Pre-integrated embedded mission management avionics introduced by Curtiss-Wright

ASHBURN, Va. – The Curtiss-Wright Corp. Defense Solutions Division in Ashburn, Va., is introducing a family of pre-integrated rugged embedded computing mission management systems.

By using integrated and tested commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) modules, these systems provide pre-configured parts to give a head start to reduce the integrator’s development cycle and costs.

Using one of Curtiss-Wright’s pre-integrated hardware solution sets as their starting point, a system integrator can customize the base system by with application-specific software and expand it with additional components.

The first member of this family is for software-defined radio (SDR) and electronic warfare (EW) applications. Next will be application-specific pre-integrated base systems for radar, electro-optical systems, and video and display.

Curtiss-Wright’s SDR/EW base system combines gigahertz sampling data rates and FPGA-based processing. The 3U OpenVPX mission processing architecture features four Curtiss-Wright VPX3-530 A/D and D/A Transceiver modules, an XCLK1 clock synchronizer, and a 28-volt PSU3-THOR power supply.

It also provides a choice of VPX3-1257, VPX3-1258 or VPX3-1259 Intel-based single board computer.

The SDR/EW base system supports high-capacity removable storage via a rugged removable memory cartridge that supports as much as two terabytes of SSD SATA-based memory.

The system delivers 16 analog input channels and eight output channels for interfacing to the customer supplied tuner.

Related: Rugged embedded computing chassis for data recording in space introduced by Curtiss-Wright

The SDR/EW system weighs 20 pounds and come in a field-MPMC-9354 rugged mission computer chassis with embedded thermal management that cools as much 485 Watts of power at 71 degrees Celsius at sea level via forced convection cooling.

The system is qualified to MIL-STD-704F, MIL-STD-810, and MIL-STD-461 standards. Curtiss-Wright’s mid-size SDR/EW base system enables customers to select their preferred RF tuner and software applications (i.e. GNU Radio, Red Hawk or SCA).