the transistors are Single Event Effect (SEE) hardened up to LET (GaN) = 70 MeV.cm2/mg (Au ion). Two devices, which are not JANS certified, are screened to a Total Ionizing Dose (TID) of 100 krad and 500 krad. The third device, screened to 500 krad TID, is qualified for the rigorous JANS Specification MIL-PRF-19500/794.

Infineon is the first company in the industry to achieve the DLA JANS certification for fully internally manufactured GaN power devices. DLA JANS certification requires rigorous levels of screening and Quality of Service Class Identifiers to ensure the performance, quality, and reliability needed for space flight applications - making Infineon a leader in GaN for high-reliability applications. Infineon is also running multiple lots before the full JANS production release to ensure long-term manufacturing reliability.

Curtiss-Wright Adds Digital Video Encoder Module to Industry-Leading Axon Family of Compact Flight Test Instrumentation System Building Blocks AXN/VID/401 Axon module automatically detects, captures, and compresses a single HD-SDI/3G-SDI channel and supports independent low-data-rate video channel for real-time telemetry.

Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division has further expanded its Axon™ range of data acquisition systems designed for use in demanding flight test programs with the introduction of the AXN/VID/401 digital video encoder module. The compact H.264 video encoder card can automatically detect, capture, and compress a single HD-SDI or 3G-SDI channel. For telemetry applications, the module supports a separate, independent 720p low-data-rate transport stream, enabling real-time monitoring on the ground without utilizing the valuable bandwidth required for other flight test data. The compressed HDSDI/3G-SDI channel’s video bitrate is maintained at a constant level (set between 500 kbps and 40 Mbps) through multi-pass encoding and padding of the transport stream. The AXN/VID/401’s packetizer can also be configured to generate multiple industry-standard formats, including iNET-X, IENA, or IRIG 106 Chapter 10 packet streams. Examples of applications for this rugged module include video monitoring of cockpits, control surfaces, and landing gear; direct monitoring of video-compatible head-up and head-down displays; and monitoring of space launcher separation and store deployment.

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COT’S PICKS XPedite7870 - Intel® Xeon® D-2800 Processor-Based 3U VPX-REDI Module with 64 GB of DDR4, 100 Gigabit Ethernet, and SecureCOTS™ The XPedite7870 is a secure, high-performance single-board computer based on the Intel Xeon D-2800 series (formerly Eddy Lake) of processors, making it an optimal choice for computationally intensive applications that require maximum data and information protection.

This 3U VPX-REDI module integrates SecureCOTS technology with a Microsemi PolarFire System-on-Chip (SoC) FPGA, enabling the hosting of custom functions to protect data from modification or observation. It provides an ideal solution when stringent security capabilities are required.

The XPedite7870 is a secure, high-performance single-board computer based on the Intel Xeon D-2800 series (formerly Eddy Lake) of processors, making it an optimal choice for computationally intensive applications that require maximum data and information

Abaco Systems Launches GRA117SVIO Open VPX 3U Video Graphics and GPGPU Card Enabling Real-Time Video Capture and Processing AMETEK Abaco Systems introduces the GRA117SVIO, a SOSA-aligned Open VPX 3U video graphics and GPGPU card. It’s powered by the NVIDIA RTX™ 2000 Ada generation GPU with 8 GB GDDR6 graphics memory designed to support up to six 12G-SDI video streams, enabling tactically imperative real-time, high-performance video capture and processing.

Designed for extreme environments and mission-critical applications, the GRA117SVIO offers a superb range of advanced features, including: •NVIDIA RTX™ 2000 GPU (Ada Generation Architecture) for AI-accelerated data processing •8 GB of GDDR6 advanced graphics memory

Anritsu Introduces Simultaneous Sweep on MS46131A VNAs, Enabling Efficient Four 1-Port Simultaneous Measurements.

Anritsu is announcing the launch of a new Simultaneous Sweep capability for its ShockLine™ MS46131A Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) —the world’s first 1-port VNA supporting frequencies up to 43.5 GHz. This advanced capability enables simultaneous 1-port S-parameter measurements across up to four MS46131A units. Each unit can be independently configured with custom test settings—such as start and stop frequencies, IF bandwidth, and number of points—while all units perform sweeps in parallel.

The result is significantly reduced test time and en-

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COTS Journal | June 2025

protection.

This 3U VPX-REDI module integrates SecureCOTS technology with a Microsemi PolarFire System-on-Chip (SoC) FPGA, enabling the hosting of custom functions to protect data from modification or observation. It provides an ideal solution when stringent security capabilities are required.

The XPedite7870 provides incredible speed with two 100GBASE-KR4 and one 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet port. The dual 100GBASE-KR4 Ethernet ports provide fallback redundancy to ensure a consistent processor throughput of up to 100 Gbps is maintained at all times. The XPedite7870 also accommodates up to 64 GB of DDR4 ECC SDRAM in four channels and up to 256 GB of onboard NAND flash in addition to numerous I/O ports, including USB 2.0, PCI Express, and RS-232/422/485 serial through the backplane connectors.

Wind River VxWorks and X-ES Enterprise Linux (XEL) Board Support Packages (BSPs) are available.

•Meets VITA 47.1 environmental specifications for shock and vibration •PCI Express Gen 4 connectivity with bifurcation support to ensure ultra-fast data transfer speeds •Compatible with SOSA-aligned backplanes “The GRA117SVIO delivers system engineers an ultra-fast GPGPU solution for real-time video capture systems required by today’s advanced military for C5ISR solutions like UAV detection systems,” said Simon Collins, Director of Product Management at Abaco Systems. “This new video graphics card offers advanced AI processing and is the latest in Abaco’s investment in high-performance, SOSA-aligned, military-embedded computing products.”

Designed for use in hostile air, land, and maritime applications, the rugged GRA117SVIO is an ideal solution for defense system platforms that require advanced AI processing. This SOSA-compliant solution guarantees scalability and seamless integration, ensuring adaptability to future defense architectures. hanced flexibility for a wide range of measurement scenarios.

The Simultaneous Sweep feature allows coordinated sweep triggering through an external signal, synchronizing the start of sweeps across multiple VNAs. Ideal for multi-band, multi-configuration test environments, it enables synchronized multi-band antenna characterization and parallel path performance evaluation. Remote operation is supported via SCPI commands over uniquely assigned TCP port numbers for each of MS46131A VNAs, enabling full automation and seamless integration into distributed test systems.

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COTS

ADVERTISERS

Company

Page #

Website

Annapolis Micro Systems. . . . .

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

Anritsu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.anritsu.com

Behlman Electronics. . . . . . . . . IFC/BC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.behlman.com IBC . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.dolphinics.com/COTS

MSS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www..com

nVent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

25

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ODU. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

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

Index

Dolphin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

COTS Journal (ISSN#1526-4653) is published monthly at; 110 S Rancho Santa Fe, Virgin UT 84779. Periodicals Class postage paid at San Clemente and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to COTS Journal, 110 S Rancho Santa Fe PO 790039, Virgin UT 84779.

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