MTech and Artisan

The MTech business unit product line consists of controller electronics for MIL-STD-1760 multiple carriage weapon suspension and release equipment, controller electronics for other weapon systems, related electronic subsystems, customized simulators and test sets, EDO Artisan products and low-cost manufacturing expertise.

MIL-STD-1760 Carriage System Controllers . . .

We are the industry leader in designing and producing controller electronics for MIL-STD-1760 multiple carriage weapon suspension and release equipment for the F-16’s BRU-57, the F/A-18’s BRU-55, and the USAF’s BRU-63 (Small Diameter Bomb) smart multiple ejector bomb racks. MTech is currently developing a dual mode interface for the LAU-117 Maverick launcher (Maverick analog & MIL-STD-1760) and has prototyped a MIL-STD-1760 TER-9/A.

MTech was a member of the original MIL-STD-1760 drafting committee and is currently participating in SAE committees AS-1, "Aircraft Systems & System Integration", AS-1A, "Avionics Systems (Enhanced Bit Rate EBR 1553)", AS-1B, "Aircraft/Store Integration", and chairs the "Communications Protocol Working Group" under Task Group AS-1B1.

Weapon System Controllers . . .

While MTech is recognized predominantly for its successful development of MIL-STD-1760 controllers for weapon carriage systems, the expertise required to develop electronic control systems that reliably perform in the extreme environment characteristic of the tactical aircraft weapon station is also applicable to non-‘1760 weapon system controllers. MTech has successfully demonstrated this expertise in air-based and land-based weapon system controller applications.

Digital Intervalometer for SUU-20 Practice Bomb Adapter
EDO is currently performing under a USAF contract to design, develop, and qualify a new dispenser switch (intervalometer) for the SUU-20 practice bomb adapter. EDO will replace the existing obsolete electromechanical stepper switch with a cost-effective Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD)-based design. Introduction of the new intervalometer will not affect the existing aircraft-SUU-20 interface.

Chain Gun Controllers
We develop state-of-the-art Gun Control Units (GCUs) with considerable weight, size, and cost savings over legacy designs. EDO's GCU is a solid state, microprocessor-based controller that provides ammunition selection, timing, and 500A motor drive switching to control a 0.50 caliber chain driven gun. The GCU design is modular, requiring only minimal hardware and software changes to support a full range of guns with a variety of calibers, firing rates, and gun characteristics.

Active Separation Control
MTech performed under a USAF contract to develop, fabricate, and flight test an electro/pneumatic Active Separation Control (ASC) system aimed at improving the aeroacoustic environment of a tactical aircraft’s weapons bay and the separation characteristics of precision guided munitions from the weapons bay. The ASC system provided a "virtual spoiler" by blowing high-pressure air in front of an open weapons bay. This modified the acoustic environment and improved the aerodynamic environment immediately below the aircraft weapons bay for weapon separation. The ASC system, which is comprised of a pneumatic system, an electronic control system, and a mechanical, aircraft integration system, was successfully flight demonstrated on a Royal Australian Air Force F-111G aircraft.

Related Electronic Subsystems for Military Environments . . .

MTech possesses significant expertise in the area of aircraft-carriage system-weapon electrical and logical integration. This expertise and experience has led MTech to development a number of ancillary electronic subsystems.

MIL-STD-1553 Digital Bus Buffer
EDO’s patented MIL-STD-1553 Digital Bus Buffer enables multiple MIL-STD-1553 Remote Terminals (RTs) to be transformer-coupled to a single MIL-STD-1553 data bus stub while introducing a typical one-way propagation delay of only 700 nsecs. Integration of this device into the "smart rack" results in the logical appearance of the carriage system and both carried weapons as being transformer coupled RT’s on the host aircraft weapons bus.

The Bus Buffer works by receiving, then reconstituting the incoming MIL-STD-1553 signal before retransmitting the signal to the receiving ‘1553 terminal(s). Because of this, the Bus Buffer is well suited to perform as a MIL-STD-1553 bus extender, accepting a marginal ‘1553 signal and converting it into a robust ‘1553 signal.

MIL-STD-1553 to EBR ‘1553 Digital Communication Bridge
MIL-STD-1760 specifies that aircraft-to-weapon system digital communication be accomplished using MIL-STD-1553-compliant protocols, timing, and physical mediums. The emerging Miniature Munition Store Interface (MMSI) standard requires similar protocols but vastly different (faster) timing requirements and a point-to-point RS-485 physical medium (vs. dual MIL-STD-1553 mux buses). The MMSI-specified digital communications protocol is Enhanced-Bit-Rate (EBR) ‘1553. A ‘1553-to-EBR ‘1553 digital communication bridge is required to enable an MMSI-compliant munition to successfully communicate with a MIL-STD-1760 aircraft.

F-35 Pneumatic Ejector CAN Interface Assembly
MTech is currently under contract to develop a Controller Area Network (CAN) Interface Assembly (CIA), which will be utilized as a component within the F-35’s pneumatic weapon ejectors and launchers. The CIA monitors various status functions within the EU and communicates with, and provides status information to, the Fuselage Remote Interface Unit (FRIU) via a CAN bus interface operating at 1MBps.

Note: The CAN interface is a standard digital serial data protocol utilized extensively in the automotive industry. A CAN interface is also specified in the emerging MMSI standard to provide weapon addressing and weapon electrical interlock confirmation. In the MMSI standard, the CAN interface is the electrical equivalent of the MIL-STD-1760 discrete address lines (A0-A4) and the Interlock discrete.

Simulators and Test Sets . . .
Successful design, development, test, and fabrication of special purpose military electronic control systems requires the design, development, and test of high fidelity simulators and test sets. EDO MTech has developed a simulator/test set

design/development capability that is complementary to our control system development skills. MTech is currently under contract with Raytheon to develop a self-contained mobile test stand capable of providing functional test support for the AGM-65 missile, AGM-65 capable aircraft, and the LAU-117 launcher.

Artisan Products and Capability
The addition of Artisan to the EDO operation has expanded our product line to include zero retention force arming units, helicopter blade crack indicators, and programmable DC power supplies.

In addition, we now offer rugged cable assemblies, and electronic, electro-mechanical, and mechanical assemblies built to your specification.Visit the Artisan web site.