Thales Computers' Pre-qualified Subsystems fly in Airborne Communications Controller

PRWeb, March 31, 2004—Thales Computers, a leader in providing PowerPC® and Pentium® VME computing solutions to OEMs and system integrators, has announced that it will provide fully qualified integrated subsystems to its customer, Thales Communications. The subsystems will serve as the basis for a sophisticated airborne communications controller for defense applications.

Important factors in the selection of Thales Computers are its ability to provide a complete turnkey system qualified under RTCA/DO-160 for use in demanding airborne environments, as well as Thales Computer' ability to provide long life-cycle support to Thales Communications.

The new subsystem is a 2U rugged rack featuring the PowerEngine7, a high-performance, low-power consumption single board computer (SBC) based on the IBM® PowerPC 750 processor running at 733 MHz. As delivered to Thales Communications, the subsystem incorporates predefined third-party I/O cards, runs under LynxOS®, and provides upwards compatibility to allow for future technology upgrades.

The airborne communication controller is designed to provide a data link between transmission equipment and platform technical applications. Thales Communications designs and provides application-specific software to ensure interoperability between host systems, such as ground or ship-based stations and airborne weapons platforms.

According to M. Patrick Moreau, DLIP Product Manager for Thales Communications, "Thales Computers' ability to provide a complete subsystem fully-qualified for an airborne RTCA/DO-160 environment permitted us to concentrate our efforts on the customer and their application. As a result, we can deliver a product on time that meets our customer's requirements. Thales Computers provided a complete airborne solution, comprised of the PowerEngine7 SBC and PMC modules incorporated into several different types of racks including 19" and ATR."

About Thales

Thales is a world leader in professional electronics in three key markets: Aerospace, Defense and Information Technology & Services (IT&S). The Group employs 63,000 people in nearly 50 countries worldwide, and generated revenues of €10.6 billion in 2003.

Thales Computers is the leading developer of commercial and ruggedized VMEbus hardware and software solutions based on PowerPC and Pentium microprocessors. The company's products are optimized for a wide variety of applications in military, aerospace, communications and industrial markets and are in active use by customers worldwide, including Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, Toshiba, EADS, British Aerospace, Ericsson, Alcatel and the Thales Group.