Participating as a part of a continuously-evolving, complex community of people, devices, information and services interconnected by a communications network to achieve optimal benefit of resources and better synchronization of events and their consequences. In military connotation frequently associated with terms "Net-centric Operations (NCO)" and "Net-centric Warfare (NCW)". Many people use the terms "net-centric" and "network-centric" interchangeably. Some consider "network-centric" to refer to activities within a particular network and "net-centric" to refer to activities that cross networks.
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Next-Gen Processor Technology Redefines Compute Density
The demands of today's advanced military applications require system architects to constantly push the design envelope. These demands are coming from multiple fronts. The militaryRead More...
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Rugged Ethernet Switch Boards Roundup
Dual-Channel 10GbE XMC Ready for Rough Duties The military has become sold on the idea of using Ethernet not only as a network technology but also as a fabric interconnect. TheRead More...
The Inside Track
Army Orders More COTM Systems for MRAP Vehicles DataPath is providing MobiLink Technologies communications on-the-move (COTM) systems to a deployed U.S. Army unit in support ofRead More...
Stand-Alone Rugged Boxes Come into their Own
Technology developments that reduce complexity and enhance usability are always a welcome addition to military applications. That need is being fueled by the increasing availability ofRead More...
COTS Products
Controller Adds Graphics to StackableUSB USB for years went underutilized in military embedded applications. That’s starting to change as uses from the technology presentRead More...
Serial FPDP Board Roundup
VME Card Provides 24 Serial FPDP Channels Using FPGAs in conjunction with the Serial FPDP (sFPDP) interconnect makes for a powerful combination. Such a solution has enormousRead More...
MicroTCA Gaining Ground in Military Applications
Deeply rooted in VME and CompactPCI platforms, military embedded design is undergoing a noticeable shift. Modern warfare initiatives are driving designers to find more bandwidth, whileRead More...
Rugged Laptops and Panel PCs Serve Mobile, Connected Military
Often called network-centric operations, the evolution toward a networked military means that every vehicle, every aircraft, every ship, every UAV and every soldier on the groundRead More...
Large UAVs Ramp Up Sensor Processing Capabilities
The military’s rapid move toward IP-based, network-centric architectures is driving a number of design considerations for current and next-generation embedded COTS subsystems deployedRead More...
“V” is Going and Coming
So here we go. Vacation time is over and we can once again get more than two people at the same time in a room or on a conference call. That also means that business travel willRead More...
Major Defense Programs Boost Their Appetite for Electronics
Coming in late December, the U.S. Congress approval of the 2011 Defense Authorization bill puts a budget in place for the DoD allowing the Pentagon to spend $725 billion in fiscalRead More...
Net-Centric Challenges
There are multiple reasons why I’ve become a big fan of the MILCOM conference over the past couple years. And this year’s MILCOM last month in San Diego was better than ever. The showRead More...
Stand-Alone Rugged Boxes Fine-Tune their Feature Sets
A trend has been building in the past couple of years where traditional embedded board vendors are adding stand-alone rugged box-level systems to their military market offerings. TheseRead More...
It's a People Business
More than ever these days, I’m reminded that this business–and arguably most any business–is, at heart, a people business. That may seem a leap for a person such as myself who coversRead More...
Information Overload and Ducks
If you look at the role of military embedded computing systems today, the analogy of a duck coasting along the water comes to mind. The movement of a duck across a pond looks smoothRead More...
New Solutions Attack the Defense Industry’s Most Compute-Centric Problems
There's a trend that should be obvious, but is often overlooked at higher echelons of the defense industry: More and more of system functionality is now implemented as software runningRead More...
Computing, Power and Networks Take Priority in Mil Vehicle Modernization
For several years now, any discussion about the future of military vehicles revolved around the Army’s massive Future Combat Systems program. All that officially changed late lastRead More...
System, Board and Panel Innovations Fuel Rugged Display Demands
Leveraging cutting-edge graphics chips developed for the demanding gaming market, military graphics subsystems are now able to offer complex video and graphics functionality in highlyRead More...
The Inside Track
Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Demo SEWIP Electronic Attack Capability Navy Lockheed Martin and Raytheon demonstrated a potential electronic attack solution for the U.S. Navy’s SurfaceRead More...
MicroTCA and AMC Team for Military Duties
For the first time since the introduction of VME 25 years ago, an embedded computing architecture is emerging that is capable of serving a broad cross section of market segments:Read More...
Growing Complexity Drives Need for Emerging DO-178C Standard
The size and complexity of avionics software is projected to grow geometrically. Boeing and Airbus measure the current rate of software growth as 400 percent every two years (FigureRead More...
Multicore Solutions Target a Variety of Emerging Military Needs
Embedded developers in many arenas are constantly facing competitive pressure to provide more application features and improve performance capabilities. As a result, it’s becomeRead More...
DO-178B Provides Certification Safety Net
Safety-critical avionics software has been evolving for decades, providing increased functionality while becoming more complex. In response, regulatory authorities and commercialRead More...
End-to-End UAV Messaging over Unreliable Data Links
In the complex software environments of both aircraft and ground station, many applications must communicate. Historically, developers built these as complex independent systems,Read More...
Slot-Card Systems Vie with Rugged Box Solutions
There’s no doubt that there has been a change occurring in the military embedded computing industry over the past five years or so. At the heart of that change is the risingRead More...
The Inside Track
Raytheon Completes Design Review for CVN 78's Dual Band Radar Raytheon and the U.S. Navy recently completed a critical design review (CDR) for the Dual Band Radar (DBR), which will beRead More...
1U Rackmount Servers Feed High-Density Computing Needs
Government organizations deploy a vast array of servers for mission-critical applications in a wide variety of networks—including enterprise computing, field operations, command andRead More...
Small UAVs Step up to Advanced Comms Capabilities
The brisk investment in UAV development and procurement continues across all branches of the DoD. And that situation isn't expected to change under the current Administration. InRead More...
AMCs Expand MicroTCA's Military Potential
Modern warfare systems must expertly blend issues of ruggedness, flexibility, mobility and high-end processing with the need for standards-based solutions that can be developed andRead More...
Cluster Computing Suits Up for Aircraft Duty
Surveillance aircraft may represents just a small slice of the overall military defense market, but they exemplify many of the challenges facing the rackmount system designer.Read More...
FPGA-based Ethernet Module Sportsa High-Capacity Switch-IP
FPGA-Based Ethernet Module Sports a High-Capacity Switch-IP An industrial Ethernet module (IEM) implements a cost-efficient and flexible solution to adapt to various IndustrialRead More...
ATCA and 10 GbE Primed for Military Service
A significant change in the military equipment market is a shift in focus for equipment development. Electronic warfare driven by C4ISR is gaining favor over big-ticket weaponsRead More...
FPDP Boards Maintain Niche in High-Bandwidth Apps
Many kinds of high-performance embedded computing systems in the military market have an appetite for high-speed data from sensors. Often such input is presented as one or moreRead More...
Networking and Comms Evolve into Game-Changing Military Resources
Continuing an accelerating DoD-wide effort over the past decade, the next generation of technology development for military networking and communications is headed toward a goal ofRead More...
Ethernet Switches Connect With Military Needs
The success of net-centric warfare is dependent on fast, secure communications technology—specifically Ethernet. To meet the military’s demands for Ethernet-enabled vehicles, there isRead More...
Scope Series Expands to Include 4 Channel and 40 MHz Models
Scope Series Expands to Include 4 Channel and 40 MHz Models Military systems continue to demand faster protocols and signaling bandwidths. That keeps the pressure on testRead More...
Clock Network Manager Supports LVDS and CMOS I/O
Clock Network Manager Supports LVDS and CMOS I/O The importance of networking in today’s military systems has brought with it a demand for reliable clock solutions. AeroflexRead More...
Inside Track
Parvus Supplies Payload Interface Computers for MQ-5B Hunter UAV Parvus' DuraCOR 810 mission computers have been integrated into Northrop Grumman's MQ-5B Hunter Unmanned AircraftRead More...
The Inside Track
General Atomics Selects PT’s Processing Gear for Navy’s Carrier AAG Program General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (EMS) Division has selected PT, the recently rebranded PerformanceRead More...
The Inside Track
Northrop Grumman Demos Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) Aboard F-16 Northrop Grumman in conjunction with the U.S. Air Force has successfully completed a series of demonstrationRead More...
Ethernet Switch Boards Roundup
Rugged 10 Gbit Ethernet XMC Sports Dual Front-Panel Interfaces The military has completely embraced Ethernet both as a network technology and as a fabric interconnect scheme.Read More...
ATCA Evolves its Niche in Mil/Aero Systems
In the past decade, open-standards solutions such as ATCA have moved from hypothetical to accepted options for mil/aero market segments. Making impressive inroads, modular technologiesRead More...
The Inside Track
Northrop Grumman to Upgrade Integrated Bridge Systems for Nimitz-Class Carriers Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a contract to provide Scalable Integrated Bridge SystemsRead More...
COTS Journal’s OpenVPX Solutions Center
Rugged 6U VPX SBC Has Integrated Onboard I/O Resources Aitech Defense Systems has introduced a rugged 6U VPX SBC that offers the selection between PCI Express and Serial RapidIO.Read More...
Fresh Start and Net-Centric View Drive Vehicle Modernization
It’s taken some time, but the defense industry seems to be over the shock of life beyond the Army’s Future Combat Systems program. For over a decade FCS was an inherent part of anyRead More...
Mission-Critical Apps Blend Benefits of ATCA and Service Availability
The increasing use of computer systems in the military and aerospace world and the escalating complexity of applications are placing new demands for continuous operation onRead More...
Deployable xTCA Platforms Fuel Net-Centric Application
Broad new military initiatives such as the U.S. Navy’s (CANES) Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Servers, Brigade Combat Team Modernization, (JTRS) Joint Tactical RadioRead More...
PCIe-over-Cable Products Offer Cost-Effective Solutions
PCI Express is the only bus that can effectively extend over cable without requiring software conversion and thus incurring increased overhead and latency. That means what happensRead More...
cPCI Gbit Ethernet Switch Supports Failsafe Operation
Ethernet, both as a networking technology and as a high-speed interconnect fabric, has won its way into the mindshare of military system developers. GE Intelligent Platforms hasRead More...
Five Game-Changer Technology Trends Facing the Military
Compute-density has become the mantra for many of today's advanced military programs. More and more of system functionality is now implemented as software running on single boardRead More...
Graphics and Video Advances Feed Situational Awareness Needs
Leveraging cutting-edge graphics chips developed for the demanding gaming market, military graphics subsystems are now able to offer complex video and graphics functionality in highlyRead More...
UAV Payloads Focus on Autonomy, ISR and Comms
As the use, design and planning of military UAVs matures, the DoD has adopted a strategy of closely pairing its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) programs with itsRead More...
Pre-integrated Subsystems Curb Costs, Speed Deployment
To meet burgeoning demand, developers of off-the-shelf rugged computing platforms are including a variety of features and services to enhance usability, reduce complexity and increaseRead More...
New DoD Goals Boost Preconfigured Subsystem Opportunities
Recent changes in the U.S. military’s mission strategy—following the change of administrations, and reflected in the DoD’s new budget—are shifting the military procurement landscape.Read More...
DSP Architectures Close the ISR Collection-Analysis Gap
Today’s climate of rapidly evolving asymmetric threats is forcing the U.S. military to quickly adapt in order to maintain tactical situational awareness. However, the traditionalRead More...
The Inside Track
Rochester Electronics Ramps Up Anti-Counterfeiting Efforts Rochester Electronics is stepping up its efforts to lead the semiconductor industry in the fight against counterfeit andRead More...
OpenVPX: Cards Dealt, Ready to Play
Hailed as the next-generation fabric-based slot card standard, VPX has had a few rocky years getting started. But over the last year and a half, the goal of bringing together advancedRead More...
Rugged Subsystems Fuel Net-Centric Warfare Needs
Network-Centric Warfare (NCW) has become the U.S. Military’s central concept for battlefield operations for the 21st century. The success of net-centric operations depends on theRead More...
Secure Network Communications Pushes Compute Limits
New and evolving technology initiatives such as Brigade Combat Team Modernization, JTRS (Joint Tactical Radio System) and WIN-T (Warfighter Information Network-Tactical) rely heavilyRead More...
The Inside Track
General Dynamics C4 Systems Taps GE Network Gear for BCT Modernization GE Intelligent Platforms has received the first in a series of orders that are expected to total approximatelyRead More...
COM Express vs. PC/104 for Small UAV Systems
With the growing scope of today’s military, UAVs are performing a wider range of functions. Whether designed for reconnaissance, research, armed attacks or search and rescue, theseRead More...
Distributed Sensors and Sensor Networks Are Self-powered
A new thermoelectric power generator converts waste heat into electrical energy for a variety of self-powered applications in the wireless sensor, automotive, aerospace, industrial andRead More...
Processing Solutions Ease Full Motion Video Challenges
In recent years demand for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities has driven a huge ramp up in data collection capacity. While that shows no signs of slowing,Read More...
Deep Packet Inspection FPGA Net Accelerator Rides PCI Express
The PCIe-180 FPGA network accelerator card from Nallatech is capable of real-time deep packet inspection and processing of 10 Gbit Ethernet traffic. The card can dynamically switchRead More...
Ethernet Becomes Entrenched as Military System Interconnect
Ethernet is becoming entrenched as a favorite interconnect fabric in compute-intensive applications like sonar, radar or any application that networks sensor arrays together. SystemRead More...
Ethernet Emerges as Mature Choice among High Speed Interconnects
Ethernet could arguably be called the military’s favorite interconnect fabric in compute-intensive applications like sonar, radar or any application that networks sensor arraysRead More...
The Inside Track
Curtiss-Wright Awarded Contract for Upgraded Radar Signal Processing Curtiss-Wright has been awarded a $10.5 million contract by Northrop Grumman to provide an upgraded Radar SignalRead More...
GPU-based Processing Solves Persistent Surveillance Challenges
Persistent surveillance requires highly compute-intensive imaging capabilities because the aerial vehicle must remain (on demand) in an area to detect, locate, characterize,Read More...
Data Distribution Service and MILS: A Powerful Combination
There are some unique benefits to using Data Distribution Service (DDS) publish-subscribe middleware within the Multiple Independent Levels of Security (MILS) architecture. Both MILSRead More...
Tactical Radio Amplifier System Gets Additional JITC Certification
AR Modular RF has received JITC certification for its KMW2030 tactical radio amplifier system (30 MHz - 512 MHz / 125 watts) when used with the Harris PRC-117G tactical radio. It hasRead More...
The Industry Needs List
It’s a nagging issue that both I and my publisher Pete Yeatman have discussed often in our respective columns: the fact that our industry of technology suppliers and the upper tierRead More...
