We’re seeing a focus on modernization of shipboard systems – which require more rugged, embedded-computing systems processing – as well as rugged, state-of-the-art displays.
Sweden begins high tech Visby II Class Corvette program
Sweden’s Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) has begun work on what will be four new battleships to be called Visby Generation II.
In January, Saab and FMV signed two agreements valued $23 million (190m SEK) to work on Visby-class corvette upgrades and acquisition of the next-generation of these ships. The contracts cover the Product Definition Phase for the Mid-Life Upgrades (MLU) of five Visby-class corvettes, as well as a Product Definition Phase for the next generation; Visby Generation 2 corvettes.
What do the needs of the future look like? The need for more vessels in the water has been established by both the Riksdag’s Defense Committee and by the Chief of the Navy, Ewa Skoog Haslum. But what challenges will these ships face? What tasks should they solve? And how should they be designed and equipped? It’s important to look 30-40 years ahead.
In addition to modifying the ships’ existing systems, an air defense missile system will be added as a new capability. The RBS15 anti-ship missile system will be upgraded to the latest version as well as the torpedo system with the new Saab Lightweight Torpedo.
Driving demand for rugged mobile computers
Today’s warfighter operates in remote, environmentally hostile and actively contested regions. Distanced from normal IT infrastructure. Their situation necessitates processing big data on-site or at the “tactical edge”. Tactical edge devices can be found on drones, aircraft, land vehicles and maritime vessels. On these platforms, hardware constraints such as size, weight and power (SWaP) and extreme environmental conditions must be taken into consideration.
Industry innovators like us are accomplishing breakthroughs with COTS solutions to tackle specialised problems in military systems that must operate in extreme conditions. The performance of electronic devices can be damaged in harsh environments such as extreme temperatures, high humidity levels, electrostatic discharge, electromagnetic interference, vibrations and shock.By using off-the-shelf components, manufacturers can merge affordable, proven technology into proprietary designs that can withstand the conditions of the modern battle whether it be on land, air or at sea.
Like SWaP, another significant rugged mobile computing trend is doing more with less. Not surprising as this is what drives the entire civilian industry and directly affects the defense industry’s demand for technology.
For example, combining a weapons system computer with the mission planning console such that the operator’s control console displays targets and friendly forces on a moving map. That same computer also calculates the fire control solution and/or aims a weapons array or computes the most efficient travel route while sending all that data up or down the chain of command on a secured, tactical local area network (LAN) or satellite communications (SATCOM).
Expando is the leading supplier in the rugged servers product category
We provide advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. We provide electronic networking technologies that perform with high reliability when used in the most rugged places.
We collaborate with leading manufacturers whose engineers consider every specific environmental condition of the design and development that can affect the use of the product. You can get to know which suppliers we work with within the rugged mission computers, servers, routers and switched product segment here.
Expando AB is a regional expert offering planetary defence components and integration projects. We act as representative or distributor for first class suppliers and our aim is to be your long term reliable partner. Contact us to discuss your future projects at info@expando.se or call us at +46 (0)8-544 900 44.
