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IT Companies: The Defense Side

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PCQ Bureau
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IBM: Beyond PCs, servers and notebooks



The IBM AP-102 mission-control computer on the F-117A Nighthawk integrates the mission data with navigation and flight

controls. The result is a fully automated flight-management system that takes care of the F-117A’s flight till the stealth craft reaches within visual range of its target. The pilot can as well sit back and relax till those crucial moments of the attack when his full concentration is needed.

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But that is not all. Uncle Sam has enlisted IBM’s p690 Regatta servers in aerospace defense. The 32-processor server was launched in October 2001 and runs on IBM’s proprietary AIX 5L flavor of Unix. Multiple eServer p690s can be linked together to create a supercomputer powered by more than 1,000 processors according to IBM. Its key features include

IBM's p690 Regatta Server IBM’s Power4 ‘server on a chip’ processor and ultra-dense building blocks of palm-sized, eight processor multi-chip

modules.

HP’s technology goes to war



The Agama Handheld features a 206 MHz processor, 128 MB SD RAM and 32 MB ROM. A 24 hour battery life, Bluetooth, IR, USB and serial connections along with environmentally, detachable backpacks with double PCMCIA capable of incorporating GPS, 802.11, GPRS etc complete the package. Incidentally, Agama’s technology is licensed from HP’s iPaq series of handhelds, ruggedized and sold by Raytheon.

Agama HandheldSGI: Beyond Hollywood



SGI is known more today for its contribution to Hollywood’s special effects, but its origins lie in the DARPA funding for a NASA project to visualize increasingly complex data. Today, SGI’s association

with mission-critical defense systems continues–ballistic missile defense systems, simulation, command, control, surveillance and reconnaissance systems. A 4 CPU Onyx 2 system and two Octane 2 visual Graphics workstations are used by Boeing for training F-22 Raptor pilots.

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SGI's Onyx familyThese can simulate 360-degree out-of-window views, high-fidelity cockpit displays and correct aircraft behavior. Cockpit displays can be viewed on four CRT displays while a single channel from the Onyx 2 is beamed from a video projector to create out-of-window displays. Replicas of head-up displays and the integrated panel are used for data presentation to the pilot.

In India also, a number of defense organizations use the Silicon Graphics Onyx family of systems as fighter jet training simulators, including pilot training for Sea Harriers.

Ericsson: Not just cellphones!



Thought Ericsson made only cellphones? Not really! That’s just one division in the Ericsson family. The Erieye long range

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The Erieye long range Airborne Early Warning and Control system from Ericsson Microwave

AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) system based on active phased-array pulse-Doppler radar is among the numerous military hardware that Ericsson group companies sell to defense forces worldwide. The Erieye can detect and track targets up to 450 km away over land or water.

Other Ericsson products include air defense and fighter radars as well as network centric warfare solutions.

Samsung: ‘DigitAll’ defense systems



Samsung cellphones, hard disks, monitors and CD-Rewriters have earned a name for the company the world over. Recently, Samsung even entered the white goods market, with high-end TVs and refrigerators. However, it would come as a surprise to know that Samsung also produces highly advanced communication and radar systems, naval combat and fire control systems.

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Samsung’s ballistic Computer System features a 16-bit processor

Samsung’s foray into defense goes back to 1978 when group company Samsung Aerospace started selling laser range finders and multiple artillery systems. Today, it has evolved as Samsung-Thales, a 50-50 venture between Samsung and European naval defense-systems vendor, Thales. The Ballistic Computer System features a 16-bit processor that calculate ballistic trajectories for 105 mm artillery guns is one of the best selling products of the company.

The Indian Army is planning to induct Ann Arbor’s MIL series

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MIL series for Indian Army



Ann Arbor’s MIL series is constructed to meet those electrical and mechanical standards that let it perform on land, sea or in the air. The system has a main console, a detachable display unit and detachable keyboard unit. It also has an additional EMI (electromagnetic interference) protection layer that shields it from ground loops, common impedance paths, direct magnetic or electric field coupling, electrostatic discharge and so on. The systems will shortly be commissioned for use in the Indian Army.

SmartBoard can be

used to show images, presentations etc

SmartBoard, smarter technology



SmartBoard from Smart Technologies is used by the US defense forces for a presentation that’s not plain vanilla but is smarter in the sense that it works on digitizing technology. This means there’re two resistive PVC sheets that have sensors on them separated by an air gap. A frame made out of textured graphite-gray plastic holds the two sheets together. This setup is mounted on a wall using the Wall-mount bracket.

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A freehand writing can be converted to text in the fonts of your choice, and saved on to the PC attached to the board.

PowerPoint Presentations and maps can be shown and particular areas be chosen to zoom in, write comments on and save on to the PC for later reference.

Courtesy: BoseBose aviation headsets



Bose Aviation Headset X used by pilots in the US improves noise reduction and comfort while flying. The headsets are based on Bose’s proprietary active noise-reduction technology.

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They’re available in two configurations: the portable version, which can operate for 20 hours, and the installed version that works with Bose installed interface.

LG Monitors in Defense



The Korean IT major has a significant presence in the defense market through group companies LG Innotek and LG Precision which sell missile guidance systems, firing-control systems and high precision calibrating equipment. LG Electronics also sells high resolution LCD monitors for command and control stations.

Courtesy: LGMotorola’s Moto



What is your moto, or so screams the famous V70 ad from this cellphone maker’. Well, they also make radios, right from the ones in taxis to secure and jamming-resistant, ruggedized all weather ones for special-forces operations. The MTX UHF Handheld Radio and Charger is specifically meant for infantry battalions. The LTS 2000 is a secure, UHF radio that is also targeted at land forces.

Motorola also integrates C4I systems for armed forces worldwide.

Benoy George Thomas and Neetu Katyal

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