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Connectors Lighten the

SWaP Burden in UAV/MUMT

Aircraft Electronics

ombat is being transformed by Manned- Modern-day electronic devices may be lighter
Unmanned Teaming (MUMT) and Un- than the javelins and bazookas that burdened sol-
manned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technolo- diers in ancient Rome and World War II. But
Cgies that improve a warrior’s situational today, all the batteries, GPS, smartphones, tablets,
awareness. When a multi-platform communica- weapon optics, and night-vision and imaging de-
tions system is employed, operators get the big vices can add up to 20 pounds to the “Nett War-
picture of the entire fight as it unfolds. The time rior’s” field gear.
between sensors detecting threats and operators Traditional MIL-SPEC connectors contribute to
making decisions is dramatically slashed. the weight burden. While well-known MIL-DTL-
With MUMT, an immense amount of informa- 38999 circular connectors are still used in many
tion, including video, and intelligence, surveil- applications, they are relatively large, heavy, and
lance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data—obtained not suited for embedded high-speed systems. To
from high-bandwidth sensors—is rapidly routed reduce the load, smaller, more conformal fitting,
between manned and unmanned airborne plat- and lighter weight connectors and assemblies are
forms, satellites, ground radar, remote command now available.
and control centers, and integrated tactical net- For example, compared to common aluminum
works (ITNs). Compact electronics employing ad- 38999 connector shells, shell designs that use
vanced connectors with reduced SWaP profiles composite materials—such as Polyetheretherke-
make today’s UAV innovations possible. tone (PEEK), Polyetherimide (PEI), or Liquid Crys-
tal Polymer (LCP)—can cut connector weight by
Solving SWaP Challenges from the Ground Up as much as 30%. Another example: Miniature cir-
With all the advantages of having multiple eyes cular connector designs in micro D- or nano D-
in the sky, there’s an age-old disadvantage: the type styles derived from MIL-DTL-38999 are
size, weight, and power (SWaP) of electronic gear. nearly 50% shorter, 33% smaller in diameter, and
Weight limits mobility, and mission endurance is 300% lighter while increasing contact density for
a perennial problem for aircraft and for infantry. higher throughput.

6 www.aerodefensetech.com Aerospace & Defense Technology, May 2020