VMETRO FPGA-based PMC card has four channels of fiber-optic interconnects

VMETRO in Houston is offering the PMC-FPGA03F, a 64-bit PCI mezzanine card (PMC) module with Xilinx Virtex-II field-programmable gate array technology and fiber-optic communications to provide application-specific processing coupled with long distance optical connectivity. The PMC-FPGA03F when used in conjunction with a PMC-enabled processing board or an I/O controller, the card can perform signal-processing tasks for software radio, data compression, and advanced protocol handling. For more information contact VMETRO online at www.vmetro.com.

General Dynamics to build submarine photonics masts

General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems in Arlington, Va., won a $10 million contract from U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command for seven photonics mast workstations for Virginia-class attack submarines. The photonic masts control and display imaging-sensor data from the AN/BVS-1 photonics mast system. The AN/BVS-1 provides intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting capabilities such as infrared and visual imaging, digital image processing features, laser range-finding, stealth features, and antenna suite with broad spectral coverage and monopulse direction finding. The operator of the Photonics Mast system is seated at a console and controls the system with a joystick. This system does not penetrate the submarine hull, as conventional periscopes do. For more information contact General Dynamics online at www.generaldynamics.com.

ECI receives $3 million order from Finnish Defence Forces

ECI Telecom in Petak Tikva, Israel, won a $3 million optical equipment order from the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF). The FDF’s network has XDM optical networks placed around Finland to provide fast and reliable communications and local response for all areas of the Finnish army, including the ground forces, naval services, and the air force. ECI’s XDM combines intelligent optical networking capabilities with advanced data functionality including Ethernet Layer 2, SDH/SONET, CWDM and DWDM. The XDM enables the FDF to expand its network with a scalable, easily managed, cost-effective solution based on a unique single architecture. The XDM is managed by LightSoft, ECI’s network management system, which automatically maps managed elements onto separate technology layers.

Tinsley opens optics facility for new space-based telescope

Tinsley Laboratories Inc. in Redondo Beach, Calif., opened a new facility to grind and polish mirror segments to exacting degrees of accuracy for the future James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Tinsley is part of a larger mirror manufacturing team, led by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., which is part of prime contractor Northrop Grumman 30,000-square-foot facility, in Richmond, Calif., has nine computer-controlled optical surfacing (CCOS) machines, and an optical test facility to control ambient temperature to one-quarter of a degree Fahrenheit. The new facility will enable Tinsley to process as many as 12 JWST mirror segments simultaneously. After initial polishing at Tinsley at room temperature, JWST’s mirror segments will be tested at minus 243 degrees Celsius, or roughly minus 400 degrees Fahrenheit in a cryogenic