Ethernet has become entrenched as a critical building block for a variety of military programs. Ethernet is being deployed in multilayer switches with dual IPv4 and IPv6 forwarding to support the DoD’s sweeping plans to leverage the benefits of IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6). Meanwhile, Ethernet is being used as an interconnect fabric in compute-intensive applications like sonar, radar, or any application that networks sensor arrays together.
“Slowly I turned…step by step…inch by inch…” For buffs of comedy you’ll know that this is a lead in to one of Abbott and Costello’s bits; where every time Lou Costello says “Niagara Falls” this man goes crazy because it reminds him of an incident regarding his wife. He grabs Lou around the neck, starts choking him, beats on him and then comes to his senses just before killing him. Throughout the show Lou repeatedly makes the mistake of saying Niagara Falls and gets manhandled. Let me move on.
Being in the business of covering electronics and embedded computing technology, I find it helpful to think in terms of comparing “macro” trends on a year to year basis. And examining such technology as applied to the military market requires an extra level of caution. That’s because nothing without some solid “staying power” ever gains a foothold in the defense world. For example, when I starting hearing a lot of hype about multicore processors a couple of years ago, I was interested but not convinced on how solid they were. But now I’ve seen a real shift to where the Intel Core-Duo ranks as the most dominant CPU designed into new embedded computer products—replacing the Pentium M, which previous held that distinction.
Today’s battlefield looks different than it did even a few short years ago, with the addition of military assets that include UAVs such as Global Hawk, Predator and Fire Scout. These systems bring to bear technology that helps the soldier on the field to make real-time decisions that save lives. No longer will he have to wait to see what is available to him in his arsenal. Instead, he looks at his screen—which is networked to every available option—and can deploy the force necessary to accomplish his mission.
