New Rugged Computers for USSOCOM Armed Overwatch Sky Warden Aircraft

Each AT-802U Sky Warden aircraft will include two ZMicro ZM3 ultra-lightweight servers for situational awareness and mission management applications By DA Staff / 06 Oct 2022

Rack Mount Servers

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
AT-802U Sky Warden
Follow DA

L3Harris Technologies has selected ZMicro to provide rugged computing solutions for the AT-802U Sky Warden aircraft for the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)’s Armed Overwatch program. 

Each plane will include two ZMicro ZM3 ultra-lightweight servers for situational awareness and mission management applications. Located in the body of the aircraft, the ZM3s are connected via optical fiber to a storage docking unit in the cockpit, which includes four ZMicro TranzPak 1 ultra-compact NVMe drives. The cockpit storage dock gives crew members immediate access to drives for on- and off-boarding and enables remote control to power the ZM3s on and off.

Sky Warden is designed to perform in austere, disaggregated combat environments with limited infrastructure. It merges the features and functions of larger Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and armed aircraft into a single cost-effective, resilient platform that provides the operator the agility and flexibility to identify, track and immediately react to counter threats.

“L3Harris continues to be a fantastic partner to work with in terms of thinking outside the box to deliver leading-edge solutions,” said Jason Wade, President of ZMicro. “With Sky Warden, we can meet a critical need for US Special Operations Command for a low-cost aircraft that can take off and land in austere fields, fly for long periods, and support a variety of modular payloads.”

The ZM3 uses a Type 7 COM Express module to support a 16 Core Intel Xeon D Processor with up to 96G DDR4 RAM. It can accommodate double-wide COTS high-end graphics cards and an additional PCI Express card for custom user expansion.

“The ZM3 was designed to provide the enterprise-class capabilities of a rack mount server in a fraction of the size and weight, making it ideal for space-constrained applications such as airborne ISR,” said Wade. “It is unique because it’s the smallest, lightest rugged mission computer available that can support an NVIDIA GPU card, which is needed to run the advanced and trusted mission execution software developed by L3Harris ForceX.”

Posted by DA Staff Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Tyto Robotics: Propeller Balancing Methods for UAVs

Tyto Robotics highlights how static, dynamic, and aerodynamic propeller balancing methods correct vibration-related issues in UAV systems

May 12, 2025
Meltio Expands Metal Additive Manufacturing Presence to Portugal

Meltio has partnered with PrimeOut to drive metal 3D printing commercialization and integration in Portugal

May 12, 2025
Creomagic Partnership Delivers Integrated Tactical Communications & Surveillance System

Creomagic and RT LTA have partnered to develop SkyCnet, an integrated aerostat-based system that enhances tactical communications and situational awareness for defense and security operations

May 12, 2025
MIL-STD-461-Ready Rugged Computers at FEINDEF 2025

Neousys and Cenvalsa to showcase extreme-rugged, MIL-STD-461-ready computers at FEINDEF 2025 in Madrid, 12th to 14th May at booth 6A03

May 12, 2025
Precision Inertial Navigation Solutions for GPS-Denied Operations

ANELLO Photonics is a developer of cutting-edge inertial navigation solutions that enable military vehicles, aircraft, naval vessels and other platforms...

May 12, 2025
DTC & Idaho National Laboratory to Advance Secure Mission-Critical Communications

DTC and Idaho National Laboratory have partnered under a CRADA to develop secure, resilient communication technologies for mission-critical defense and national security operations

May 12, 2025

Featured Content

U.S. Army Partnership Advances Autonomous Helicopter Logistics Program

The U.S. Army is partnering with Honeywell and Near Earth Autonomy to retrofit Black Hawk helicopters with scalable autonomy kits for uncrewed logistics operations

May 08, 2025
Modular Head-Mounted Digital System for Real-Time Decision Support in Contested Environments

Galvion's new CORTEX™ system integrates compute, power, and data management into a modular helmet-mounted platform designed for modern tactical operations.

May 06, 2025
Partnership to Enhance Networking Capabilities for Defense Platforms

Amphenol Aerospace and BotBlox have partnered to distribute and integrate compact, rugged Ethernet hardware for defense platforms, enhancing networking capabilities and accelerating product development for uncrewed and mobile systems

May 01, 2025
Advancing Defense Capability Through Strategic Collaboration Defense Advancement works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive defense capabilities forward.