Curtiss-Wright brings Gen 4 PCIe capability to standard VPX, extends OpenVPX performance

NEW ORLEANS. Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions division, a supplier of open standard VPX (VITA 46) embedded computing systems for aerospace and defense applications, announced the ability to meet Gen 4 PCI Express (PCIe) increased bandwidth requirements with standard MultiGig RT2 VPX connectors.

The company’s optimized design approach extends the ability of VPX and OpenVPX (VITA 65) standards to support the full bandwidth and signal integrity required when transferring 16 Gbaud PCIe 4.0 data communications signals over the backplane. Curtiss-Wright engineers have proven the performance and signal integrity for Gen 4 PCIe over VPX using this new design approach, officials say.

Curtiss-Wright plans to support Gen 4 PCIe using standard VPX connectors on its Fabric64 family of modules and systems. The new design approach also provides a technology path to support “Gen 5” speeds in the future.

“The ability to support next-generation Gen 4 PCIe data rates over VPX without having to abandon the current OpenVPX architecture, today’s de facto bus and board standard for aerospace and defense systems, will enable our customers to protect and preserve their investment in current VPX hardware,” says Lynn Bamford, senior vice president and general manager, Defense Solutions division.

Curtiss-Wright Corp. delivers highly engineered, critical function products and services to the commercial, industrial, defense, and energy markets. Building on the heritage of Glenn Curtiss and the Wright brothers, Curtiss-Wright has a long tradition of providing reliable solutions through trusted customer relationships. The company employs approximately 8,400 people worldwide.

Search the Aerospace & Defense Buyer's Guide

Intelligent Aerospace, the global aerospace technology network, reports on the latest tools, technologies, and trends of vital importance to aerospace professionals throughout the industry and around the globe, including engineers, engineering managers, and other key decision-makers involved in the research & development, design, test, manufacture, maintenance, upgrade and retrofit, management, and acquisition of electronics hardware and software components, tools, and systems for commercial and military fixed-wing, rotor-wing, and unmanned aircraft, air traffic control, airport operations, satellites, and space.