Military & Aerospace
Future Design Needs for Next-Generation Radar and EW Systems
May 5, 2010 4:54 am | Articles | CommentsNext-generation FPGA-based processing platforms for radar and electronic warfare (EW) systems provide a substantial increase in computational resources, as well as greatly easing the implementation effort in a floating-point datapath.
Through-wall radar aids in urban operations
May 4, 2010 6:05 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsIn 2007, SSG David Bellavia released the most poignant memoir of the Iraq War, “House to House.” The title is significant, because house-to-house fighting is among the most dangerous forms of urban warfare. Camero may have a solution with the Xaver 400, a compact through-wall radar.
PXI, cPCI Backplanes Suit Embedded Test and Control Apps
May 3, 2010 7:09 am | Product Releases | CommentsNational Instruments offers board-level backplanes from all of its PXI/CompactPCI and PXI Express chassis for OEMs to use in applications ranging from aerospace/defense to industrial embedded control. Engineers and scientists can use the PXI/CompactPCI backplanes to create
Connectors Meet Soldiers’ Protection, Secure Connection Requirements
April 30, 2010 7:35 am | by Elizabeth Rubbo, Fischer Connectors, www.fischerconnectors.com | Articles | CommentsAround the world, Future Soldier Programs are focused primarily on development of technologies to reduce the soldiers fighting load and power requirements, improve the soldier’s protection, lethality, and environmental and situational awareness.
New FMC Standard Drives Performance in Aerospace and Defense Signal Processing Systems
April 30, 2010 7:09 am | by Jeremy Banks, Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing | Articles | CommentsNew generations of FPGAs present developers with a level of processing performance and potential I/O bandwidth that cannot easily be matched by conventional CPU configurations. While many COTS solutions enable developers to readily make use of FPGAs for processing, the real challenge to an application is often measured in terms of I/O bandwidth, latency and connectivity.
Planck highlights the complexity of star formation
April 26, 2010 6:44 am | News | CommentsNew images from ESA’s Planck space observatory reveal the forces driving star formation and give astronomers a way to understand the complex physics that shape the dust and gas in our Galaxy. Star formation takes place hidden behind veils of dust but that doesn’t mean we can’t see through them.
DC-DC Converter Series Adds Output Voltages for Avionics, Military
April 23, 2010 11:56 am | Product Releases | CommentsVPT, Inc. added several modules to the DVFL, DVTR, and DVHF Series DC-DC power converter product lines. The new output voltages on these modules address the reliability requirements and varying output voltage needs of the newest avionics and military electronics.The new modules include
Air Force launches unmanned orbital test vehicle
April 23, 2010 8:02 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsLast night, at 7:52 PM, the Air Force launched its X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) on a classified mission that could last up to nine months. The unmanned orbiter is designed to be reusable, though exact details remain classified. Launched atop an Atlas V rocket, the X-37B resembles a mini Space Shuttle.
NASA shows 1st images from solar observatory
April 22, 2010 9:00 am | News | CommentsNASA has unveiled the first images from a new satellite designed to predict disruptive solar storms, and scientists say they're already learning new things. Researchers showed off brightly colored images and short movie clips of the sun from the Solar Dynamics Observatory in a webcast Wednesday.
Whither thou goest, Space Shuttle?
April 21, 2010 12:29 pm | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsOh Space Shuttle, thou noblest of space-faring, low-Earth-orbiting vehicles, we hardly knew ye. Compared to the Apollo program, you were but a minor diversion—a minor, 30 year diversion. Proponents claimed you’d make space travel “routine and economical,” though you proved to be neither. And yet, your long-overdue retirement leaves a major void.
Space shuttle safely home after one of last missions
April 21, 2010 5:23 am | News | CommentsThe U.S. space shuttle Discovery landed safely at its home base in Florida on Tuesday, wrapping up one of NASA's last cargo runs and servicing missions to the International Space Station. After 15 days in space and a journey of 6.2 million miles (9.9 million km), the shuttle touched down at the Kennedy Space Center's runway at 9:08 a.m. EDT (1308 GMT)...
800-W AC-to-DC Converter Drives Amps in IFF Systems
April 16, 2010 8:26 am | Product Releases | CommentsBC Systems introduced the BC-751, an 800 W AC/DC converter with eight outputs to provide power for solid-state RF amplifiers in airborne Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) applications. The converter accepts a three-phase 155 VAC, 400 Hz input with a power factor of
Senators: Move carefully on Pentagon Cyber Command
April 16, 2010 6:08 am | News | CommentsSenators said Thursday they will move cautiously on a new military command to tackle cyberthreats, citing questions about how the U.S. would conduct electronic warfare. The U.S. hasn't fully developed policies on how to respond to cyberattacks that are routed through neutral countries or the computers of innocent Americans...
VPT Adds New Modules to DC-DC Power Converter Series
April 15, 2010 11:17 am | Product Releases | CommentsVPT, Inc. announced that several new modules are available for the DVFL, DVTR, and DVHF Series DC-DC power converter product lines. The new output voltages on these modules satisfy the reliability requirements and varying output voltage needs of the newest avionics and military electronics.
FPGA-based 6U SBC Offers Triple Redundancy
April 15, 2010 9:08 am | Product Releases | CommentsMEN Micro offers a 6U FPGA-based, triple-redundant D602 cPCI SBC that uses a lock-step architecture to make the board appropriate for highly mission-critical applications. The lock-step architecture provides a redundant computing system that
Fixed Attenuator Pads Suit Military and Commercial Applications
April 14, 2010 6:21 am | Product Releases | CommentsSkyworks’ ATN3590 family of fixed resistive attenuators are integrated circuits comprising thin film resistors and through-die vias that provide desirable attenuation flatness from low frequency to 40 GHz or higher. These attenuators are
Handheld LED Military Light produces 3600 lumens
April 14, 2010 6:05 am | Larson Electronics Llc | Product Releases | CommentsLarson Electronics’ magnalight.com unveiled the HML-5M-LED40, a handheld LED spotlight with magnetic base that produces 3600 lumens and draws less than 2 amps on 24 volts. The LED spotlight contains the Magnalight PAR46 40 Watt LED retrofit lamp.
Frequency and Time Standard Module Suits GPS Based Apps
April 12, 2010 7:05 am | Product Releases | CommentsConnor-Winfield released a GPS disciplined reference and synchronous clock generator. The FTS250 is a TCXO based module that offers desirable timing and frequency characteristics with low power consumption in a small, cost-effective design. The module is a
Navy upholds ban on flash media
April 9, 2010 5:53 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsTo follow up on an earlier story, the US Navy has maintained the ban on flash media. Notwithstanding the official “lifting” of the ban, Navy officials consider flash media too risky. Sailors who violate the policy could have their account access terminated for 30 days.
Heat Resistant Adhesive Touts High Strength Structural Bonding
April 8, 2010 8:37 am | Product Releases | CommentsPresented as offering high performance bonding strength to both similar and dissimilar substrates, Master Bond’s Polymer Supreme 46HT-2 two-component adhesive features high-temperature resistance along with
Solar-powered craft aims for perpetual flight
April 8, 2010 6:03 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsThe solar-powered Impulse HB-SIA completed its maiden voyage on Wednesday. The 90-minute flight reached an altitude of 5,500 feet, over a mile above the Swiss countryside, with an average speed of 44 mph (70 kph). This is the first step towards an ambitious goal: travel around the world by 2012.
Sense, Detect, Communicate, and Act: Improving Military Electronic Systems
April 7, 2010 4:30 am | by Jim Davis, Cypress Semiconductor Corp. | Articles | CommentsImproving military electronic systems involves enhancing the basic processes of sense, detect, communicate and act.
Chassis Mount DC-DC Converter Suits Harsh Environments
April 5, 2010 7:17 am | Product Releases | CommentsCalex Manufacturing Company introduced its HCM Series high power density chassis mount DC/DC Converters. These 150 Watt rugged, encapsulated DC/DC converters are suitable for harsh industrial and COTS military applications. All 10 models in the series offer a
New PICMG 2.30 standard enables enhanced functionality of CompactPCI systems for defense applications
April 2, 2010 10:02 am | by Jim Vana, Applications Engineering Specialist, 3M Electronic Solutions Division | Articles | CommentsRecent advancements in military technology have produced some awe-inspiring, highly sophisticated combat and reconnaissance equipment. In the U.S., such advances are expected to continue at a steady clip as robust defense spending drives the development of next-generation equipment.
Will the United States lose its air supremacy?
April 2, 2010 9:26 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsThe announcement of Russia’s newest fifth-generation fighter, the Sukhoi PAK FA, stunned the world. To put it succinctly, the “Future Frontline Aircraft System” is a game-changer. Its closest rival is the F-22 Raptor, and yet production on the United States’ premier air-superiority fighter has been scrapped in favor of the F-35. Are we repeating the mistakes of the past?
