Leonardo DRS Pairs Open Architectures, Airborne Integration Expertise

Military aviation programs face growing pressure to field new capabilities on operational timelines. Yet a promising solution does not become mission capability simply because it works in a laboratory. It must operate within an aircraft’s real constraints: available volume, power, cooling, data interfaces, electromagnetic environment, cybersecurity requirements, airworthiness process and verification plan.

That integration challenge is especially acute for capability developers and government program offices that have an urgent mission need but no practical on-ramp to the target aircraft. Traditional approaches often require a purpose-built processor, a platform-specific enclosure and a lengthy modification effort before the new capability can reach the flight line.

Leonardo DRS is applying a reusable, mission system baseline to the company’s established experience integrating complex electronics into airborne environments. The objective is a repeatable path from emerging mission capability to an integrated, qualified solution.

The Sensor Open Systems Architecture, or SOSA, provides an important technical foundation for modular mission systems. It defines common profiles and interfaces to support interoperability among components, helping customers avoid unnecessarily closed, single-purpose system designs.

A fieldable airborne solution must also address the realities outside the card cage (thermal, EMI, structural loads) and the evidence required to support airworthiness and qualification decisions. Treating these requirements as late-stage packaging work often results in them becoming the pacing item for the program.

Leonardo DRS’ approach is to maximize reuse of mission system architecture across applications while tailoring features that must be unique to the platform. Platform engineering then focuses on physical installation and aircraft environment. The value of that approach is visible across several Leonardo DRS efforts.

OASIS

Open Architecture Scalable Internal Subsystem

Initially developed around an F-35 use case, OASIS is a PAO-cooled, 3U VPX subsystem with capacity for SOSA cards and custom payload elements. Its design includes a vehicle interface card, chassis and system management functions, and a modular front panel for evolving input / output interfaces.

For the F-35, the goal is to create a potential pathway for future capability insertion that does not alter or interfere with the existing TR-3/Block IV program baseline. OASIS creates the possibility of inserting new training or RF capability onto the F-35, a possibility whose realization depends entirely on government requirements, available aircraft interfaces, and program-level decisions. Equally important, OASIS is designed so its core architecture can extend beyond a single platform or cooling method.

PRISM

Pod-based Reconfigurable Integrated Scalable Mission

PRISM represents the external pod path. For many operational aircraft, an externally carried pod is the only practical way to introduce new capability without waiting for a major group A or internal avionics modification. PRISM offers the same open architecture environment in a flight-certified pod heritage, with over 5,000 units produced over 30 years in various configurations qualified on a wide variety of US and allied aircraft. The combination of an open architecture backbone with a proven airborne platform offers several advantages to include the ability to rapidly demonstrate and test new capabilities, reduced integration risk and qualification timelines, and rapid iteration via independent pod upgrade and reconfiguration. PRISM allows for true mission flexibility and multi-role employment. A common aircraft fleet can carry a range of mission-specific pods for sensing, RF, EW, EP, ISR, MUM-T or training and swapped as the mission requires, turning a single platform into several mission systems without touching the airframe.

JTT-X

Joint Tactical Terminal Transceiver

A third example applies the same logic to tactical terminals and beyond-line-of-sight communications. JTT-X is part of a platform agnostic family of hybrid SATCOM terminals built on a modular, SOSA-aligned architecture with 3U VPX expansion capacity, providing resilient BLOS connectivity across satellite networks in support of the Navy’s communications architecture.

For the EA-18G Growler, the architecture was adapted into an air-cooled, qualified subsystem carrying Transceiver Crypto Module cards with embedded crypto and UHF secure tactical communications, including High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryption. The program has since moved beyond demonstration, with a $39.6 million NAVAIR contract for production.

From Architecture to Flight Line

Rapid integration via an open platform like OASIS or PRISM does not mean bypassing engineering discipline or qualification. It means moving risk reduction earlier. For a government program office, that can shorten the path from a mission need to fielded capability. For a capability developer, it provides access to an established airborne integration environment. Leonardo DRS can integrate mission hardware and software in a controlled environment in a way that complements government or partner technology investments. This allows customers to enter aircraft integration with a more mature, lower-risk system.

For program offices and capability providers alike, the opportunity is straightforward: bring the mission capability to an integration partner that can help turn it into a qualified airborne solution on a timeline relevant to the fight.

Visit the Leonardo DRS booth #1402 at the AFA Air, Space & Cyber Conference to learn how open-architecture mission systems and proven airborne integration can help accelerate the path from emerging capability to qualified, fieldable solutions.