Stores management system fiber optic video network

Stores Management Systems (SMS) complexity, processing, and bandwidth requirements are rising as new requirements are placed on today´s weapons. As the increasing need for automation forces the classic SMS into the realm of a communications intensive architecture, powerful processors with higher data and video rate transfer as well as a common video transfer media are required to manage the tactical weapons mix of tomorrow´s military aircraft. The need to have a flexible interface with current inventory stores (both MIL-STD-1760B and non-1760B), and future weapons is required. SMS weight, power and volume reductions also need to be addressed. Weapons integration technology is only beginning to provide the capabilities required for dual-role missions with current and future aircraft and weapons. Improved integration technology is needed to meet the increased processing, higher; digital data bandwidth transfer and video/RF transfer media requirements. Boeing Defense and Space Group is currently developing a video transfer media based on commercial off the shelf (COTS) fiber optic components in support of a new Stores Management System concept. The COTS components provide a dual role of passing video data and digital data reducing the overall aircraft systems cost. The development, functionality and application of this video data bus are examined