Mil-Tech

New General Dynamics Smart Displays Bring Big Leaps in Processing and Smaller Footprint to Combat Vehicles

General Dynamics Canada introduces the new ultra-rugged SD8000 family of smart display products with the quad-core 3rd generation Intel® Core(TM) processor, bringing latest in commercial computing to military vehicles. These new smart displays meet the computing-intense requirements of the battlefield while conserving size, weight and power inside military vehicles.

“Quad-core processing effectively doubles the computing capabilities of previous dual-core smart displays,” said David Ibbetson, general manager, General Dynamics Canada. “Increased demand for warfighters to have rapid and direct access to information and sophisticated battle management applications requires highly integrated battlefield computing solutions. Now, with our next generation Smart Displays, we are bringing this capability to our customers the same day it is available to commercial industry.”

“The growing use of sensors and high definition video, along with heavy processing requirements for critical battlefield management and on-site embedded training / mission rehearsal applications, amplifies demands on vehicle computing systems,” explains Matt Langman, director of marketing, Intelligent Systems Group at Intel. “By harnessing the increased energy efficiency and enhanced 3D graphics and video capability native to the 3rd generation Intel® Core(TM) processor family, General Dynamics can provide critical computing capabilities while maintaining processing speed.”

The next generation displays are naturally convection-cooled to meet rigorous military standards. Additional key features include touch screen, multiple video and audio input channels, streaming and snapshot video capture, multiple vehicle-bus interfaces, wireless communications, VoIP capabilities, embedded Ground-Based GPS Receiver Application Module (GB-GRAM), multiple I/O ports and a solid state hard drive. General Dynamics has also integrated Intel® Virtualization Technology to enable the use of Multiple Independent Levels of Security/Safety (MILS), a high assurance security architecture for controlled information. Developed for ground combat vehicles in harsh military environments, these enhanced product features provide a flexible platform that adapts to the changing dynamics of missions while supporting interoperability and future technology enhancements.

General Dynamics’ rugged Smart Displays are onboard a variety U.S. Army ground combat vehicle platforms including the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP), Stryker and Bradley vehicles. With a significant savings in weight, space and power over conventional architectures, General Dynamics’ smart displays provide increased affordability and easy integration into vehicle C4I sub-systems.

General Dynamics Canada is part of General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics /quotes/zigman/227407/quotes/nls/gd GD -3.17% . Additional information is available at www.gdcanada.com .

Information about General Dynamics is available online at www.generaldynamics.com .

Army unveils $60M research, development complex in Warren

Government and U.S. Army officials on Wednesday unveiled a new $60 million complex in Warren for the research and development of military vehicles powered by alternative energy systems. The Army will also use the 30,000 square-foot facility, the Ground Systems Power and Energy Laboratory, to test the performance of vehicles and their components during extreme temperatures.

Source: www.detroitnews.com

Northrop Grumman’s New Laser Defense System Achieves Key Technology Readiness Standard

Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE:NOC) Laser Systems business unit announced that its All Semiconductor Airborne Laser Threat Terminator (ASALTT™) infrared countermeasure (IRCM) laser system has advanced to Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL-6), a government measurement system that includes nine levels.

TRL-6 represents a successful system/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment. Following numerous environmental and field tests held at its Apopka facility and various sites throughout the country, the ASALTT™ system successfully passed a series of thermal, shock, vibration and other field tests equivalent to 2,500 hours of field use conducted in accordance with military standard 810G. In addition, the ASALTT™ met all performance specifications for multiple IRCM platforms including the UH-60, C-17 and C-130 aircraft.

The ASALTT™ is an advanced technology quantum cascade laser-based mid-infrared laser designed and developed to protect a wide variety of aircraft including fixed-wing and rotor aircraft, whether based on land or at sea.

The system was designed using “MOSA Inside™,” a modular open systems approach (MOSA) to interior hardware and software that allows great flexibility for upgrades. The MOSA Inside™ architecture provides for a single laser output, using the best technologies available from laser diodes, interband cavity lasers, quantum cascade lasers, fiber and more traditional laser sources from the ultraviolet through long-wave infrared bands.

“With field-proven capability, and the TRL-6 maturity, ASALTT™ is ready for integration into the next generation of aircraft-deployed counter-MANPADS systems,” said Gordon Stewart, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman Laser Systems. “We are confident that ASALTT™ is ready to support flight testing and will greatly enhance IRCM system effectiveness, performance and protection of the warfighter.”

Northrop Grumman Laser Systems has delivered more than 25,000 Electro-Optic (EO) laser systems units and is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of military EO targeting systems. These include ground-based (man-portable, handheld and vehicle-mounted) EO imaging/ranging systems for target location, laser designators/markers for precise guidance of smart munitions, and airborne laser rangefinders and designators fielded onboard many of the world’s most sophisticated manned and unmanned aircraft.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.