FARNBOROUGH, UK, July 19, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Smiths Aerospace has recently been awarded a number of contracts for systems on the Northrop Grumman X-47B J-UCAS (Joint Unmanned Combat Air System). Deliveries from Smiths will commence the 4th quarter of 2004.
Commenting on the wins, Dr. John Ferrie, President of Smiths Aerospace explains, "Smiths' investment in integrated vehicle management and electric power systems has been well timed to support Northrop Grumman Unmanned Systems. Smiths is positioned as a Tier-1 leader in systems for the burgeoning market for unmanned air vehicles."
At the heart of the systems provided are the vehicle management computers (VMCs), acting like the vehicle's central nervous system. The JUCAS VMCs are the backbone of the airplane's computers, networks, and interfacing electronics, and will host all of the airplane's avionics, flight controls and utilities functions. The system will replace dozens of traditional, standalone, computers and data busses fitted to present day aircraft.
Smiths' systems currently scheduled for X-47B J-UCAS include:
-- Vehicle management computers
-- Electrical power generation and distribution
-- Mission computers
-- Remote input / output units
-- Fuel measurement and management through partnership
with Argo-Tech
-- Ground-based data link computer
Smiths Aerospace is the leading transatlantic aerospace equipment company, with more than 9,000 staff and $1.6 billion revenue split between Europe and North America. Smiths Aerospace holds key positions in the supply chains on all major military and civil aircraft and engine manufactures supplying integrated solutions. Strategically organized businesses focus on systems in electronics and mechanical systems, engine components and customer services.
Notes to editors
About the vehicle management system
Smiths is supplying the Vehicle Management Computers (VMC) for the X-47B, which Northrop-Grumman is developing for DARPA's Joint Unmanned Combat Air System (J-UCAS). In addition to Guidance, Navigation, and Flight Control, the VMC automates the other system functions that an aircrew performs on a manned vehicle. The triple-redundant VMCs exchange system state and control information to detect faults by means of approximate consensus; and manage the redundant components to provide fail-operational service.
The system is easily scaled to a quad configuration, and in 2003, Smiths demonstrated an innovative approach to start, vote, synchronize, and restart a quad modular system. The open hardware and software architecture is easily adapted or extended to different vehicles and changing applications. The distributed system architecture is built on IEEE 1394 communication network technology, which has emerged as the standard for next-generation manned and uninhabited vehicles.
About electrical power generation & distribution
Each Electrical Power Generation System (EPGS) produces 80kW @ 270Vdc. Each generator is a totally integrated, modified version of the F/A-18E/F VSCF; that is, the EPGS package includes all control & conversion electronics integrally-mounted in a single unit along with three (3) independent, isolated, regulated PMG-based 28Vdc Converter/Regulator outputs (powering Smiths' VMC, Mission Computers). Smiths' growing family of integrated EPGS offers the highest power density by weight / volume of any generator system available. Smiths' approach to integration offers aircraft designers the utmost in air vehicle layout flexibility.
The High Voltage Distribution Units (HVDUs) being supplied are for distribution of current-protected 270 Vdc power on the air vehicle. These units provide the interface between Ground Power, Emergency Generator, Smiths-produced Main Generator and the 270 Vdc loads on the air vehicle. This award augments our selection on other Northrop Grumman UAV programs, and solidifies Smiths as the leading supplier in HALE / MALE UAV Electrical Power Systems.
About mission computers
Just as an aircrew shares the burden of flying the vehicle and operating the sensors, the Mission Computers and VMCs are integrated to execute combat missions. The dual Mission Management Computers (MMC) that Smiths is supplying are the same design as the VMC; but extended with solid state mass memory. The system interface is a general-purpose design that implements the subsystem interface for both the VMC and the MMC.
About remote input / output units
The Remote Input/Output (RIO-1394) product is a part of Smiths RIU product family which has been used on several military programs. The RIO was recently fielded to support the F-35 and is a major contributor to saving weight in the aircraft by eliminating the need to install several hundred feet of analog discrete signal wires to the VMC from remote locations.
The RIO-1394 provides digitization of Analog, Discrete, and Fuel Probe signals from the vehicle and provides an output via IEEE-1394 interface to Smiths' VMC for further processing. The RIO also converts the commands received from the VMC to analog and discrete outputs for controlling various functions in the aircraft. A total of nine units will be utilized per aircraft.
About fuel measurement & management
The team of Argo-Tech and Smiths Aerospace will provide the system engineering, analysis, components, integration and support for the J-UCAS air vehicle fuel system. The fuel measurement and management software will execute as hosted applications in the Vehicle Management Computer.