South African Air Force Denel Rooivalk attack helicopters deploy flares from their defensive aids suites during a display
Photo by: Sam J Basch
South African original design manufacturer electronics company Etion Create (part of Reunert Applied Electronics) has announced that its VF370 3U OpenVPX single board computer (SBC) module has been rated at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 9. TRL 9 is the highest technology maturity rating.
“It has been many years in the making, but Etion Create’s embedded products like our VF370 3U OpenVPX SBC and the widely used CM120 COM Express Type 10 module, both Intel powered, are proving their mettle,” highlighted company business development executive manager Tobie van Loggerenberg. “It is testament to our design and manufacturing capability that the VF370 module has been selected by global defence company Saab for their Integrated Defensive Aids Suite, the IDAS-310, launched last year.”
Saab’s IDAS-310 is already used by more than 15 countries. It equips both fixed-wing aircraft, ranging from fighters to transports and helicopters. The suite provides warning of hostile radars, infrared guided missiles and battlefield laser systems, and deploys the appropriate countermeasures.
The VF370 module uses Intel Atom E3900-series embedded processors. It also employs Intel Cyclone V Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology and an FPGA Mezzanine Card site. As a result, the module has scalable processing power and flexible Input/Output options, allowing for its use in applications that require less size, weight and power. The VF370 comes in standard air-cooled and rugged conduction-cooled versions.
“We believe this VF370 SBC module, like our already trusted CM120, is highly versatile and finding a niche in the military and industrial markets,” he affirmed. “With Saab having integrated it into their IDAS-310, Etion Create has seen other original equipment manufacturers expressing interest.”
Etion Create is based in Pretoria. It describes itself as “an ecosystem of technologically driven business units that create and provide integrated digital technology solutions”. It operates in the aerospace and defence, information security, mining and industrial, and rail transport sectors, among others, both domestically and internationally.