Embedded Systems play a crucial role in the defense sector. They are used in a wide range of applications such as mission control systems, communication and surveillance platforms, sensor processing, and vehicle-mounted and airborne systems.
Embedded systems for defense applications must be extremely rugged, reliable, and secure in order to operate flawlessly under harsh environmental conditions and demanding operational scenarios.
Ruggedized systems with dedicated system design for boards and carrier solutions form the foundation of modern defense embedded platforms. These systems are designed to comply with strict shock and vibration requirements, high MTBF and low FIT numbers, as well as relevant military standards.
EKF supports customers throughout the entire development process, from system concept and board design to validation and qualification. During the design of new boards, we carefully consider regulatory and export control aspects to avoid export restrictions wherever possible. This ensures long-term usability and flexibility for defense programs while maintaining full compliance with applicable standards.
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Requirements for Defense Embedded Systems
Robustness and Vibration Safety
Defense systems face intense shocks and vibrations during operation. To ensure reliable performance, embedded systems must feature rugged mechanical designs and secure connectors.
EKF addresses these demands with durable solutions, using M12 connectors for power and data, minimizing rotating parts, and mechanically securing critical interfaces such as heat sinks and inter-board data lines. This approach meets stringent military shock and vibration standards for dependable field use.
Temperature Resistance
Embedded systems in defense applications must reliably operate across extreme temperature ranges, from freezing cold to intense heat, due to varied deployment environments.
The board designs cover an extended temperature range from -40 °C up to +85 °C ambient, classified according to military-grade standards (e.g., OT4, ST2, OT6) depending on component selection. All boards and systems undergo rigorous qualification in EKF’s in-house temperature chambers to ensure consistent performance. Additionally, nonflammability up to Hazard Level 3 can be achieved and certified through accredited laboratories.
Coating, Sealing, Underfilling
To protect embedded systems against harsh environmental conditions, EKF offers finishing options including coating, sealing, and underfilling. These processes safeguard PCBs and components from moisture, dust, and mechanical stress.
EKF collaborates with trusted partners who specialize in these protective treatments to ensure the highest quality and reliability for defense applications.
Compact Design
Space is often limited in defense platforms, making compact embedded system designs essential for seamless integration.
While traditional 19″ technology offers robust mechanical structures, it results in larger form factors. CompactPCI® Serial accelerates data throughput to PCIe speeds via independent interfaces, combining high performance with a more compact footprint. Managing complexity and high data rates requires careful design to optimize power consumption and ensure effective heat dissipation.
With decades of experience in 19″ backplane standards, EKF understands potential challenges and applies this expertise to deliver compact, reliable solutions tailored to defense requirements.
Long-Term Availability
Long-term availability is critical in defense applications, where embedded systems represent significant, lasting investments. EKF is a trusted partner from initial contact through after-sales support, working closely with leading suppliers to ensure extended product lifecycles.
The life cycle policy guarantees that products will not be discontinued for economic reasons. EKF continues to offer the same products as long as we can source components of comparable quality and price from reputable suppliers.
To further secure availability, EKF proactively stocks obsolete components and controls the entire production process in-house. Owning all design rights and operating our own production line gives us full independence and flexibility to meet long-term supply commitments.
Norms and Certifications
Compliance with relevant standards and certifications is essential to guarantee the safety and reliability of embedded systems in defense applications. Depending on customer requirements, EKF can qualify custom solutions according to specific standards and military specifications to ensure suitability for the intended operational environment.
Protective measures such as conformal coating – including sealing and underfilling – are applied as needed to maximize board protection against environmental stresses, meeting stringent certification criteria.
EKF Use Cases for Defense Embedded Systems
EKF has a long experience with embedded systems for defense. Below are just a few examples of our different defense-related projects.
Video Surveillance for 400 Cameras with CPCI® Serial to CPCI® Bridge and SSD Extension
Interlocking Computing System with CompactPCI®
Radar Systems on Land and at Sea
Defense Systems on Mobile and Stationary Installations
Selection of our Clamshell Solution
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