In flying combat missions, pilots often remain below the radar to avoid detection. However, although their on-board subsystems are mostly located 'below decks', so to speak, the advanced gadgetry of defence electronics has no reason to remain incognito.
South African electronics group Parsec has announced its latest VF360 module to provide an ultra-high bandwidth platform to both the military and non-military markets.
Tobie van Loggerenberg, Parsec's Director of Business Development, notes: "Ours is a 3U VPX module that is ideal for computation and bandwidth-intensive applications, like radar, networking, SIGINT, EW, SDR and video. We designed the VF360 to operate as a payload module with system controller capability. It is available in both air-cooled and conduction-cooled versions."
The VF360 prototype has recently been completed, and Van Loggerenberg confirmed that Parsec is now busy with the first production order recently obtained.
"This is an FPGA Mezzanine Card (FMC) carrier that would typically be sought by OEMs or system integrators for use in a wide range of I/O requirements," explains Van Loggerenberg. "However, we find that our customers either approach us for a specific solution, or to design and build a platform with commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) items, or they simply purchase the module as is."
As design authority on certain state-of-the-art products, Parsec is able to offer technology transfer to customers who are especially keen on indigenisation of their industry. While the company is highlighting this board as one of its key defence capabilities, it also has a large exposure to telecommunications and other industries like mining health and safety.
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