ODU AMC High-Density as a solution

As a counterpart to the standard interface, ODU offers their AMC High-Density miniature circular connectors – space saving and powerful for power and data rates.

High contact density allows for high currents in a small space, making them ideal for mobile military systems. The robust design was developed for connection under extreme conditions and can withstand even strong vibrations, moisture, dust and considerable temperature fluctuations from -40° C to +85° C.

With IP68 / IP6K9K, the system is also permanently protected against the ingress of water, even during high-pressure cleaning or submersion. Furthermore, the seamless EMC shielding ensures reliable signal transmission even with high electromagnetic interference.

A break-away function enables quick disconnection in an emergency – alternatively, an additional screw-lock function ensures robust permanently fixed positions.

But that is not the end of the USB saga

Military equipment is undergoing a huge transformation, with a proliferation of small COTS devices, often connected/charged via a standard USB-C socket.

So, what is now needed is an ‘umbilical’ link between base equipment and the various hand-held devices. ODU now offers just such a pragmatic solution:

 ODU AMC High-Density to USB-C interface umbilical

• ODU AMC High-Density 12.8mm diameter connector at one end and a right-angled over-moulded USB-C plug at the other – crucial for mobile systems.
• Maximum flexibility and convenience thanks to cable lengths of up to 4 metres.
• Power transmission up to 5A and data rates up to 480 Mbit/s
• Robust design for -40° C to +85° C and 5,000 mating cycles

This umbilical offers the best possible solution – retaining the high integrity of the connection to base equipment while providing the most rugged connection to the small ancillary devices.

ODU-UK Ltd                                          tel: 0330 002 0640   

sales@odu-uk.co.uk                            www.odu-connectors.com/uk    

“Molex is excited to reinforce our commitment to the aerospace and defense market with the acquisition of Smiths Interconnect,” said Joe Nelligan, CEO, Molex.

The acquisition is a strategic plan to further strengthen Molex in aerospace and defence sectors, following its acquisition of AirBorn last November.

“The combination of Molex’s global scale, capabilities and financial stability with Smiths Interconnect’s complementary technologies, products, customers and footprint will enable us to expand our aerospace and defense business and support customers in new and innovative ways,” said Nelligan.

Smiths Interconnect designs and manufactures innovative electronic components, along with microwave, optical and radio frequency products and subsystems that connect, protect and control critical applications.

Smiths Interconnect has 21 sales, R&D and manufacturing locations across 12 countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Italy, Tunisia, India, China and Singapore.

The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. More information will be shared at that time. Jones Day is acting as Molex’s legal advisor and Rothschild & Co is serving as Molex’s exclusive financial advisor.

www.molex.com.

“The importance of leading-edge power products cannot be overstated, and Nexperia provides some of the best – whether they are targeted for automotive, industrial or portable or even wearable applications. We share their goal of ensuring developers can access the exact components they need, when they need them. With comprehensive Nexperia inventory available across the Americas, EMEA and APAC, we are ready to support engineers worldwide,” said  Jose Lok, Global Product Category Director, Passives and Semiconductors at Farnell.

Nexperia is known for the quality and reliability of its products, ranging from discrete components, power, to logic ICs. To sustain its portfolion, the company continues to invest in its manufacturing, which includes $200m for SiC and GaN technology at its facility Hamburg, Germany. The investment is now yielding results, with a rapidly growing portfolio that includes power MOSFETs, wide bandgap semiconductors, IGBTs, as well as analogue and power management ICs.

These manufacturing advancements and new product introductions highlight Nexperia’s commitment to advancing production capabilities and meeting future demands, and Farnell’s expansion of Nexperia power products in stock reflects the desire to meet demand.

Included in the new series available from Farnell are:

• Power MOSFETs – Automotive-qualified power MOSFETs, small signal MOSFETs, and application specific MOSFETs from 20V to 100V. These devices provide excellent switching performance and robustness in copper-clip packages (LFPAK, CCPAK) and micro lead package (MLPAK) variants.
• 650V IGBT discretes in H-series (high speed) and M-series (motor drive) options deliver ruggedness, high reliability and enhanced inverter power density for medium and high voltage industrial applications.
• SiC diodes offer temperature-independent capacitive turn-off and zero recovery switching behaviour, combined with an outstanding figure-of-merit (Qc x VF).
• SiC MOSFETs with excellent RDSon temperature stability, fast switching speed, and high short-circuit ruggedness for high-power and high-voltage industrial applications.
• Low voltage e-mode GaN FETs, 650 V e-mode GaN FETs, 40 V bi-directional GaN FETs and 650 V cascode GaN FETs designed for enhanced power density through reduced conduction and switching losses in low- or high-power conversion applications
• Power rectifiers that deliver power density while minimising reverse recovery time and loss

The new range of power products from Nexperia is now available and shipping from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

Software framework company RTI is the trusted partner for Navantia’s advanced naval projects, including combat systems, navigation systems, and new research initiatives within its Center of Excellence (COEX) for Naval Systems, part of the broader Navantia COEX network.

RTI Connext supports Navantia’s diverse technology stack, which includes C++ and Linux for combat systems, and a mix of Python, C++, and Android in the COEX division. Connext streamlines system development, cutting debugging time to mere hours.

“Connext simplifies our development processes, allowing our teams to focus resources on other time sensitive challenges rather than low-level communication issues. Its robust tools and extensive documentation make it an ideal solution for our integration needs, especially with third-party components and other shipbuilders,” said Luis Arce, Head of Systems Engineering at Navantia.”Connext is deeply embedded into our operational framework and provides the real-time connectivity essential for our most complex systems .”

Navantia needed a solution that would reduce integration complexity and strengthen compatibility with partners and third-party technologies within its ecosystem. By working with RTI, Navantia benefits from a more optimised and standardised platform—saving time and improving data modelling. RTI’s comprehensive tools and on-the-ground support in Spain also play a key role in driving these tangible results.

“Navantia’s trust in RTI for its most advanced naval programs underscores the reliability of our technology and the essential role Connext plays in enabling complex systems to evolve and innovate at scale,” said John Breitenbach, Director of Aerospace and Defense Markets at RTI. “We’re proud to continue this valued partnership and support Navantia in accelerating scaleable, interoperable systems that will help shape the future of naval defence.”

Beyond powering core naval operations, Connext ensures all systems remain current and supported while providing access to newer technology capabilities for future development and deployment.

Find out more here.

Since its inception in 1964, CEI has been a premier source of electronic excellence, serving the military, industrial, medical and commercial markets. CEI’s track record of outstanding workmanship and quality has made the company name synonymous with dependability, reliability and high-performance.

The company was founded in Unadilla, NY, utilising mica technologies before relocating to Oneonta in 1965. The facility has since seen three additions to the complex and is now about 27,000 square feet. To this day, CEI has a continued mission to custom design, manufacture and support a wide variety of specialised, reliable, high-quality capacitors and electronic assemblies for the range of markets it serves. “CEI has manufactured mica paper capacitors since it was founded 60 years ago and continues to be an industry leader,” says Mike Schulte, Sales Manager at CEI. “Our future looks strong as we continue to expand in other areas. We’ve gotten involved in battery, LED technologies and various other R&D projects as part of our growth.”

Throughout the last 60 years, CEI has employed professionals in several disciplines – many of which still contribute their expertise to the company and its products today. Jonathan Dokuchitz, whose parents Peter and Joan Dokuchitz, founded CEI, joined the company in 2007 and now sits on the Board of Directors as the Vice Chairman. “We all feel like this is a big family, which I think is the wonderful thing about a small company. You get to really know each other and grow together,” he shares. “No matter where we go, my siblings and I will always have CEI as a part of our family. When I think about the future, I’m excited because here we are 60 years later, and we are still discovering new applications and new products for the younger generation.”

Michael Pentaris joined CEI in 2003 as Vice President and was promoted to CEO and President in 2004. Since then, he has been a major contributor to the company’s success and the significance of its products in various industries. In 2005, Pentaris started a new product development program that resulted in Ioxus, an ultra-capacitor manufacturer. Pentaris served as dual CEO for both companies until late 2010.

“Michael got us involved in new areas with our cell production for our super-capacitors,” shares Dokuchitz. “There was also a big push for renewable energy, and Michael identified this as an opportunity for CEI to develop lithium-ion cells. This has resulted in a partnership with a fellow NY company, Briteshot, which uses mobile batteries to run the camera dollies and light systems for television production.”

CEI has also been involved in many major military programs including Patriot Missile Systems (1970’s-present), AMRAAM Missile (1980’s-present) and multiple fighter jet radar systems. “We collaborate with the Department of Defence in their efforts to lighten the packs of their personnel in the field,” says Dokuchitz. “Coming up with batteries that are flexible, lightweight and have different applications has been important for us as a company.”

Another long time CEI employee, Dick Young, began his career with the company in 1969 and has been building his legacy for over 55 years. Young reflected on the early days at CEI and those who helped him get to where he is now. “I had an outstanding mentor when I first started, George Peck. He was an exceptional teacher and helped me learn more about moulding than you could ever imagine, to this day I am still so grateful for his guidance,” he shares. “I have taken what I learned from him and continue to share it with my colleagues.”

Legacy staff member Mike Rundle was one of the people Young had mentored and has now been at CEI for 45 years. He started in 1979 as a custodian and was then brought up to the assembly line where he was put on infill and then eventually was taught molding, which is what he does now. “CEI has been good to me,” says Rundle. “They saw something in me when I first started and helped me grow to where I am now. CEI stands by its employees. I have enjoyed the experience, and I recommend it to anyone willing to invest the time and effort to learn.”

Schulte has also been a vital part of CEI for over 39 years, joining the company in 1985 as a member of the sales team. Throughout his tenure, he has cultivated strong relationships with customers, many of whom he continues to work with today. “What matters most to me is that people take pride in their work, and I truly respect the people who work here,” says Schulte. “If I’m to leave a legacy, I hope people remember me as a good friend, person and employee.”

Custom Electronics, Inc. is proud to celebrate its 60th anniversary and highlight a few of its hard-working, legacy staff members and significant products that have helped the company reach various milestones over the years.

The Mouser team received the award in October 2024. The AMAO award recognises high performance in New Product Introductions (NPI) added, NPI extension and point-of-sales growth.

“It is an honour to recognise the Mouser team with this award for the third year in a row,” said Tobias Bischoff, European Distribution Manager High Service/Web at Amphenol Military & Aerospace. “Mouser has played a key role in contributing to our overall success, and we look forward to continuing to build on this momentum. Congratulations to the entire Mouser team.”

“We are thrilled to be the recipients of the AMAO EMEA High Service Web Distributor Award for the third year in a row,” said Marie-Pierre Ducharme, vice president, EMEA Supplier Marketing & Business Development at Mouser Electronics. “This third-time accolade is a testament to our mutual and continued success through the hard work and collaboration of both companies. We are excited to continue this great partnership with Amphenol, to provide our customers with the latest Amphenol products.”

Over the past decade, Mouser has received numerous awards from Amphenol Corporation and its subsidiaries, including the Best Performance High Service Digital Award from Amphenol Corporation in 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019 and 2018.

With 14,739 Amphenol Military and Aerospace products in stock, Mouser offers a wide selection of the manufacturer’s newest products, from electrical, electronic and fibre optic connectors, to interconnect systems, and coaxial and flat-ribbon cable.

To learn more, visit https://eu.mouser.com/manufacturer/amphenol/.

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Absolute EMS provides advanced PCB assembly (PCBA) and box-build manufacturing solutions, supporting industries where precision and AS9100 certification compliance are critical.

With this ITAR registration, Absolute EMS is now fully authorised to manufacture and manage ITAR-compliant products, ensuring the strict handling of sensitive materials in accordance with U.S. export control laws. This registration is a key milestone for Absolute EMS, allowing the company to deepen its involvement in military manufacturing and expand its offerings to defence OEM customers.

“Our ITAR registration demonstrates our dedication to meeting the stringent requirements of the military and government sectors,” said Doug Dow, COO at Absolute EMS. “We are proud to add ITAR to our existing suite of certifications, which includes ISO 13485:2016, AS9100 Rev D, ISO 9001:2015, IPC-A-610 Class 3, J-STD-001 Class 3, and more, ensuring that our customers receive the highest level of reliability and quality.”

Absolute EMS’s state-of-the-art facility offers touchless electronics contract manufacturing, nitrogen reflow, and a satellite manufacturing model designed to enhance flexibility and efficiency. The company’s capabilities serve a variety of industries, including medical manufacturing, military manufacturing and high-reliability applications, with a focus on printed circuit board assembly in Silicon Valley. Absolute EMS also operates under NAICS code 334418 and is UL Registered.

This ITAR registration further strengthens Absolute EMS’s position as a high-performance EMS provider, delivering PCB assembly solutions that meet the most demanding requirements of the defense and aerospace sectors.

For more information about Absolute EMS and its ITAR-compliant services, visit www.absolute-ems.com.

WOLF modules like its 6U VPX, 3U VPX, XMC and MXM/MXC capture, processe, encode and display video, and now even use AI inference. On the other hand, SYSGO’s real-time operating system, PikeOS, is known for its robustness in safety-critical and security-critical applications.

“The collaboration between SYSGO and WOLF Advanced Technology represents a significant advancement in the development of autonomous systems”, says Lindsey Chapman, VP Global Sales & Partnerships at WOLF Advanced Technology. “By combining state-of-the-art hardware and software, the partnership can deliver innovative solutions that enhance safety, security, and performance in critical applications”, adds Franz Walkembach, VP Marketing & Alliances at SYSGO.

The Weald LMH range of bayonet coupling connectors provide a cost-effective combination of price, size, weight, contact size, robustness and reliable quick-connect and are designed to perform to the requirements of MIL-DTL-26482 (previously MIL-C-26482) Series 1 and Patt 105. LMH series connectors are also manufactured to IECQ-CECC spec BS/CECC 75201-003 and BS 9522 F0017.

LMH connectors are available for signal and power applications and are manufactured with bonded insulators and contacts that are 100% pressure-tested during assembly to provide a reliable environmental seal even when unmated.

Key features of the Weald LMH connectors include:

• 9 shell sizes and 25 shell styles
• Contact arrangements from 2 to 61 ways,
• Maximum current rating of 45A
• Peak working voltages up to 1500V – DC or AC.
• Accessories include J sealing glands, protective caps and screen termination.

Standard LMH connector shells are made from aluminium alloy with a choice of high corrosion resistance plating finishes including the popular RoHS compliant nickel or black zinc nickel and, predominantly for defence applications, olive drab and RoHS compliant zinc cobalt finishes may be specified.

Weald Electronics manufactures a variety of accessories to complete its LMH range offering. These include LMA19 series backshells and LMD series LMD series protective caps  designed and made to the same very high standards.

Standard LMH connectors are generally available from stock on a next-day delivery basis with no minimum quantity or order value. For those with an application that needs a custom connector solution, Weald can design and assemble LMH specials to a customer’s exact specification on short lead times.

Weald Electronics is a UK connector manufacturer with more than 40 years of experience in the design, manufacture, and testing of high-performance connector systems for demanding applications as well as a wide range of accessories including sealing, and strain relief backshells.

All Weald Electronics products are available from the leading franchised distributor Lane Electronics and more information on the Weald LMH series connectors and an online catalogue can be found at www.wealdelectronics.com.

Although difficult to estimate the IoMT market size due to the sensitive nature of information, a 2022 report by GlobalData estimates it at $486bn in 2020, and predicts its growth to $807bn by 2025, at a compound annual growth rate of 11%.

Soldier wearables

Among IoMT devices, the development of innovative soldier wearables is the most prominent. According to a research by ReportLinker, the military wearables market is expected to exceed $5.6bn by the end of 2023 and double by 2030.

Programs like the US Army’s “Nett Warrior” outline systems for the development of the “future soldier”, ensuring every piece of equipment down to the smallest connector is designed for enhanced tactical capabilities. Similarly, head-mounted command-and-control displays equipped with augmented reality such as Microsoft’s Integrated Visual Augmentation System headset are rapidly gaining popularity.

Integrating wearable devices to monitor vital signs, fatigue levels and the location data of soldiers enables better health management and operational planning. Biometric sensors play an essential role here, since they track in real time heart rate, hydration levels, body temperature and other critical parameters. Connector types commonly used in these applications include magnetic and push-pull options for quick and easy mating, USB-C, micro-USB and HDMI connectors for power, video and data transfer.

Robust data transmission

Military operations often take place in challenging environments, where conditions can be extreme. This means that the IoMT connectors must be suitable for these environments, too, withstanding wide temperature ranges, vibrations and exposure to water, dust and other contaminants. A reliable and rugged connector ensures uninterrupted data transmission between sensors, devices and control centres, enabling real-time situational awareness and rapid decision making.

Data collected from IoMT systems can be analysed by machine-learning algorithms, to provide predictive insights regarding potential threats, equipment failures and supply chain disruptions.

To ensure the reliable acquisition and transmission of data, circular connectors are typically used: MIL-DTL-38999, MIL-DTL-26482 and military-grade RJ45 are known for their robustness, reliability and resistance to harsh environmental conditions. Most prevalent MIL-SPEC standards include MIL-DTL-5015 and MIL-DTL-26500.

Similarly, numerous other standards exist that cover different aspects of military equipment, such as the Generic Open Soldier System Reference Architecture (GOSSRA), German VG standards and NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG), which establish a common set of technical requirements ensuring interoperability and compatibility in joint military operations.

Interoperability

IoMT is characterised by a diverse array of interconnected devices that could be from different manufacturers, nations or military branches. Standardised connectors allow interoperability between numerous military assets, enabling seamless integration and cooperation across the battlefield.

To enhance IoT equipment connectivity, middleware platforms and standardised APIs, as well as Message Queuing Telemetry Transport, are used to facilitate communication and data exchange between diverse devices and systems.

IoMT is certainly a growing trend in defence and security, and here connectors play an essential role, to underpin this platform’s successful integration and operation.

PEI-Genesis offers rugged and reliable interconnect options from many manufacturers, which comply with MIL-SPEC standards and encompass all aspects of IoMT – from soldier-worn applications to land vehicles, aircraft and weapon systems.

By Alex Raymond, Product Manager, PEI-Genesis

Interest in and usage of Rust is growing in industrial applications. However, safety- and security-critical markets, such as aerospace, defence and automotive, face significant obstacles preventing the adoption of Rust for developing certifiable software. These critical barriers include rapid evolution of the Rust language, its associated tooling, and its runtime environment, as well as the need for commercial guarantees of its software supply chain. Moreover, developers in this field require industrial-grade support tailored to the needs of the safety- and security-critical industry for the Rust language and tools, long-term support for selected toolchain versions, and general support for a broader range of embedded platforms.

GNAT Pro for Rust addresses each of these barriers head-on. With GNAT Pro for Rust, customers won’t have to worry about unanticipated evolution of the language. The platform offers yearly updates to the Rust programming language and its associated tools, aligning with the update cadence of the other programming languages supported by GNAT Pro.

GNAT Pro for Rust also offers extensive support for a wide range of embedded platforms, catering to the specific needs of security- and safety-critical applications. GNAT Pro for Rust is an industrial-grade toolchain, delivered with guaranteed integrity of the software supply chain. Rust support is also offered through GNAT Pro Assurance, which provides long-term support via sustained branches for the complete toolchain for as long as customers require. Lastly, every GNAT Pro subscription comes with AdaCore’s best-in-class professional support, connecting customers directly with the experts who develop and maintain the product.

Quentin Ochem, Chief Product Officer at AdaCore, stated, “Our customers have expressed a strong desire to use Rust but have been unable to do so due to the limitations of existing Rust toolchains. This is particularly true in the context of certifiable security- and safety-critical embedded software. GNAT Pro for Rust addresses these concerns by removing the key barriers that have hindered the adoption of Rust. With GNAT Pro for Rust, our customers can confidently embrace Rust and move forward, equipped with the necessary tools for success.”

Challenges for developing UAVs

High Eye started with model helicopters in 1998 and then evolved into a specialist for unmanned helicopters. In developing reliable and safe control systems for the Airboxer VTOL UAV, the company encountered many challenges, to guarantee the aircraft can be safely and accurately controlled; each design iteration of the control system had to be throughly tested against the desired performance.

Another key requirement in developing the aircraft was its weight, which had to be minimal, to allow greater payload capacity and extended flight range, yet sufficiently strong to withstand the flight stresses. Finding the right balance between these demands whilst complying to NATO norms, such as STANAG 4738, are major challenges.

Complying to local regulations is another key challenge. The regulatory landscape in the unmanned aircraft industry is complex and difficult to navigate, which requires staying up to date on the latest rules and guidelines and continuously adapting and innovating.

We are working to obtain the Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC) right now, which is required for drone operations within the EU. This certificate allows us to assess the risks of our flights based on strict guidelines set by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Then, there are the technical challenges imposed by customer requirements, such as integrating specific payloads, which could be cameras, sensors, and more – all of which impact the aircraft’s weight and performance.

It took over eight years to develop the Airboxer and test it under the most extreme conditions on different continents: it was flewn over the Arctic Circle in Canada, in the desert of Abu Dhabi or over the sea in South Korea.

Drone connectors

We have been working with ODU for many years, using its AMC connector in our ground control station (GCS). This connector is highly valued and widely used in Dismounted Soldier Systems, because it is easy to handle and offers a robust break-away design, making it ideal for military and security power applications. The connector is also designed to withstand harsh conditions and has been tested to meet MIL-STD-810H standards.

Our GCS module is the central hub for all ground control equipment and is responsible for operating the flight control software and managing all telemetry communication. It communicates with the Airboxer, antenna systems and pilot control unit via Ethernet, so it requires a rugged, safe and reliable connector like the AMC. In fact, all high-quality VTOL UAVs require connectors that withstand the most extreme environments and function reliably – whether in scorching heat or super cold environments. The dependability of the system in these situations is crucial.

Key cooperation
The cooperation between High Eye and ODU is marked by several key features that set it apart, and customisation is one of them. Whether adapting connectors to fit specific requirements or developing bespoke payload capabilities, we are both committed to provide solutions that are tailored to the unique needs of each client.

Both of our companies are constantly looking for ways to push the boundaries of possiblities and to develop new technologies that will help our customers achieve their goals. This focus on innovation is what sets our collaboration apart and will ensure we remain at the forefront of our respective industries.

By Joost de Ruiter, CEO and owner, High Eye