AEROSPACE

CPU Technology (CPU TECH), an innovator in high performance, System-on-Chip (SOC) based, system design solutions, announced today that it has received formal Safety of Flight Certification from the U.S. Air Force and has entered formal flight testing for its Modernized F-16 AN/APG-68 Programmable Signal Radar Processor (MPSP) development program. The formal flight test will be the final verification of full integration and production worthiness for the U.S. Air Force and other potential customers for modernized AN/APG-68 RADAR processing systems. Subsequent to the successful Design Tryout Flight Test (DTO) which was completed last summer, the MPSP line replaceable unit (LRU) has successfully completed a rigorous suite of ground and test requirements in preparation for final flight testing. The AN/APG-68 RADAR Processor upgrade has also successfully completed all MIL-STD environmental qualification testing required to enter into the formal flight test process including: temperature, altitude and cooling air tests, mechanical shock test, random vibration and gunfire vibration tests, salt spray, explosion proofing, humidity storage and fluids compatibility testing. The unit has also undergone and successfully passed all required electro-magnetic compatibility testing required under MIL–STD 461 and MIL-STD 704 specifications. “Over the last decade, CPU TECH has created the SystemLabTM development environment. The Electronic System Level Design Automation tools suite was created specifically for developing such architectures and for producing highly complex systems. Our tools, in conjunction with internally developed multi-processor technology and a superior SOC design methodology have allowed us to deliver an F-16 RADAR processing system which is completely backward compatible with the existing AN/APG-68”, said Edward King, Chairman & CEO of CPU Tech. “Our modernization and integration efforts eliminated nearly 90 percent of the original system components, offering much higher reliability while providing the additional performance and security needed for future feature enhancement. Once in production, we project that the new version could save the Air Force more than one hundred million dollars in future operation and maintenance costs.”