Mercury Unveils the Industry’s First Signal Processing Board To Feature Intel’s Latest Direct RF Technology

Mercury Systems, Inc. introduced a new COTS open-architecture board that delivers the latest commercial signal processing technology for aerospace and defense applications, driving higher performance from a smaller form factor. The DRF3182 Direct RF Processing Module is the first standard product purpose-built for the aerospace and defense industry that leverages Intel’s new Stratix® 10 AX SoC field programmable gate array (FPGA), which adds a critical capability to the Mercury Processing Platform by enabling the direct digitization and processing of broadband RF signals.

Unlike traditional systems that use costly analog frequency conversion hardware, direct RF technology allows the direct processing of broadband signals. Designed for radar and electronic warfare (EW), this technology can enhance a wide range of applications, including software-defined radio and communications. This streamlined architecture reduces the total system size and cost while increasing flexibility.

Why it Matters

Today’s rapidly evolving threat environment requires deploying advanced processing capabilities to the tactical edge. Through deep collaboration with Intel, Mercury has set a new standard for performance that will ensure modern EW and radar systems can provide a decisive advantage to US and allied forces and make the world safer and more secure.

“To maintain technological superiority in today’s complex geopolitical landscape, next-generation radar, and EW systems must leverage the latest commercially developed signal processing semiconductor devices,” said Kevin Beals, Vice President and General Manager of Mercury’s Signal business. “The DRF3182 Direct RF Processing Module utilizes Intel’s latest direct RF technology to significantly increase the processing density of modern radar and EW systems.”