Data Converter Cabinet for AEGIS Weapon System MK99 Fire Control System

The AEGIS MK99 fire control system aboard the DDG51 Class ships rely on a wire wrap backplane to relay power and logic to various circuit card assemblies (CCAs) within the Data Converter Cabinet to manage the complex systems including the SPG-62/MK82 antenna system. Wire wrap boards traditionally have provided a technological edge for everything from telecommunications to aviation by allowing circuit cards to be manufactured as a line replaceable unit (LRU). Unfortunately this technology is now two generations behind modern manufacturing technologies which have transitioned exclusively to printed circuit boards that heavily leverage surface mount components.Ý Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) have replaced wire wrap boards not only because wire wrap boards are labor intensive to manufacture, but compared to modern circuit cards, wire wrap board must be significantly larger to accommodate the wire wrap posts and wires traversing the card.ÝSimilarly surface mount components are utilized by designers, wherever possible, because of their reduced footprints, reduced power consumption, and their ability to be automatically placed and soldered to PCBs.Ý This results in a difficult manufacturing environment to modify, repair, or produce systems that rely on wire wrap technology due to the lack of knowledge and components to support the work. Under this effort, GS Engineering will develop a solid-state backplane system based on modern PCBs and readily available surface-mount components. This system will be capable of integrating within current Data Converter Cabinets and interfacing with existing CCAs.Ý A complete system including backplane, CCA connections and interfaces, and mechanical cabinet interface will be developed that is man-portable, hatchable, and requires minimal changes to existing systems (power, heat load, etc.)Ý As part of this process, a supply base capable of producing the improved solid-state backplane systems will be developed.Ý In this way, existing systems may be updated as they are lost through attrition or during scheduled maintenance periods.