Sponsored By Oxley Developments
www.oxleygroup.com
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04 Jun 24. TE Connectivity (TE), a world leader in connectivity and sensors, has introduced a new five-bay connector shell configuration for its MiniMRP (Mini Modular Rack Principle) Avionics and Electronics Packaging product family. The modular avionics architecture, based on ARINC 836A standards, enables an estimation of up to 40% space savings and up to 60% weight reduction compared to traditional avionics systems, providing increased computing power in smaller, lighter packages.
TE’s new five-bay connector shell offers an additional port and module compared to the four-bay solution, allowing increased input/output connectivity within the compact MiniMRP enclosures. The shell uses DMC-M connectors, the preferred interconnect solution for MiniMRP modules. The additional port enables increased I/O connectivity to further optimize size, weight and power reduction in next-generation aircraft.
“The unique latching mechanism for our MiniMRP avionics packaging demonstrates TE’s continued commitment to innovation,” said Kevin Goodwin, product manager at TE. “The latching mechanism is managed with one hand and doesn’t require any special tools, which allows quick insertion, release of the enclosure and ease of use within confined spaces.”
The MiniMRP enclosures and modules are designed to EN4165 and ARINC 836A standards for maximum compatibility. The miniaturized packaging is optimized to help meet stringent size, weight and power (SWaP) requirements. Furthermore, the MiniMRP concept helps enable the distribution of avionics and electronics throughout an aircraft, bringing intelligence closer to the point of need while decreasing the overall space claim of traditional centralized avionics.
TE’s MiniMRP solutions use commercial off-the-shelf components to reduce costs in developing distributed systems. The enclosures come in a range of sizes with ruggedized and lightweight options to suit the requirements of commercial aerospace and eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles), military aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial systems and ground vehicle applications.
05 Jun 24. Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® (NYSE: LMT) partnered with the University of Iowa’s Operator Performance Laboratory (OPL) to demonstrate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in air-to-air intercept scenarios.
The successful flights are a significant milestone for Skunk Works’ Tactical AI team, in which AI directly flew and conducted tactical exercises with a full-scale, live aircraft – one of OPL’s L-29 Delfin jets – using heading, speed and altitude commands. The team executed simulated-to-real transfer test objectives against a virtual adversary in offensive and defensive risk postures.
Eight test cases were conducted per flight to exercise the AI agent in a variety of situations, from standard head-to-head fights to off-aspect encounters, missile support and missile defeat scenarios. The team was encouraged to see clean sim-to-real transfer of learned behaviors and that the AI agent appeared intentional and decisive in its actions.
“This was the first live exercise of the new flight interface; it’s thrilling to see the separate components successfully integrate on the L-29 to demonstrate new capabilities. The complete system performed even better in live flight than in simulation,” said Dr. Tom “Mach” Schnell, OPL professor at Iowa Technology Institute.
“Live flight tests are a crucial aspect of advancing our expertise in AI and autonomy. These flights are powerful demonstrations of our ability to quickly and affordably develop and test operationally relevant AI capabilities,” said Matthew “Gabe” Beard, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works autonomy/AI and machine learning engineering manager.
These flight tests are part of a broader initiative to rapidly develop and test AI-driven autonomy for air-to-air missions. Several other flight tests are planned for this year, building on these achievements, and increasing the complexity by introducing additional aircraft into offensive counter air and battle management scenarios. Lockheed Martin is continuously elevating AI mission performance in operationally representative simulated environments, using open mission systems standards to ensure broad compatibility and rapid transition with future platforms.
Lockheed Martin provides AI and machine learning solutions that augment human performance by processing, fusing, and analyzing tremendous volumes of data to give our customers actionable intelligence and a strategic advantage. Lockheed Martin is aligned and closely adheres to the U.S. Department of Defense’s guidance on the ethical and safe use of autonomous systems. Humans are and will remain on-the-loop, providing final decision-making authority in Lockheed Martin AI and machine learning systems.
05 Jun 24. Indra has become one of the few companies in the world ready to bring the latest NATO standards on protecting military vessels international market, which require the incorporation of reinforced encryption modes in friend or foe identification systems (IFF).
The company has teamed up with Navantia to implement them in a first ship destined for the export market and is moving forward with their installation in the entire Spanish Navy fleet of vessels.
The IFF is an element that, together with Indra’s electronic defence systems, radars and communications systems, form the basis on which the combat systems of the military vessels are supported, and therefore play a key role in the success of the mission.
Specifically, the role of the IFF is to interrogate platforms in the area of operations, which send back an encrypted response to check whether it is an ally or a potential enemy.
This is achieved using an encryption system that is constantly evolving to adapt to new threats, which are becoming increasingly complex, and to prevent the adversary from manipulating the signal.
In this regard, the latest update introduced by NATO in the IFFs has been what is known as STANAG standard edition 3 for mode 5, which is itself the most advanced interrogation mode available.
Incorporating these improvements is mandatory for allied countries and for many other navies accustomed to operating jointly with NATO countries. This is in fact a requirement without which it is not possible to participate in international missions. Indra is one of the few companies outside the U.S. that has this technology and is already implementing it on vessels of several countries.
The company is moving towards its certification by the AIMS office of the U.S. Department of Defence, the body responsible for checking that these systems meet the required specifications.
Indra’s IFF system incorporates other important design improvements, which have been designed to allow its customers to adapt to future evolutions of the standards by simply reconfiguring the software, which will significantly reduce costs and increase the operability of their fleets. This system is also much more robust, which facilitates maintenance and increases fleet availability. (Source: Defense Arabia)
04 Jun 24. Safran Federal Systems, a leader in advanced NAVWAR and simulation solutions, is excited to announce the launch of its latest innovation at the Joint Navigation Conference (JNC). Attendees are invited to visit Safran at booth A to witness the debut of the world’s first dual-frequency GNSS simulator designed specifically for testing military receivers in an unclassified environment.
Lisa Perdue, Product Line Director at Safran Federal Systems, highlights the significance of this launch:
“As we introduce the BroadSim Duo at the Joint Navigation Conference, we are not merely launching a new product; we are revolutionizing the accessibility of dual-frequency military signal simulation. The BroadSim Duo, built upon the foundation of our successful BroadSim Solo, offers this advanced capability in a compact and cost-effective format that has not been available until now. This strategic innovation not only caters to the immediate needs of our military clients but also sets a new standard for the market, leading the way as the industry shifts towards more software-defined solutions. We are committed to democratizing access to state-of-the-art GNSS simulation, ensuring that advanced tools are within reach of a broader audience.”
Introducing BroadSim Duo
This cutting-edge product integrates dual-frequency capabilities within a single compact unit, a groundbreaking achievement in the field of GPS Military signal testing. Key features include:
- Dual-Frequency Capability: Essential for testing P-Code and AES-M-code, providing comprehensive support for GPS Military signals.
- Compact and Affordable: This desktop device is available at an unprecedented price point, making it accessible for a wide range of applications.
- Advanced Technology: Enabled by a new software-defined radio in an M.2 form factor, ensuring robust and reliable performance.
- Skydel Simulation Environment Integration: Seamlessly integrates with the Skydel simulation environment, enhancing its versatility and functionality.
03 Jun 24. BAE Systems unveils NavStorm™-M at Joint Navigation Conference. At the Joint Navigation Conference in Cincinnati, BAE Systems unveiled NavStorm™-M, a gun-hardened integrated anti-jamming and global positioning system (GPS) receiver for artillery, bombs, missiles, and unmanned systems. The newly enhanced GPS receiver is the latest addition to BAE Systems’ extensive portfolio of products that provide advanced and secure GPS solutions for airborne, ground, and weapons systems.
NavStorm-M features a layered protection approach using beamforming, anti-spoofing, resiliency, and software assurance. It is a next-generation Assured-Positioning, Navigation and Timing (A-PNT) device featuring M-Code GPS technology that supports warfighters through successful mission completion.
The capability is designed to meet the tight size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) requirements of unmanned aircraft systems, loitering munitions, hypersonic platforms, and other weapons – especially in gun-hardened applications. NavStorm-M delivers precise GPS navigation as a stand-alone system or when integrated with an inertial navigation system.
“With the introduction of the compact and highly jam- and spoof-resistant NavStorm-M, our team now provides advanced, cost-effective solutions for everyone in the M-Code space,” said Doug Lloyd, Director of Weapon Systems for GPS at BAE Systems. “Our broad portfolio allows us to solve our customers’ problems in a way that is scaled to specific SWaP-C and performance requirements.”
BAE Systems has delivered Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module products to more than 45 countries and has begun delivering M-Code GPS receivers in multiple form factors and levels of capability to the U.S. armed forces and its allies via the Foreign Military Sales program.
Production of NavStorm-M will take place at BAE Systems’ 278,000-square-foot engineering and manufacturing center of excellence in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
03 Jun 24. Safran Federal Systems, a leading provider of M-Code and advanced navigation solutions, announced the launch of two groundbreaking products at the Institute of Navigation’s 2024 Joint Navigation Conference (JNC). These new offerings represent a major enhancement of Safran’s inertial navigation portfolio, utilizing state-of-the-art MEMS and HRG core technologies.
Safran is thrilled to unveil a complete line of tactical-grade inertial measurement units (IMUs). These units are engineered to address the evolving needs of unmanned applications and space-based operations. The advanced IMUs include:
- Iconyx: A high-performance HRG-based IMU that significantly outperforms legacy technologies, offering superior accuracy and reliability for demanding navigation needs.
- STIM (Small Tactical IMU): Optimized for applications requiring lower Size, Weight, and Power (SWAP), providing high performance in a compact form factor.
“With the launch of these tactical grade IMUs, we’re addressing the critical needs of our customers in the unmanned and space sectors,” said Anthony Full, Director of Business Development, Navigation Systems at Safran Federal Systems. “The STIM and Iconyx products represent a leap forward in inertial navigation technology.”
Safran is also upgrading its Geonyx™ Inertial Navigation System (INS), which is based on HRG technology, to incorporate M-Code capability. This enhancement offers a fully integrated solution to tackle the challenges of GPS-denied or spoofing environments, ensuring robust and reliable navigation even in the most demanding conditions.
“Adding M-Code to our HRG-based Geonyx™ INS significantly enhances its capabilities, making it a premier solution for environments where GPS signals are unreliable or compromised. This development underscores our commitment to providing advanced navigation solutions that meet the highest standards of performance and security,” added Full.
The launch of these innovative products highlights Safran Federal Systems’ commitment to advancing the field of inertial navigation. Attendees of the Joint Navigation Conference are invited to visit Safran Federal Systems at Booth A to learn more about these exciting new offerings and witness firsthand how they are setting new standards in navigation technology.
Safran Federal Systems provides Assured PNT solutions and custom engineering services to U.S. Government agencies, defense organizations and their contractors. Safran Federal Systems is authorized to work on the full spectrum of U.S. Government classified and unclassified projects, in addition to supporting strategic partnerships for key defense PNT technologies.
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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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