Embedded Ethernet switch set for military duty

The CPC6600 embedded Ethernet switch is to be used by Northrop Grumman for the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle in production for the US Air Force.

The Performance Technologies CPC6600 embedded Ethernet switch is to be used by Northrop Grumman for the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in production for the US Air Force.

Northrop Grumman provides products, services and solutions in defence electronics, information technology, advanced aircraft and space technology.

The Global Hawk UAV provides near-real-time, high-resolution intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance imagery to battlespace commanders.

Cruising at extremely high altitudes, Global Hawk can survey large geographic areas with pinpoint accuracy to give military decision makers the most current information about enemy location, resources and personnel.

"At Northrop Grumman, we strive for excellence in each of the products, services and solutions that we provide and seek the same qualities in our suppliers", said George Guerra, Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk Programme Director.

"We regard our suppliers as essential team members and are pleased to add Performance Technologies to the Global Hawk team".

Performance Technologies' CPC6600 is designed to be used as a high-speed interconnect within server blade chassis or as a core switch in fault-tolerant clusters of embedded systems.

Part of the company's Advanced Managed Platform offering, the CPC6600 provides increased bandwidth, performance and reliability and is ideal for use in high availability applications such as Global Hawk.

"We have a long history as a Northrop Grumman supplier, and that is a testament to the quality and reliability of our products", said Jean Pierre Filion, Vice President of Worldwide Sales for Performance Technologies.

"We are proud to be working with Northrop Grumman on Global Hawk, and we are confident our longstanding relationship will continue onto future projects".

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