The complexity of aerospace and defense vehicles-manned and unmanned in the air and in space-continues to grow at a strong pace. Militaries worldwide are increasingly adopting multi-role vehicles capable of performing a wide variety of missions.
Engineers, taking a holistic approach to aerospace and defense platforms, are focusing their attention on the robust and reliable interconnectivity of myriad electronics systems onboard ground combat vehicles, ships, unmanned vehicles, aircraft, and satellites.
"Success demands a sophisticated understanding of the application and how well your product interacts as part of an overall integrated system," says a representative of TE Connectivity in Middletown, Pa.
Attentions are turning increasingly to cables, cabling assemblies, and connectors, as engineers seek interconnectivity solutions capable of meeting a growing list of requirements and of withstanding longtime use in harsh environments.
Systems designers and systems integrators-taking into account complex system protocols, key electrical parameter requirements, and overall mechanical performance requirements-seek cabling and connectivity products that combine high performance, long-term reliability, and innovation while reducing weight and size, operating at high data rates, performing over extended temperature ranges, and offering 20-year mean time between failure (MTBF) life expectancy.
A majority of aerospace and defense systems require rugged and hermetically sealed cables and connectors, given that system failure in the field can have dire consequences.
Hypertronics Corp., a Smiths Interconnect business and provider of high-performance interconnect solutions in Hudson, Mass., crafted its Ruggedized Standards product portfolio to meet popular industry standards.
The family of ruggedized connectors is the Hypertronics response to the market need for a high-reliability connector solution which meets the mechanical footprint and electrical performance of the VITA 46 and VITA 48 specifications, also known as VPX from the VMEbus Industry Trade Association (VITA), says a company representative.
Virtually every aerospace and defense system carries its own unique requirements; luckily, the industry provides a wealth of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) and custom options from which to choose.
COMPANY INFO
AboveNet Communications Inc. White Plains, N.Y.
www.above.net
Aerospace Sales Industries Westminster, Md.
www.Aerospacesales.com
Agilent Santa Clara, Calif.
www.agilent.com
Airborn Addison, Texas
www.airborn.com
Alcatel-Lucent Murray Hill, N.J.
www.alcatel-lucent.com
American Cable and Electronics Inc. Menomonee Falls, Wis.
www.acecables.com
American Micro Batavia, Ohio
www.american-micro.com/connectors.asp
Amphenol Aerospace Sidney, N.Y.
www.amphenol-aerospace.com/hermetic.asp
Amphenol Alden Products Brockton, Mass.
www.aldenproducts.com
API Technologies Corp. Orlando, Fla.
www.apitechnologies.com
Astrex Electronics Plainview, N.Y.
www.Astrex.net
AVX Corp. Fountain Inn, S.C.
www.avx.com
Brugg Cables Rome, Ga.
www.bruggcables.com/site/index.cfm/id_art/72449/vsprache/EN
BTC Electronic Components Wake Forest, N.C.
www.Btcelectronics.com
Cables Unlimited Yaphank, N.Y.
www.cables-unlimited.com
Cambridge Technologies Tullamarine, Australia
www.cambridgetechnologies.com.au/wires-and-cables/electrical-connectors/hermetic-connectors
Carlisle Interconnect Technologies St. Augustine, Fla.
www.carlisleit.com
Carrio Cabling Colorado Springs, Colo.
www.carriocabling.com
Centerline Engineering Fullerton, Calif.
www.centerline-engineering.com
CONEC GmbH Garner, N.C.
www.conec.com
Conesys Torrance, Calif.
www.Conesys.com
Cooper U.S. Houston, Texas
www.cooperindustries.com
CW Industries Southampton, Pa.
www.cwind.com
Delphi Connectors Troy, Mich.
www.delphi.com
DiCon Fiberoptics Richmond, Calif.
www.diconfiberoptics.com
Digi-Key Thief River Falls, Minn.
www.digikey.com
Douglas Electrical Randolph, N.J.
www.douglaselectrical.com
Emerson Network Power Connectivity Solutions Bannockburn, Ill.
www.emersonconnectivity.com
Esterline SOURIAU PA&E Wenatchee, Wash.
www.pacaero.com/products/hermetic-connectors.htm
FCI Etters, Pa.
www.fciconnect.com
Fischer Connectors Alpharetta, Ga.
www.fischerconnectors.com/htm/Applications-Military-Connectors.htm
Galco Industrial Electronics Madison Heights, Mich.
www.galco.com
Glenair Inc. Glendale, Calif.
www.glenair.com
Gore Newark, Del.
www.gore.com
Harwin Plc Salem, N.H.
www.harwin.com
Hirose Electric USA Inc. Simi Valley, Calif.
www.hiroseusa.com
Hypertronics Corp. Hudson, Mass.
www.hypertronics.com
Interconnect Devices Inc. Kansas City, Kan.
www.idinet.com
ITT Interconnect Solutions Santa Ana, Calif.
www.ittcannon.com
L-com Global Connectivity North Andover, Mass.
www.l-com.com
LEMO Rohnert Park, Calif.
www.lemo.com
Lightwave Logic Newark, Del.
www.lightwavelogic.com
March Electronics Bohemia, N.Y.
www.marchelectronics.com
Martec Whitstable, Kent, U.K.
www.martec.ltd.uk
Microplex Placentia, Calif.
www.microplexinc.com
MilesTek Denton, Texas
www.milestek.com
Molex Inc. Lisle, Ill.
www.molex.com
Newark Palatine, Ill.
www.newark.com
OCP Group Inc. San Diego, Calif.
www.ocp.com
Omnetics Connector Corp. Minneapolis
www.omnetics.com
Optical Interconnect Dallas, Texas
www.opticalinterconnect.com
Pave Technology Dayton, Ohio
www.pavetechnologyco.com
PEI-Genesis Philadelphia, Pa.
www.peigenesis.com
PIC Wire & Cable Sussex, Wis.
www.picwire.com
QA Technology Co. Inc. Hampton, N.H.
www.qatech.com
Sabritec Irvine, Calif.
www.Sabritec.com
Samtec New Albany, Ind.
www.samtec.com
Smiths Connectors Thousand Oaks, Calif.
www.smithsinterconnect.com
Special Hermetic Products Wilton, N.H.
www.shp-seals.com/aboutconn.html
Spectrum Control Fairview, Pa.
www.specemc.com
SRI Hermetics Melbourne, FL
www.srihermetics.com
TE Connectivity Middletown, Pa.
www.te.com
Technical Cable Concepts Costa Mesa, Calif.
www.techcable.com
Teledyne Storm Products Woodridge, Ill.
www.teledynestorm.com
Timbercon Inc. Lake Oswego, Ore.
www.timbercon.com
Times Microwave Systems Wallingford, Conn.
www.timesmicrowave.com
TT Electronics PLC Weybridge, England
www.ttelectronics.com
Winchester Electronics Middlebury, Conn.
www.winchesterelectronics.com
Zodiac Aerospace Santa Rosa, Calif.
www.icoregroup.com
Courtney Howard | Executive Editor
Courtney, as executive editor, enjoys writing about all things electronics and avionics in PennWell’s burgeoning Aerospace and Defense Group, which encompasses Military & Aerospace Electronics, Avionics Intelligence, the Avionics Europe conference, and much more. She’s also a self-proclaimed social-media maven, mil-aero nerd, and avid avionics geek. Connect with Courtney at [email protected], @coho on Twitter, and on LinkedIn.
