Lockheed Martin selects GE Fanuc Embedded Systems for subsystem for non-line-of-sight launch system

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., 17 May 2007. GE Fanuc Embedded Systems' recent acquisition, Radstone Embedded Computing, has been selected by Lockheed Martin's Littoral Ships & Systems business to provide the processing subsystem that will control the non-line-of-sight launch system (NLOS-LS) platform commissioned by the U.S. Army.

NLOS-LS has been selected to be part of spin-out one within the U.S. Department of Defense's Future Combat Systems (FCS) initiative. Radstone has received an order worth in excess of $1 million for initial development systems.

The GE Fanuc processing subsystem selected by Lockheed Martin comprises an adapted version of one of the company's standard rugged enclosures, together with a Compact PCI 6U CP1A single-board computer fitted with an I/O daughter card PMC; a CPX24 rugged managed Gigabit Ethernet switch; and a Radstone MFIO (Multi Function I/O) board.

NLOS-LS is being developed for the U.S. Army by Netfires LLC, a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. It uses a common vertical launch Container Launch Unit (CLU) with 15 missile launch chambers.

FCS is a networked "system of systems" that is being jointly developed across all the U.S. military services. It envisions 18 individual systems that are networked together enabling a soldier who is linked to these platforms and sensors to have access to data that will provide much improved situational awareness and ability to respond. NLOS-LS is one of those 18 systems, and has been selected for accelerated development.