Overcoming Extreme Challenges for the Defense Data Acquisition Platform

Overcoming Extreme Challenges for the Defense Data Acquisition Platform

Core Systems announced the successful development of a groundbreaking defense data-acquisition and AI-processing platform for a next-generation drone system. The platform was engineered to meet unprecedented performance demands in a highly constrained environment.

The Challenge

A leading defense company required a new system capable of supporting advanced AI and data acquisition for unmanned aerial operations. The platform had to integrate dual NVIDIA H100NVL GPUs, multiple FPGA boards, and a high-end CPU while delivering more than 70 Amps of power. At the same time, the drone’s pod provided almost no airflow and had severe space and weight limitations, making a traditional air-cooled 4U system impossible.

The Solution

Core Systems overcame these challenges with a rugged, water-cooled design that meets strict defense and aerospace requirements. The custom-built platform weighs approximately 21 kilograms and fits precisely into the limited space inside the drone’s pod. A fully sealed enclosure protects in harsh environments, while front-panel I/O enables easy maintenance.

A unique four-drive canister design provides up to 120 GB of storage and allows all drives to be removed and replaced in a single action. The water-cooled system manages extreme thermal loads while ensuring full compliance with MIL-SPEC environmental, mechanical, and performance standards. From concept to delivery, Core Systems engineered and delivered the solution in just 20 weeks.

Military Aircraft

Innovation That Delivers

This achievement underscores Core Systems’ leadership in rugged computing, mission-critical AI platforms, and defense technology innovation. By solving space, weight, and cooling challenges, Core Systems enables defense partners to deploy the next generation of autonomous systems.