Fiber Optic Networking Technology for Advanced Payload Integration on F-35 and Other Platforms

Capability and flexibility for interconnection of advanced weapons and other payloads on recent and next generation aircraft combat platforms is significantly limited by the available data throughput paths and associated capacities of legacy data and other signal transfer technologies in current platform/payload interfaces.Reserved fiber optic provisions in these interfaces, if appropriately defined for implementation, offer promise to enhance platform/payload interconnectivity by orders of magnitude.This would bring payload interconnectivity in line with evolving trends in platform avionics networks, and facilitate useful new operational capabilities that cannot currently be supported.While some preliminary work has been accomplished toward definition of a fiber optic payload interface capability, applied resources to date have been limited and significant work remains to define and prove feasibility of a practical fiber optic payload networking capability.The preceding Phase I effort established a requirements baseline for a fiber optics based advanced platform/payload integration capability, investigated candidate implementation technologies and approaches for practical realization of this capability, and defined a recommended fiber optic payload integration network architecture and approach for follow-on prototyping and demonstration of key network elements.This proposal describes a suggested Phase II follow-on effort to conduct the recommended prototyping and demonstration activities.