Sponsored By Oxley Developments
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21 Nov 24. Curtiss-Wright Successfully Shows Full Operational Capability of TCG LinkPRO & TCG HUNTR Tactical Data Link Software at Timber Express 2024 Exercise.
TCG LinkPRO TDL processor provided simultaneous CESMO and VMF DACAS over tactical radios on fixed & rotary wing aircraft at German Air Force’s eighth annual expansive, multi-domain, multi-TDL live exercise
Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division today announced that it successfully demonstrated its TCG LinkPRO® tactical data link (TDL) processor, which provided simultaneous Cooperative Electronic Support Measure (CESMO) operations and Variable Message Format (VMF) Digitally Aided Close Air Support (DACAS) over tactical radios on both fixed and rotary wing aircraft, during the German Air Force’s eighth annual Timber Express TDL exercise (October 17-28, 2024). What’s more, during the exercise, Curtiss-Wright’s unique TCG HUNTR™ (TDL Hub and Network Translator) was once again successfully demonstrated and served as the intelligent tactical data link gateway for Link 16, Joint Range Extension Applications Protocol (JREAP)-C, VMF, and CESMO communications, both in the air and in command centers.
Notably, during the exercise, the presence of HUNTR enabled platforms and entities without Link 16 or Link 22 to share, using VMF or CESMO, the same situational awareness picture that was delivered to Link 16 and Link 22 supported platforms. That means that Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) and helicopters, such as the AH Combat Helicopter Tiger and H145M Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) Special Operations Forces (SOF), which normally do not see the full Common Operational Picture (COP) for Link 16, Link 22, VMF and CESMO were now able to view all of the exercise’s assets and participants. In addition, multiple DACAS missions were successfully executed using LinkPRO and HUNTR. Curtiss-Wright is proud to have successfully participated in every Timber Express exercise since the important event’s inception.
“HUNTR with LinkPRO is a breakthrough software application that improves and simplifies the task of moving data between Link 16, VMF, and CESMO,” said Brian Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions. “We are very pleased with the success of our participation in this year’s Timber Express exercise, and we thank the German Air Force for the opportunity to demonstrate the ability of LinkPRO and HUNTR to provide warfighters and command and control centers with real-time access to accurate operational data in the field.”
During the exercise, LinkPRO and HUNTR solutions were successfully deployed and used on multiple fully integrated and federated fixed and rotary wing air platforms, while they were also simultaneously operated in multiple ground stations. All of the deployed LinkPRO and HUNTR systems successfully completed multiple missions, supporting over a dozen flights, during which they connected to, provided message translation for, and routed information between Link 16, JREAP-C, CESMO, and VMF TDLs in a realistic tactical environment.
Curtiss-Wright has supplied integrated CESMO operational software to Germany’s Bundeswehr since 2017, for multiple air, land, and sea operational deployments and exercises. LinkPRO is currently deployed in multiple German Navy helicopters. The recent Timber Express 2024 exercise built on previous successful LinkPRO and HUNTR deployments by demonstrating new capabilities for mobile air gateways and command center routing, as well as translation for multiple TDLs.
Curtiss-Wright’s contributions to Timber Express 2024 follow its equally successful participation at the recent RIMPAC 2024 exercise held in Hawaii, during June/July 2024, at which HUNTR was instrumental in linking CESMO and Link 16 tactical communications.
About Timber Express
Timber Express is a German Air Force exercise focusing on the exchange of real-time situation information (e.g., air situation pictures) between all participating units and weapon systems. The participants include the German Army, Navy, Cyber and Information Domain Service and the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support, as well as NATO and partner nations.
To learn more about Curtiss-Wright’s tactical data link solutions, please click here.
For additional information about Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions products, please visit www.curtisswrightds.com and LinkedIn.
About Curtiss-Wright Corporation
Curtiss-Wright Corporation is a global integrated business that provides highly engineered products, solutions and services mainly to Aerospace & Defense markets, as well as critical technologies in demanding Commercial Power, Process and Industrial markets. We leverage a workforce of approximately 8,600 highly skilled employees who develop, design and build what we believe are the best engineered solutions to the markets we serve. Building on the heritage of Glenn Curtiss and the Wright brothers, Curtiss-Wright, headquartered in Davidson, North Carolina, has a long tradition of providing innovative solutions through trusted customer relationships. For more information, visit www.curtisswright.com.
21 Nov 24. MBDA and Matra Electronique create a centre of excellence for defence electronics in Europe.
- MBDA and its subsidiary Matra Electronique (MEL) set up a brand new 4.0 factory in the heart of the Hauts-de-France industrial region, serving both the ‘war economy’ and the local economy.
- With its new facility in Venette, MEL has increased its weekly electronic component transfer capacity by 2.5 times, from 200,000 to 500,000 transferred components.
MBDA, the European leader in complex weapon systems, and its subsidiary Matra Electronique (MEL), which specialises in the manufacture of high-precision electronic equipment, have jointly inaugurated the new site in Venette on 18 November.
The set-up of this new site, the new workplace for MEL’s 440 employees, marks a milestone in the company’s growth strategy; ever since its creation, MEL has been based in the heart of the Hauts-de-France industrial region. For MBDA, this investment contributes to the rapid ramp-up of defence capabilities both in France and across Europe, while meeting the needs of the group’s future programmes.
MBDA CEO Eric Béranger said at the inauguration ceremony: “The women and men of Matra Electronique have an essential role in the MBDA Group’s mission. Together, we are creating a sustainable, innovative, high value-added industrial model to meet the challenges of sovereignty in France, in Europe and among our allies. With this new production facility, we are pursuing our commitment to the ‘war economy’: immediate acceleration of production capacity, development and aggregation of industrial skills in France, and the ability to accelerate even further in the months and years to come.”
Frédéric Wilmot, Chairman of Matra Electronique and Industrial Director of MBDA France, added: “Combining the skills and technologies we depend on to guarantee our sovereignty in electronics, our new site sits at the heart of a dynamic, forward-looking local ecosystem that contributes to the resilience of our supply chain and developing our activities. It also enables us to maintain cutting-edge expertise and essential jobs in our local areas.”
This new connected and modular 4.0 factory boosts flexibility and strengthens MEL’s competitiveness. It represents a one-third increase in site area and provides the capacity for future extensions, enabling MEL to adapt rapidly to changing customers’ needs and will provide a growth lever for the years to come. Employees will benefit from modern workspaces, making the company a more attractive place to work, with the site also designed to minimise its impact on the environment. Finally, it is part of a dynamic ecosystem of industrial and local players, who will help to strengthen the entire industrial value chain.
Set up in 2016 with the support of the ‘France Relance’ programme, this project testifies to MBDA’s and MEL’s shared ambition to contribute to the development of sovereign solutions for their customers, at the highest technological level and anticipating tomorrow’s challenges.
21 Nov 24. Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® (NYSE: LMT), in partnership with Lockheed Martin’s Demonstrations and Prototypes organization and the University of Iowa’s Operator Performance Laboratory (OPL), showcased a crewed-uncrewed teaming mission where an airborne battle manager issued real-time commands to AI-controlled aircraft through a touchscreen pilot vehicle interface (PVI).
In a series of flight tests, the Skunk Works and OPL teams simulated an offensive counter air mission where an airborne, human “battle manager” aboard an L-39 Albatros assigned targets to two AI-controlled L-29 Delfin jets, which then worked together to defeat two mock enemy jets using simulated mission systems and weapons.
“The work we’re doing with the University of Iowa’s OPL is foundational for the future of air combat, where a family of crewed and uncrewed systems will work together to execute complex missions,” said John Clark, vice president and general manager, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. “We’re excited to leverage our diverse skillsets to advance all elements of this new way of operating.”
These flight tests build on previous experiments that demonstrated AI-controlled air-to-ground jamming and geolocation. This year, the tests shifted to AI in air-to-air combat, where AI sends commands directly to the planes’ autopilots. This is the third test of this type and the first to include a real-time human battle manager overseeing the AI’s actions.
Skunk Works is dedicated to enabling crewed-uncrewed teaming to optimize operational flexibility, abbreviate data-to-decision timelines and improve pilot safety. We continue to invest in collaborative enablers to keep our customers ahead of emerging threats.
21 Nov 24. DIU Selects Anduril to Enable Collaborative Autonomy for Replicator Systems. Today, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) announced that Anduril has been selected to deliver collaborative mission autonomy software that will coordinate thousands of uncrewed and autonomous assets across the Joint Force in communications and GNSS denied environments. Under DIU’s Autonomous Collaborative Teaming (ACT) contract, Anduril’s Lattice for Mission Autonomy™ software platform will enable multi-domain autonomous assets acquired through the Department’s Replicator initiative to execute collaborative autonomous tasks, unlocking new concepts of employment that enable the Joint Force to regain affordable mass with teams of low-cost autonomous systems.
The Department of Defense’s Replicator initiative has dramatically accelerated the development, production, acquisition, and fielding of affordable, attritable autonomous systems, including loitering munitions, autonomous air and surface vehicles, counter-UAS systems, and more. To employ those systems effectively, however, the Department needs a mission autonomy solution that can effectively coordinate thousands of uncrewed assets in a shared environment, including environments where navigation and communications are disrupted or denied.
Working in partnership with a variety of mission partners from both government and industry, Lattice for Mission Autonomy will support Replicator systems across domains, enabling warfighters to operate intelligent, collaborative teams of autonomous systems. Anduril will deploy Lattice for Mission Autonomy’s open architecture to enable the rapid integration of large numbers of disparate autonomous systems – including both Anduril and third-party platforms – into a common mission autonomy software baseline. Once integrated into Lattice™, an operator will be able to unify a group of systems’ sensors, control systems, payloads, and weapons, enabling the operator to then task that team to conduct a variety of collaborative missions such as area search, target tracking and interception, signal relay, simultaneous arrival, strike, and more.
Mission autonomy represents a major shift in defense capability from a manpower-intensive, hardware-defined military, to one that is software-centric and defined by affordable mass. By composing systems from across the Services into collaborative teams, Lattice will help establish the mission autonomy baseline for the entire Joint Force, dramatically extending reach, capabilities, and situational awareness. And, by providing warfighters with a mission engine that automates critical command and control functions, Lattice will provide distributed operators with a scalable battle network in line with modern Joint warfighting concepts.
From counter-UAS to air combat, Anduril has been continuously refining and scaling Lattice across real-world deployments, exercises, and test events since the company’s founding in 2017. At the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s Integrated Battle Problem 24.1 exercise, for example, Lattice’s open APIs and software development kit was used for rapid integration of more than a dozen different uncrewed systems and data feeds, enabling distributed operators to seamlessly command and control teams of heterogeneous systems across domains. At Desert Guardian 1.0, Anduril rapidly integrated more than ten different sensor teams into Lattice, merging real-time data sharing across diverse sensor systems to provide warfighters with comprehensive situational awareness of airborne threats. And at EDGE23, Lattice for Mission Autonomy enabled a single soldier to manage an integrated team of multiple uncrewed aircraft to locate, identify, and destroy a surface-to-air missile site.
Deploying Lattice for Mission Autonomy in support of DIU ACT is the latest example of how Anduril is accelerating the employment of software-defined, hardware-enabled capabilities across U.S. and allied forces. To date, Anduril has integrated Lattice with hundreds of assets across hundreds of geographically distributed locations. By fusing modern software practices with deep expertise in autonomous systems development and deployment, Anduril has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to deliver intelligent, autonomous, and software-defined capabilities on a timeline and scale that matters. (Source: ASD Network)
21 Nov 24. Embraer strengthens industrial and research cooperation in the Netherlands.
- Following the acquisition of the C-390 Millennium multi-mission transport aircraft, Embraer enhances its presence in the Netherlands through industrial and research participation by selecting Fokker Services Group, NLR and Multisim.
Embraer (NYSE: ERJ/B3: EMBR3) has taken a significant step in advancing its industrial and research cooperation with the Netherlands, fully aligned with Dutch policies aimed at developing the NLDTIB (Netherlands Defense Technology and Industrial Base). This effort builds on and expands the country’s acquisition of the C-390 Millennium Military Transport Aircraft.
Embraer has selected Fokker Services Group to deliver an extended modification package, including turnkey engineering, certification and modification services for the C-390 military aircraft. These modifications will prepare the aircraft for use as a tactical transport for Special Operations of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), enabling a wide range of military and humanitarian missions.
Additionally, Embraer has signed an agreement with the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (Royal NLR), to develop innovative technologies for aircraft maintenance. Multisim will also contribute by developing cutting edge technologies for virtual training, in collaboration with Rheinmetall, Dutch suppliers have been chosen to provide components for the C-390 Millennium full-flight mission simulator for the Netherlands.
“Our collaboration with the Dutch Armed Forces, defense industry, and research organizations is an integral part of Embraer’s vision which aims to build fruitful relationships with quality partners. Our commitment for a strong momentum in such collaboration here in the Netherlands supports our strategy of continuously investing in the most modern technologies, allowing us to deliver our customers the most efficient aircraft on the market,” said Bosco Da Costa Junior, President & CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.
“The Dutch Industrial Participation Policy supports and strengthens the Netherlands’ Defense Technology Industrial Base by fostering knowledge, technology and industrial capacity. The collaboration between the Dutch industry and Embraer under the acquisition of the C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft is fundamental for both the Dutch companies as the Brazilian OEM. I look forward to seeing further developments and projects in the coming years”, said Jan Christiaan Dicke, Commissioner Military Production at the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs.
21 Nov 24. L3Harris Selected to Develop Autonomous Swarms Prototype. L3Harris is engineering an open architecture system to advance the U.S. Department of Defense’s autonomy vision.
L3Harris was selected by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to prototype a command-and-control system that can simultaneously operate hundreds – or even thousands – of autonomous assets.
Advancing the U.S. Department of Defense’s Replicator initiative, the prototype integrates commercial technologies to deliver collaborative autonomy for the U.S. military to operate swarms of uncrewed aircraft, ground vehicles and seacraft.
“We are delivering a multi-domain and multi-mission autonomous ecosystem that can be trusted to operate in contested environments,” said Toby Magsig, vice president and general manager of Enterprise Autonomous Solutions for L3Harris. “We are focused on the scalability the U.S. military and allied nations need in a mission space that will shape the future of warfighting.”
L3Harris was selected to provide a user interface, develop a collaborative autonomy capability and serve as a systems integrator for the autonomy architecture.
The collaborative autonomy project highlights the L3Harris approach to partner with venture capital-backed startups and non-traditional technology firms to foster emerging defense and commercial technologies.
The DIU is the latest Department of Defense organization to select L3Harris’ enterprise autonomy architecture to prototype new mission scenarios. The open architecture system is currently in use for experimentation to create collaborative autonomy at scale. Because it supports rapid integration of algorithms and models from third-party systems, it can evolve quickly depending on the needs of each mission.
“We share a sense of urgency with the Defense Innovation Unit to advance autonomy as a force multiplier,” said Magsig. “As the Trusted Disruptor, L3Harris will leverage our investments and experience to deliver this open, scalable capability to our warfighters.” (Source: ASD Network)
20 Nov 24. Pentagon picks programmers to connect its Replicator drone swarms. The Pentagon has chosen seven companies to build software to connect the swarms of small, low-cost drones it’s buying through the Replicator program.
The Defense Innovation Unit on Wednesday announced awards for two key Replicator software efforts: Opportunistic, Resilient and Innovative Expeditionary Network Topology, or ORIENT, and Autonomous Collaborative Teaming, known as ACT. DIU issued solicitations in July and received proposals from 251 companies.
The organization is partnered with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the military services and the Pentagon’s Chief Digital and AI Officer on both projects.
“DIU is working actively with partners across the Department to bring the very best capabilities from the U.S. tech sector to bear in support of our most critical warfighter needs,” the organization’s director Doug Beck said in a statement. “This latest step in the Replicator initiative is a critical example of that teamwork in action.”
ACT software will help coordinate the thousands of uncrewed systems the Defense Department is buying through Replicator, which will include aircraft, boats and ground vehicles. Anduril Industries, Swarm Aero and L3Harris received prototype contracts.
ORIENT is focused on building a more robust command-and-control backbone for Replicator systems. DIU chose Aalyria, Viasat, Higher Ground and IOT/AI to develop prototypes for the effort.
The announcement comes a week after the Pentagon revealed several Replicator equipment awards, including one-way attack drones and systems it will purchase through the Army’s company-level uncrewed aerial system program and the Air Force’s Enterprise Test Vehicle effort.
Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks unveiled Replicator more than a year ago as a means to create a process for quickly fielding and scaling in-demand technology throughout the department. Led by DIU, the first phase of the program promises to field thousands of low-cost, expendable drones by August 2025 in a push to deter China. Before last week, DOD had confirmed just one system’s inclusion in the program —AeroVironment’s Switchblade 600.
While some Replicator systems may operate individually or within swarms of similar systems, the Pentagon wants them to be able to connect and collaborate across domains. According to DIU, the software it’s buying through ORIENT and ACT is what will enable that level of teaming.
“Together, these critical software enablers will enable so-called ‘heterogeneous collaboration’ between different Replicator systems fielded in the next year and lay the foundation for the Department’s broader push towards collaborative autonomy,” DIU said.
Replicator 2, the program’s second phase, is focused on technology to counter the types of drones the Pentagon is buying through Replicator’s first increment. Once again, the department aims to field “meaningfully improved” counter-UAS capabilities within two years of receiving funding from Congress.
Lawmakers have approved $500m for the first round of Replicator systems in fiscal 2024 and DOD requested another $500m in its FY25 budget. The department plans to include a funding proposal for Replicator 2 in its FY26 budget proposal. (Source: Defense News)
20 Nov 24. Advanced Navigation, a world leader in APNT technologies, along with global defence leader MBDA, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to co-develop a resilient navigation system integrating MBDA’s NILEQ absolute positioning technology.
Suitable for the modern era, the co-developed solution will provide resilient absolute positioning for a multitude of airborne platforms. The agreement will see the companies foster joint research and technology development between the United Kingdom and Australia.
Advanced Navigation CEO Chris Shaw said, “In an increasingly uncertain world where interference is becoming ubiquitous, commercial and military sectors can no longer rely purely on GNSS for flight operations. There is an urgent need for additional navigation aiding to supplement platform inertial navigation and GNSS receiver systems.”
Tom Tizard, MBDA Australia General Manager, said, “We look forward to seeing MBDA’s innovation-driven solutions form the cornerstone of future airborne navigation systems. NILEQ seeks to address the enormous demand for resilient absolute positioning information that will complement the existing navigation systems of airborne platforms. Advanced Navigation are an ideal Australian partner to help accelerate the technology towards market entry. Navigation technologies that are not simply accurate and precise, but also provide the ‘resilience’ against interference, is what propels this partnership.”
Absolute positioning using NILEQ-derived terrain fingerprints
NILEQ’s patent-pending technology is underpinned by the use of novel neuromorphic sensors to derive and match terrain fingerprints. Initially inspired by biological change detection processes, the sensing technology captures data of the changing terrain as an airborne system flies across it, and matches it to an existing database of the Earth’s surface.
The final solution is set to enable systems, such as Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS), to secure an absolute position fix over land with a solution that is passive and resistant to interference. The technology will enhance the safety of beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, as the solution overcomes many of the conventional limitations of airborne image-based navigation technologies.
Strengthening bilateral relations between the UK and Australia
Highlighting the importance of increasing bilateral opportunities, September marked the three-year anniversary for AUKUS, which was formed on 15th September 2021. The potential applications of the co-developed solution are wide-ranging and span both the civilian and military domains. The solution also further supports growing legal requirements for GPS alternatives. This is of heightened importance at a time when geopolitical conflicts and electronic warfare – the jamming and spoofing of GPS signals – are simultaneously on the rise.
Regarding the strategic context of AUKUS Pillar 2, the companies are working on capabilities to translate novel, complex research and technology into meaningful practical applications that are of mutual benefit to the United Kingdom and Australia. This means informed decision-making, strategic autonomy, and heightened combat efficiency in the face of emerging threats. More than a strategic advantage, it is the key to bolstering national security.
Real World Demonstration
Advanced Navigation and MBDA will validate NILEQ in an airborne demonstration planned in Australia.
20 Nov 24. Frontgrade Gaisler has launched its latest radiation-hardened microcontroller, the GR716B. Building on the success of the GR716A, this latest innovation is a step forward in the development of energy-efficient and adaptable microcontrollers for space applications. As missions grow in complexity and ambition, the industry sees a growing need for technologies that not only deliver dependable performance over long durations, but also have the capabilities to manage a multitude of tasks.
“We are glad to support Frontgrade Gaisler through our Core Competitiveness programme. By supporting the development of versatile space-grade microcontrollers, ESA aims to bring innovation in satellite communications in order to strengthen industrial competitiveness.”
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The GR716B is an all-in-one solution for supervision, monitoring, and control in satellite applications. Designed with versatility in mind, the new microcontroller adapts effortlessly to a wide range of space systems due to its comprehensive set of standard interfaces, architectural features, and integrated analogue functions.
Sandi Habinc, General Manager at Frontgrade Gaisler, remarked, “With the GR716B, we are excited to offer a solution that reflects the growing ambitions of the space industry. The GR716B engineering models are now being made available to alpha customers for integration into new missions.”
The GR716B combines proven technology with innovations that address the space industry’s most pressing challenges such as the need for low power consumption and efficient use of onboard resources. Frontgrade Gaisler also plans to bring the GR716B System-in-Package (SiP) solution to market, which combines the new microcontroller with non-volatile memory, thereby simplifying system design.
The development of the GR716B was made possible through support from the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Core Competitiveness programme, part of the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems programme and within ESA’s Connectivity and Secure Communications directorate, and Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA), representing a continued commitment to advancing space-grade technologies.
Domenico Mignolo, ESA Acting Head of Technology and Products Division, said, “We are glad to support Frontgrade Gaisler through our Core Competitiveness programme. By supporting the development of versatile space-grade microcontrollers, ESA aims to bring innovation in satellite communications in order to strengthen industrial competitiveness.”
For more information, visit www.gaisler.com/gr716b.
About Frontgrade Gaisler
Frontgrade Gaisler is a leading provider of radiation-hardened microprocessors and IP cores for critical applications, particularly in the space industry. The company’s processors are known for their reliability, fault tolerance, and radiation tolerance, making them ideal for any space mission or other high-reliability application.
About ESA’s ARTES Core Competitiveness programme
The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space, coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its Member States to conduct space programmes and activities. The Core Competitiveness programme line of ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) provides funding and multi-disciplinary expertise to enhance competitiveness in satellite communications. It supports specific activities carried out by SMEs, large industrial consortia and research organisations aimed at developing innovative products and services that strengthen Europe and Canada’s position as global leaders in the satcom market. Through its two components, ARTES Advanced Technology and ARTES Competitiveness and Growth, this programme enables organisations to transform promising concepts into market-ready solutions, covering the entire development cycle. Learn more at https://connectivity.esa.int/core-competitiveness.
(Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
20 Nov 24. Introducing the Industry 1st 8 &4 Port Dedicated 20Gb/s USB 3.2 HBA Family: HighPoint’s RocketU 1488C and RocketU 1444C.
HighPoint 20G USB HBA solutions represent a breakthrough for data storage and connectivity. Powered by HighPoint’s Advanced PCIe Gen3 Switch Architecture, and capable of hosting up to 8 USB devices at speeds up to 20Gb/s, RocketU 1400 series USB 3.2 HBAs are designed for industrial workflows that require a robust USB-based connectivity solution capable of accommodating a wide range of high-speed data acquisition applications, such as a 3D Imaging or motion capture platform, HD security systems, ADAS sensor suites, high-resolution VR systems, IOT devices and spectrum analyzers.
High-Performance PCIe Switching Architecture
RocketU 1400 series HBAs leverage Broadcom’s x48-Lane PLX8700 PCIe Gen3 IC and dedicated ASmedia USB controllers to ensure each USB 3.2 port provides uncompromised 20Gb/s connectivity. x4 Lanes of Gen3 bandwidth is allocated to each downstream port’s ASM3242 USB controller, while full x16 lanes are dedicated to the upstream port to the host CPU.
This innovative hardware architecture delivers guaranteed 20Gb/s host-to-device connectivity for industry standard USB 3.2 compliant drives and peripherals, and ensures these devices can continuously operate at maximum throughput without taxing system resources or interfering with neighboring USB connections. In addition, the dedicated ASmedia USB 3.2 controllers enable each port to deliver up to 7.5W of power for device operation or charging purposes.
RocketU 1488C: Eight-Port Powerhouse
The RocketU 1488C is the industry’s fastest USB PCIe add-in-card. Armed with eight independent USB 3.2 Type-C ports and proven PCIe Switching Architecture, the compact half-length PCIe HBA is capable of saturating x16 lanes of PCIe 3.0 host bandwidth, and can be installed into nearly any industry-standard workstation or server with PCIe 3.0/4.0/5.0 connectivity. Each USB port delivers a dedicated 20Gb/s of transfer bandwidth and can operate either independently or concurrently.
RocketU 1444C: Compact, Four-Port High-Performance USB Solution
For applications that require fewer device ports or a more compact form factor, without sacrificing 20G transfer capability, HighPoint’s RocketU 1144C is the ideal solution. Equipped with four USB 3.2 20G Type-C ports, RocketU 1444C shares the RocketU 1488C’s game changing PCIe Switching and dedicated per-port USB controller architecture. The HBA allocates x4 lane of PCIe Gen3 bandwidth to each connection to ensure hosted devices perform optimally with minimal latency for mission-critical applications
HighPoint 20Gb/s USB 3.2 Product Line
HighPoint’s RocketU 1488C and 1444C deliver class-leading performance and connectivity, enabling the seamless transition of data across multiple device to enhance productivity and efficiency in demanding workflows and computing environments. Armed with industry proven PCIe Switching technology and dedicated per-port USB 3.2 controllers, RocketU 1400 series HBAs provide up to eight independent USB Type-C device ports with a guaranteed 20Gb/s of bandwidth on tap.
The RocketU 1400 Series HBAs are now available worldwide direct from our E-Store and our approved Global Resale and Distribution partners.
RocketU 1444C (RU1444C) – 4x USB 20G Type-C Ports: MSRP $199.00 USD
RocketU 1488C (RU1488C) – 8x USB 20G Type-C Ports: MSRP USD $299.00
About HighPoint Technologies, Inc.
HighPoint Technologies stands at the forefront of storage innovation as the industry’s -premier manufacturer of high-performance, high-density NVMe Switch and RAID AIC & Adapter solutions for off-the-shelf x86 AMD and Intel platforms. With a rich history spanning nearly three decades, our dedication to delivering innovative, reliable, and high-performance storage solutions has consistently set us ahead in the marketplace. HighPoint’s NVMe storage solutions are powered by industry-proven PCIe Switching technology, and are designed to address the dynamic requirements of AI/ML/LLM applications, Data Centers, Edge Servers, and high-performance workstations, enabling customers to keep pace with today’s rapidly evolving technology landscape.
19 Nov 24. Thales empowering British Army with integrated technologies at Army Warfighting Experiment. Building on last year’s success, Thales demonstrated a comprehensive suite of solutions designed to provide soldiers with enhanced situational awareness, communication, and electronic warfare capabilities, optimised for operations in the urban environment.
Demonstrated Capabilities
Thales’ demonstration at AWE was centred around the integration of ground-based systems with airborne intelligence platforms. These included a Thales ISTAR Node, SquadNet compact soldier radios, an HFXL radio and Storm 2 – Thales’ ultra-compact, lightweight personal CEMA system.
AWE saw Storm 2 in the hands of soldiers for the first time, utilising the system to identify data signals as they moved through the urban environment. Networked via Thales’ SquadNet radios, upon identifying a potentially hostile network, Storm 2 targeted the ISTAR sensor onto the relevant location. The resulting intelligence was then rapidly sent back to the soldier, with imagery and wider data on the potential threat. All these processes, from initial detection to the intelligence delivery, utilised Thales’ advanced algorithms to dramatically simplify the process – removing cognitive burdens from the end-user.
Thales also demonstrated its newly released data-first HFXL radio with Allied forces. This technologically advanced wideband HF radio integrates with SquadNet radios to produce a comprehensive communication network that links frontline soldiers, commanders, and intelligence platforms, in real time, without the need for any communications infrastructure.
The prototype ISTAR Node is at the heart of this dynamic architecture. Ensuring that the electro-optical camera data from an Uncrewed Air System (UAS) overhead is available to soldiers via their SquadNet radios, and that electronic intelligence is available to the UAS crew from Storm 2 as well as relayed back to the headquarters.
The ISTAR Node also connected Allied forces, with targets acquired by a French sighting system and Storm 2 CEMA contacts used to cross-cue the UAS and resulting imagery delivered to soldiers on the ground. A subsequent attack by ground forces was monitored by the UAS, with the ISTAR Node using Thales’ HFXL radio bearer to relay the full tactical situational awareness picture (imagery and CEMA) back to the headquarters.
Thales Technologies at AWE
- Storm 2: Lightweight sensing and electronic warfare systems carried by soldiers that can detect hostile networks, protect users against RCIEDs and deploy CEMA offensively to achieve operational advantage through electronic influence.
- SquadNet: A compact, yet highly capable soldier radio, enhancing decision-making on the battlefield, and enabling the networking of disparate sensors to provide a comprehensive tactical picture.
- HFXL Radio: Thales’ revolutionary data-first radio, enabling long-range, infrastructure-free communication, allowing commanders to maintain operational control at distance.
- ISTAR Node: Thales’ prototype Digital Architecture for UAS enables processing, exploitation and dissemination of tactical data between aerial and ground-based units to accelerate the sense-decide-effect chain. It will also facilitate rapid capability insertion to get the most out of innovative technologies such as AI in the tactical battle.
John Dix, UK Sales Manager for Land Communications, explained the importance of these technologies: “The integration of these systems is a game-changer for the modern battlefield. For the first time, soldiers can get immediate, accurate intelligence from UAVs while out on operations. At the same time, commanders can make informed decisions based on real-time data, transmitted securely over HFXL radios, which is critical for operations in denied environments. Taken together, this ensures our troops will have a tactical advantage in any urban operation.”
Delivering Modernisation and Protection
By integrating tactical UAS through Thales’ ISTAR Node with ground-based systems like Storm 2, the British Army can act more decisively, leveraging real-time intelligence to blunt and dislocate enemy operations. These advancements not only bolster protection but also enable offensive actions, creating a more agile and flexible force.
The newly released HFXL radio also plays a key role in these developments. Offering secure, infrastructure-free communication over long distances, this data-first radio allows commanders to maintain operational control even in denied environments. Compared to other wideband radios on the market, Thales’ HFXL system is unique to using multiple non-contiguous channels and a cognitive engine that continually scans the HF spectrum and selects the optimum frequencies. This makes HFXL inherently more secure, more efficient, harder to jam and capable of transmitting large data packages without exposing soldiers’ positions.
Why It Matters
Thales’ integrated solutions demonstrated at AWE reflect the future of combat, where advanced algorithms, sensors, uncrewed systems, and communication technologies come together to ensure that British soldiers remain better informed, better protected, and more lethal. By providing seamless data communication and tactical intelligence from the frontline to command, Thales empowers soldiers to respond quickly and effectively to threats, ensuring the British Army maintains its operational advantage.
John Dix added, “AWE is critical for accelerating the modernisation of the British Army. By getting these technologies into the hands of soldiers early in the product-development cycle, we can harness this feedback to fine-tune our systems, and fast-track their deployment, to ensure British and allied forces stay ahead in a world of rapidly evolving threats.”
19 Nov 24. Dawn Aerospace rocket-powered aircraft successfully completes supersonic flight. Dawn Aerospace’s rocket-powered aircraft successfully completed its first supersonic flight, the company said in a statement on Tuesday, as it moves forward with developing aircraft able to launch satellites.
It said the Mk-11 Aurora craft surpassed the speed of sound for the first time on Nov. 12, reaching Mach 1.1 and climbing to an altitude of 82,500 feet (25.14 kilometres)
“This is over twice as high as commercial aircraft and marks the first time a civil aircraft has flown supersonic since Concorde,” the company said in the statement. The test flight occurred near Mt Cook in New Zealand’s South Island.
Dawn Aerospace, which is jointly headquartered in the Netherlands and New Zealand, is developing rocket-powered aircraft, which could be used to launch satellites. It has been testing its latest model over the past few months.
“This achievement highlights the immense potential of rocket-powered aircraft to achieve performance never seen before,” said Stefan Powell, chief executive of Dawn Aerospace.
The company said the MK-11 Aurora was also the fastest aircraft ever to climb from ground level to 20 km.
Aurora is designed to fly to the edge of space twice in a single day, will reach speeds of Mach 3.5 during ascent and re-entry, and is powered by pure rocket propulsion, the company said. (Source: Reuters)
19 Nov 24. Austria begins modernisation of its C2 capability with Systematic Defence. Systematic Defence is proud to announce the signing of a significant contract with the Austrian Armed Forces for the delivery of its world-leading command and control software, SitaWare Headquarters and SitaWare Frontline. This contract marks an important expansion of the SitaWare user community, with Austria becoming the latest nation to adopt the proven C4ISR solution to enhance its operational command and tactical capabilities.
Following a public tender process, the Austrian Federal Army selected SitaWare Headquarters for its advanced command-and-control (C2) capabilities, including its ability to deliver seamless interoperability and information sharing across military units and coalition partners.
In tandem, SitaWare Frontline will provide Austrian forces with a robust mounted solution, enhancing communication and situational awareness at the tactical edge.
Supporting Modernisation and Operational Efficiency
This marks a key component in the Austrian Armed Forces efforts to modernise its C2 infrastructure and ensure efficient communication from headquarters to the frontline. SitaWare Headquarters, already used by over 50 countries worldwide, is renowned for its ability to enhance collaborative planning, provide comprehensive situational awareness, and improve decision-making processes at all levels of command.
The addition of Austria to the SitaWare user family also strengthens the international network of militaries benefiting from its force-multiplying capabilities. Earlier this year NATO also procured SitaWare for its land forces, with SitaWare Headquarters becoming the Future Land C2 capability under the project DEMETER. The interoperability with NATO, especially the compliance with NATO’s Future Mission Networking (FMN) concept, was key criteria for the selection of SitaWare. In line with this growing partnership, Systematic Defence is also opening a new office in Vienna, Austria, further strengthening the company’s commitment to customers within the DACH region.
Global reach
Mr Sven Trusch, Managing Director of Systematic’s German subsidiary, emphasised the importance of this contract in expanding the reach of SitaWare across Europe:
“We are delighted to welcome the Austrian Armed Forces to the SitaWare user community. This contract demonstrates Austria’s commitment to enhancing its operational efficiency and interoperability. With Austria, all countries in the DACH region are now finally using SitaWare for command-and-control,” he said.
“We look forward to extend our cooperation with the Austrian Armed Forces in implementing SitaWare Headquarters and SitaWare Frontline, providing them with state-of-the-art C2 capabilities that will support their mission success.”
The signing of this contract reinforces Systematic’s position as a leader in defence software solutions, while underscoring the company’s dedication to supporting modernisation efforts across global military forces.
The Austrian Armed Forces adoption of SitaWare will further enable its participation in operations with NATO and other western partners, ensuring effective collaboration and secure communication across all levels of military operations.
Major General Harald Vodosek, National Armaments Director, said: “Battle Management Systems and Management Information Systems serve to improve leadership and capability, enhance leadership performance at all levels, support the command and planning process of commanders and staffs and are an important milestone in the digitalisation of the Austrian Armed Forces.”
SitaWare Headquarters and SitaWare Frontline
SitaWare Headquarters is a globally trusted C4ISR solution that delivers superior tactical communication, unparalleled interoperability, collaborative planning, and comprehensive situational awareness at fixed and joint headquarters.
SitaWare Frontline extends these capabilities to the tactical level, providing soldiers on the ground with reliable information sharing and enhanced situational awareness, even in the most challenging environments.
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Oxley Group Ltd
Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.
https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/
The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.
https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/
Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.
Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.
Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide. The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting. It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.
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