DIGITAL ENGINEERING – Photonics Integration for Modular Open Systems Approach Avionics Plug-in Modules

Advancements in optical transport and signal processing for digital and Microwave Photonics (MWP) technology have enabled higher bandwidth, throughput, Dynamic Range (DR), and communication link budgets. Optical transport eliminates heavy shielded twisted pair or coaxial cables, reducing Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) and provides Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) immunity compared to traditional Radio Frequency (RF) and digital interfaces and mediums. The United States (US) Navy Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and Joint Forces are developing new Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR), communications, Electronic Warfare (EW), RADAR, and core airborne avionic systems that are enhanced by the performance improvements and SWaP reductions provided by digital and microwave photonics. Avionics development programs are expected to have digital and analog/Radio Frequency (RF) signal transmission rates and operating frequencies where photonics is the only logical medium with the capacity and low loss characteristics for maintaining signal integrity. Recent progress in digital fiber optic communications has paved the way for data rates of 100 Gbps and higher. Research in MWP has shown the potential for dramatic improvements to the performance and capability of analog/RF systems using phase modulation with interferometric detection or intensity modulation with direct detection, based on component improvements such as modulator sensitivity and photodetector bandwidth. The Navy is interested in applying these advances to its platforms but lacks the tools to incorporate them into already complex systems. While photonics offers many potential benefits, incorporating these new technologies into existing systems introduces new interfaces and subsystems, increasing overall complexity dramatically. Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is an ideal solution to understand these complexities and tradeoffs of design decisions.