Avionics

NORTHBROOK, Ill. The avionics market around the world is expected to grow from $68.5 billion in 2019 to $86.9 billion by 2024, at a CAGR of 4.86% during the forecast period, according to a study available from MarketsandMarkets, "Avionics Market by End User, System, Platform And Region - Global Forecast to 2024."

WASHINGTON. The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and the Navy's science and technology research squadron, Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS-1), recently unveiled the UV-18 “Twin Otter” as the newest addition to the squadron’s fleet of aircraft research platforms.

Open architectures will make tech refreshes such as the latest avionics modernization (Technology Refresh 3 (TR3)) on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and other platforms much more efficient and cost effective in the long run. In the latest McHale Report Podcast, Bryant Henson, vice president and general manager for Harris Corporation’s Electronic Systems Avionics Business Unit details how through the open architecture approach, the F-35's next-gen Integrated Core Processor (ICP) is targeted to generate a 75 percent reduction in unit cost compared to the current system, as well as a 25-time increase in computing power to support planned capability enhancements, greater software stability, higher reliability, and increased diagnostics that result in lower sustainment costs.

ARLINGTON, Va. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) developed the Automated Rapid Certification Of Software (ARCOS) program, which aims to create tools and a process that would allow for the automated assessment of software evidence and provide justification for a software’s level of assurance that is understandable.

LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. The Space and Missile Systems Center, in partnership with the National Reconnaissance Office, released a request for proposals (RFPs) to award two firm fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements contracts to domestic launch service providers.

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) completed a major milestone under the Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD) Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) Program, in which the surrogate laser weapon system successfully shot down multiple air launched missiles in flight.

Avionics vendors – hardware and software – share an enthusiasm for the Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE) Technical Standard, which promotes a common operating environment with reuse of software capabilities across multiple Department of Defense (DoD) avionics systems. This enthusiasm continues to grow as does participation within the FACE consortium – run by the Open Group – as the version 3.0 of the standard is soon to be released. The long -term life-cycle cost savings enabled by reuse standards such as FACE are changing the face of the DoD the procurement process for embedded computing solutions.

MELBOURNE, Fla. U.S. Navy officials selected Harris Corp. for a $212 million contract modification to supply the next production lot of electronic jammers to protect U.S. Navy and Foreign Military Sales F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet aircraft against electronic threats.