ASHBURN, Va. – Curtiss-Wright Corporation today announced that its Defense Solutions division’s rugged commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) open architecture-based processing and network switch modules contributed to the recent Project Missouri series of test flights at Nellis AFB, Nev. These flights were performed by a Lockheed Martin-led industry team, with support from key government agencies, to successfully demonstrate how a true open systems architecture can enable improved interoperability between next generation and legacy fighter aircraft. The demonstration, which was based on the U.S. Air Force’s Open Mission Systems (OMS) standard, successfully implemented and tested two data links between an F-22 and the F-35 Cooperative Avionics Test Bed (CAT-B).
Project Missouri realizes the promise of the DoD’s Open Systems Architecture (OSA) initiative, and uses the Unmanned Aerial Systems Command and Control Standard Initiative (UCI) and Open Mission Systems standard as key building blocks for modernization of existing assets. The use of OSA enabled this advanced data link capability to be integrated into existing systems in less than a year, with minimal or no changes to those systems. This effort proves how the use of OSA can enable new capabilities to be added to existing aircraft quickly and affordably with COTS components and government owned standards. The result is more efficient modernization of aircraft and faster delivery of advanced mission system capabilities to the warfighter.
“Curtiss-Wright is very proud to have been selected to participate on the Project Missouri team, helping to demonstrate how, in this period of declining defense budgets, the use of COTS hardware enables our military services to more quickly and cost effectively deliver new capabilities to the warfighter,” said Lynn Bamford, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Defense Solutions division. “We congratulate Lockheed Martin and our other team members on the recent successful test flights. Further, the use of COTS components, in combination with open standards such as OSA under the OMS initiative, proves the benefits of the COTS and open architecture approach.”
Curtiss-Wright technology used in the Project Missouri demonstration included the Company’s off-the-shelf OpenVPX™ standard-based VPX6-187 Power® Architecture single board computer (SBC), VPX6-1957 Intel® Core™i7 SBC, and VPX6-684 Gigabit Ethernet Switch/Router modules. OpenVPX is the industry-driven open standard architecture for computing and networking equipment, enabling commonality and competition in the rugged defense market, with non-proprietary interfaces allowing plug-in module interoperability across vendors and generations of products.
“As a supplier of two COTS modules used on the F-22’s radar system since 1999, we have also shown our ability to support the long life of military programs. Our recent participation is yet another example of how cost-effective rugged COTS technology can quickly add modern capabilities to existing aircraft,” added Ms. Bamford.
About Project Missouri
The open systems architecture implementation on Project Missouri leveraged UCI related software and development tools from the Air Force’s Common Mission Control Center effort. Use of this architecture allowed the team to complete the hardware and software development in less than seven months, with integration and test taking less than 30 days. This included acquiring safety of flight and airworthiness approval for flight tests. By employing a true open system architecture, the team achieved up to a 60 percent reduction in the development, integration and test timelines, and comparable reductions in cost.
The project was led by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works® and supported by the U.S. Air Force’s (USAF) Air Combat Command, F-35 Joint Program Office, F-22 Program Office, Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the USAF 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron along with industry partners L-3 Communications, Harris, Rockwell Collins, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training, Curtiss-Wright, Comtech PST, K&L Microwave and Wind River.
For more information about Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions division, please visit www.curtisswrightds.com.
About Curtiss-Wright Corporation
Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE:CW) is a global innovative company that delivers highly engineered, critical function products and services to the commercial, industrial, defense and energy markets. Building on the heritage of Glenn Curtiss and the Wright brothers, Curtiss-Wright has a long tradition of providing reliable solutions through trusted customer relationships. The company employs approximately 10,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.curtisswright.com.