Wanted: companies to build vetronics computers for armored combat vehicles
WARREN, Mich. – U.S. Army vetronics experts are surveying industry for companies able to provide mission computers and network switches for the Stryker ECP armored combat vehicle.
Officials of the Army Contracting Command in Warren, Mich., issued a request for information on Monday (W56HZV-MissionComputerNetworkSmartSwitch) for contractors able to provide a mission computer and network switch for the Stryker ECP vehicle platform.
The Stryker ECP's video display terminal and its replacement video display electronic terminal are approaching obsolescence, Army officials say Secure classification separation has also become a concern.
Army vetronics experts say they could save money by replacing discrete hardware with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) computers and network switches.
Related: Army briefings in April to focus on next-generation vetronics for armored combat vehicles
The Army Contracting command issued this RFI on behalf of the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC), Vehicle Electronics and Architecture (VEA).
Officials want to know the availability and cost of providing mission computer and network switch that can provide IEEE 1588-2008v2 PTP timing to all the vehicle's networked devices.
This should involve a configuration that can provide a 1-pulse-per-second (PPS) signal, a key-fill interface in accordance with (IAW) IS-GPS-164, and a GPS antenna interface IAW IS-GPS-164 for Stryker ECP armored combat vehicles.
Officials want to know the target cost for baseline and expanded-configuration products in product lots of 1, 100, and 300 units per year. Companies also should identify risk areas that inhibit product development.
The mission computer must be able to drive two independent displays through DVI, accept USB commands from the independent displays, and must be able to read and write CAN and Ethernet messages.
The computer and network interface must include three physically isolated USB 2.0 and 3.0 interfaces; three CAN interfaces; two RS-170 inputs; two RS-232 interfaces; two DVI interfaces; one 100 baseT Ethernet interface; at least 8 gigabytes of RAM; at least 16 gigabytes of data storage; TPM 2.0; and a microprocessor capable of a floating point base rate greater than 23 when tested using the SPEC CPU 2017 benchmark.
Officials want a description of the product detailing its interfaces, performance specifications, environmental performance, design architecture, size, weight, power, cooling, cost, lead time for initial units, and lead time and delivery schedule for production units.
Related: Networked vetronics for armored combat vehicles is aim of French company team
Responses should identify the proposed product; list its capabilities; identify its operating temperature ranges, resistance to vibration and shock, its explosive environment suitability, and resistance to sand, dust, and contamination fluids; a list of supported interfaces; ability to drive two independent crew stations; whether TPM 2.0 is supported; its size, weight, power consumption (SWaP), and cooling; lead time for initial and production units; procurement and life cycle support costs over 10 years; and a maintenance approach.
Companies interested should email responses no longer than 30 pages by 12 June 2019 to the Army's Jenelle Vickberg at [email protected]. Email questions or concerns to Jenelle Vickberg at [email protected].
More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/notices/b054a5d3826a8caa724e04f5e356abc1.
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John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
