Short for Satellite Communications and used frequently in the context of VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) * Communications satellites or comsats * Satcom (satellite), one of the earliest geostationary communications satellites
Featured Article
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...
All Articles
The Inside Track
Lockheed Martin and Saft Team to Develop Batteries for JASSM Saft has collaborated with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control to design lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries for theRead More...
Direct Spray Cooling Widens Choices in Harsh Airborne Environments
There’s no doubt that demand is on the rise for ever more computing density. Military platforms such as radar and image processing, electronic warfare, signal processing, command andRead More...
Small UAV Payloads Wrestle with SWaP Challenges
All branches of the DoD are investing heavily in UAV development and procurement. Within the Small UAV segment of that market the variety of platforms and volume of systems scheduledRead More...
The Inside Track
Expand Network’s Gear Tapped for JSTARS BLOS System Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force have integrated Expand Network’s Accelerator 4820 and Accelerator 6940 into the JointRead More...
PC/104 Crowd Assimilates PCI Express into Its Camp
Military system developers’ affection for PC/104—and its wider community of form factors including PC/104-Plus, PCI-104, EPIC and EPIC Express—shows no sign of waning. This family ofRead More...
The Inside Track
Wind River Tapped for X-47B Navy-UCAS Control/Mission System Northrop Grumman Corporation has selected Wind River VxWorks 653 as the device software platform for its X-47BRead 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...
COTS Products
Managed Ethernet Switch Rides 3U CompactPCI Attracted by its ubiquity and longevity, the military is growing ever more fond of Ethernet. And switched Ethernet is becoming asRead 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...
The Inside Track
Harris Awarded Contract for Aircraft Fibre Channel Net Switches Harris was awarded an $9.8 million follow-on contract to provide 209 Fibre Channel Network Switches for the U.S.Read More...
Divide and Conquer Approach Wins for MILS
In the face of modern threats, national defense requires more lethality and survivability in new environments. Defense planners must also meet purchase and operational cost targets.Read More...
1U Rackmount Boards Serve Up a Diverse Array of Solutions
1U Blade Server computing solutions and other 1U rackmount boards are rapidly finding a niche in a variety of military applications such as SATCOM-On-the-Move systems. Now thatRead 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...
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...
COTS Products
Recorder and Signal Conditioner Team for Rugged Duties When you can integrate any technology down to a significantly smaller size and weight, sometimes that opens up a wholeRead More...
The Inside Track
FLIR Systems Delivers First MEP Sensors for Small UAVs FLIR Government Systems, a division of FLIR Systems, recently delivered the first of three Mission Equipment Package (MEP)Read 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...
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...
The Inside Track
Aonix Java VM Used on Modernized Guided Missile Cruiser USS Bunker Hill Development tools supplier Atego has announced the successful deployment of its industry-leading Aonix PERCRead More...
Transitions and New Realities Shake Up U.S. Manned Space Program
Here we are again at a crossroads of National manned space policy—the most significant since the transition from the Apollo/Saturn to the Space Shuttle. The Space Shuttle program isRead 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...
The Inside Track
VMETRO Deploys Storage System on Navy Helicopter VMETRO has shipped data recording solutions to the Radar Systems Division of Telephonics, a wholly owned subsidiary of the GriffonRead 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...
The Inside Track
Air Force Reserve Contracts SDS for F-16 Trainer Upgrade SDS International (SDS) has been awarded a multiyear contract to provide a full range of specialized operational and technicalRead More...
The Inside Track
Navy Contracts Lockheed Martin to Construct up to 10 Littoral Combat Ships The U.S. Navy has awarded a Lockheed Martin-led industry team a fixed-price-incentive-fee contract toRead More...
The Inside Track
Army Contracts General Dynamics for Battlefield Handheld Computers The U.S. Army has awarded General Dynamics C4 Systems a $2.3 million contract to provide a prototype, handheldRead More...
Integrated GaAs MMIC Doubler Meets SATCOM Needs
M/A-COM Technology Solutions has introduced the GaAs MMIC Doubler for VSAT applications. The XX1010-QT is an active doubler in a RoHS-compliant 3x3 mm 16-Lead plastic QFN package thatRead More...
