Physical Optics to provide rugged data recorders with cyber security for military helicopters

Sept. 19, 2016
LAKEHURST, N.J., 19 Sept. 2016. U.S. Navy avionics experts needed components for rugged data recorders with cyber security for a variety of military helicopters. They found their solution from Physical Optics Corp. in Torrance, Calif.

LAKEHURST, N.J., 19 Sept. 2016. U.S. Navy avionics experts needed components for rugged data recorders with cyber security for a variety of military helicopters. They found their solution from Physical Optics Corp. in Torrance, Calif.

Officials of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst, N.J., announced a $76 million contract to Physical Optics last week to provide Advanced RF microData Transfer System components for UH-1Y, AH-1Z, MH-60R, MH-60S, and H-53K aircraft for the Navy.

The Physical Optics Advanced Data Transfer System (ADTS) is a data, video, and audio loader and recorder with NSA type 1 encryption for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

The UH-1Y Super Huey is an upgraded model of the Bell Helicopter UH1 utility helicopter. The AH-1Z Viper is the latest upgrade to the Bell AH-1 attack Helicopter. The MH-60R and MH-60S are maritime versions of the Lockheed Martin UH-60 helicopter for sea surveillance, utility, and anti-submarine warfare (ASW). The Lockheed Martin (formerly Sikorsky) H-53K is a large heavy-lift helicopter.

Related: Navy chooses secure data transfer units from Physical Optics for carrier-based combat jets

Typically the U.S. Marine Corps operates the UH-1Y, AH-1Z, and H-53K, while the Navy operates the MH-60R and MH-60S. Physical Optics also will provide these data recorder and loader components for the governments of Australia, Denmark, and Saudi Arabia under the Foreign Military Sales program.

The Physical Optics ADTS data recorder and loader meets military information assurance and cyber security requirements. The system has data transfer devices (DTD) available in 128- or 256-gigabyte memory capacities.

The ADTS weighs less than eight pounds with three data transfer devices installed; consumes 45 a maximum of 45 Watts -- or 30 Watts nominal; operates in temperatures from -40 to 55 degrees Celsius -- or at 71 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes; measures 5 by 3 by 8 inches.

On this contract Physical Optics will do the work in Torrance, Calif., and should be finished by September 2021. For more information contact Physical Optics Corp. online at www.poc.com, or the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division-Lakehurst at www.navair.navy.mil.

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About the Author

John Keller | Editor

John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.

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