High-Speed Communications for the MK41 Vertical Launch System

The adoption of a high-speed communications network by the MK41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) would make the system more practical for its integration with new technologies.  A collection of low-speed, serial data interfaces are currently used by the MK41 VLS for communications with the Weapon Control Systems (WCS) and the missiles.  While these legacy communication interfaces are essential in the support of the qualified, deployed weapons systems, they are a limitation for systems with greater data demands.  Large data transfers over these interfaces can consume the attention of the MK41 VLS for extended periods of time, gating many other system operations.  A high-speed communications technology, such as Gigabit Ethernet, would provide a more efficient data transfer method.  The embracement of such a technology by the MK41 VLS is complicated by the legacy interfaces it must support, which have limited remaining options for future expansion.  RC Elite Systems proposes an innovative network solution for the MK41 VLS which enables high-speed communications through the same interfaces that retain legacy compatibility.  The proposed solution describes the network architecture and introduces a High-Speed Interface Processor (HSIP) which can dynamically switch between Gigabit Ethernet and legacy serial communications over the same fiber optical interface.  This proposal details the solution and describes the disciplined approach that RC Elite Systems will take in engineering and testing the viability of the proposed solution.