Vetronics systems today are increasingly focused on C4ISR [command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance], interoperability with other battlefield elements, and the capability to be optionally unmanned if necessary.

The advent of unmanned systems reflects a huge aspect of warfare – that of protecting the warfighter – through the development of platforms that can be operated by humans from a distance, keeping them out of harm’s way.

As the U.S. Navy increases its investment in its fleet of unmanned undersea vehicles (UUV), suppliers of rugged commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) subsystems, providing solutions for mission computers, network switches, and routers, and data storage are meeting the needs of these unique platforms.

Military experts are developing new enabling technologies to help unmanned aircraft, ground vehicles, submarines, and surface vessels swarm and make decisions without human intervention.

Additive manufacturing, also called 3D printing, is having an influence on military logistics, and helps supply personnel get replacement parts where and when they’re needed — even on the front lines.

Featured products will include ultra-small form factor mission computers and network switches, rugged high capacity storage solutions - such as the Data Transport System, and size, weight, and power (SWaP)-optimized embedded avionics systems - such as the ultra-lightweight Fortress Crash Protected Recorder.

merging mission requirements from global defense forces are driving new programs and applications for Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) platforms.

There is significant commonality between unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and UUV environments with standard rugged military commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) embedded solutions often applicable to both.