Curtiss-Wright Controls Defense Solutions, a business group of Curtiss-Wright Controls, has introduced two new cost-effective rugged Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) Switch solutions, the SMS-652 Rugged Switchbox™ subsystem and VPX3-652 GbE Switch module, that speed and ease the integration of modern networking technology into defense platforms. Curtiss-Wright’s new GbE Switch line replaceable unit (LRU) and line replaceable module (LRM) solutions dramatically lower the cost of adding network connectivity into new and legacy platforms. These COTS GbE Switch solutions are designed to meet the continuing technology refresh requirements of defense and aerospace systems integrators facing increased size, weight, power and cost (SWaP-C) pressures.

The SMS-652 Rugged Switchbox™ is a fully MIL-qualified standalone 16-port GbE Switch LRU that can be quickly and easily integrated into airborne, ground and naval platforms. Housed in a compact sealed enclosure, the SMS-652 is ideal for airborne communications systems, sensor data acquisition, and data processing applications, on platforms such as UAVs, where there is limited available space for larger subsystems.

For systems integrators designing with VPX technology, the new VPX3-652 GbE Switch LRM provides up to 20 ports of Ethernet connectivity in a single 3U slot with a very low power footprint. The VPX3-652 GbE Switch is ideal for use in space-constrained embedded C4ISR and EW subsystems to support network communications both within the subsystem, and to connect externally to other subsystems within the platform.

Curtiss-Wright offers both LRU and LRM configurations to enable system integrators to choose, depending on their unique platform requirements, whether to deploy a standalone GbE Switch LRU or to add GbE Switch functionality into a new or existing chassis via a modular (card-based) solution. Both configurations are based on the latest high performance GbE networking technologies and are offered in SWaP-C optimized packaging to deliver the highest port count density at the lowest power and cost.

“Our new SMS-652 subsystem and VPX3-652 module both deliver more ports and faster Ethernet switching at lower power than system integrators have ever had available before,” said Lynn Bamford, senior vice president and general manager of Curtiss-Wright Controls Defense Solutions. “Curtiss-Wright continues to meet the needs of our customers looking to save valuable space and weight in today's cost conscious environment."

Both the SMS-652 and VPX3-652 feature extremely low power and fast boot architectures. They also support a wide range of managed networking features, including VLANs, QoS, multicast, spanning trees and jumbo frames. To reduce cooling requirements and eliminate wasted power, both also feature Energy Efficient Ethernet technologies for system-wide power savings. And their built-in cable diagnostics provide an unprecedented new level of system diagnostics.

About the SMS-652 Rugged SwitchBox

The SMS-652 SwitchBox LRU sets a new standard for GbE switching in SWaP-C constrained environments. The new switch’s compact, lightweight form-factor provides a powerful set of networking features, including a power-efficient switching fabric that provides non-blocking wire-speed Gigabit performance for 16-ports of 10Mbps, 100Mbps or 1000Mbps Ethernet connections. Weighing less than 5 lbs., it measures only 7.75” x 9.2” x 2.5” (W x D x H), and dissipates under 15 Watts (typical operation). Designed for optimal performance in harsh military environments, this fully rugged switch features natural convection cooling and supports an extended operating temperature range of -40°C to +75°C. The SMS-652 features 24/28V DC power compliance to MIL-STD-1275 for ground applications, MIL-STD-704 for airborne applications, and DefStan 61-5 for UK applications. The SMS-652 will be fully qualified to meet MIL-STD-810 environmental and MIL-STD-461 EMI/EMC qualifications.

About the VPX3-652

The VPX3-652 is a fully featured OpenVPX managed Ethernet switch card designed to support advanced network architectures in a single-slot SWaP-optimized rugged module. The VPX3-652 provides up to 20 ports of copper Ethernet connectivity and includes IPMI functionality for system-level health management. The board is available in a configuration that supports 16 ports of tri-speed 1000Base-T backplane connections, or with 12 ports of 1000Base-T plus an additional 8 ports of 1000Base-X (SerDes) connections for mixed Base-T/Base-X environments. An additional front-panel Ethernet port is provided on air-cooled modules.

Curtiss-Wright End-to-End System Solutions

The SMS-652 SwitchBox and VPX3-652 VPX module complement a wide range of Curtiss-Wright Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) solutions for the defense industry, including our wide range of Intel and Power Architecture single board computers (SBC), graphics controllers, and our FPGA and DSP engines. With modules available in VME, VPX, and mezzanine PMC/XMC form factors, as well as our complete family of fully integrated subsystems, these solutions are designed for immediate deployment in the most rugged environments.