Published in Defence & Security Systems Intermational
Components used in defence applications need to be not only reliable but rugged and, increasingly, interoperable with different ground and air vehicle systems. We talk to David Jedynak, chief technology officer at Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions, about how the company helps its clients navigate what is a complex procurement process for such parts and equipment.
Cross-compatibility is an essential feature of equipment and systems designed for use on the battlefield. Without this trait, one product or another may be well suited to the fulfillment of specific functions, but in the end, may serve to undermine the broader goals of the mission at hand for want of its use in combination with other tools or software.
For that reason, open standards are the driving force in defence technology.
"In the past, if a system integrator wanted a specific function - say a new target acquisition algorithm - you would buy a box and bolt it on," says David Jedynak, chief technology officer at Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions (CWDS). "In the open standards space, you must use building blocks that are well supported by the industrial base and have standard connections. With those standards, instead of buying a box you can buy a board for that function and insert it into a vehicle with open standards topology."