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.