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Open Architecture for Electronic Warfighters

Southwest Research Institute is a leader in developing government-owned, electronic warfare-focused Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA™) solutions. SwRI is developing SOSA-aligned EW systems for the U.S. Air Force. These solutions utilize open architecture-focused hardware components (chassis/cards) as well as command, control, and data interfaces to RF components such as tuners.

Electronic Solutions for SOSA Open Standards

SwRI is a leader in development of open-source technologies for government and industry. We are active in the development of SOSA technical standards and open-source technologies addressing concerns of the EW community.

Ravager Technology Aligns with SOSA

The government-owned, SwRI-developed Ravager EW technology aligns with SOSA, maximizing operational effectiveness in response to emerging threats and minimizing supplier and parts shortages. Ravager can be integrated into legacy military EW systems, addressing size constraints and operational profiles of existing and future systems.

The heart of the Ravager system is a signal processing and response generation engine. The use of SOSA design allows rapid capability upgrades with low migration costs, enhancing the long- term sustainability. In addition, Ravager is largely government owned due to development on three USAF-funded programs. These three ongoing programs form the basis of the Ravager design, resulting in high government rights to the Ravager system. A separate receiver program, ATHENA, will align with SOSA where possible.  

The SwRI-developed Ravager EW technology aligns with SOSA, maximizing operational effectiveness in response to emerging threats and minimizing supplier and parts shortages. Ravager can be integrated into legacy military EW systems, addressing size constraints and operational profiles of existing and future systems.

Ravager features include:

  • Technology Readiness Level 6-9 based on subcomponents.
  • Provisioned for a high-performance GPU with integrated PCIe bus for inter-card high speed data.
  • Full SOSA alignment for RT3 backplane connectors, smart power management, cybersecurity, maintenance interfaces, network-based management of auxiliary processor, firmware loading capabilities.
  • Design includes copper interfaces up to 40GigE with design options for 100 GigE and fiber.
  • Qualified components and top-level assembly to MIL-STD-810 tests applicable to Airborne Uninhabited Fighter (AUF) environments.
  • SwRI performs full MIL-STD-461G compliance testing.
  • Integration costs for new technology such as future advanced card set or modified software/firmware is minimized as system uses open standards throughout.
  • Life cycle sustainment costs are minimized since USAF owns the technical data package.

For more information, please contact Winfield Greene or +1 478 328 7974.

Ultra-wideband Receiver for EW Testing
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