Collins Aerospace Joins Forces with U.S. Army: Pioneering Standards for Multicore Processor and Open Architecture Airworthiness

Collins Aerospace has initiated a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center to establish optimal practices, strategies, processes, and methodologies for airworthiness accreditation of multicore processors. This collaborative project will tackle the necessity of quicker integration of innovative capabilities, increased mission adaptability, and reduced procurement expenses.

“As Army Aviation spearheads the U.S. Department of Defense in the advancement of Future Vertical Lift platforms, this partnership will set the groundwork for defining Modular Open System Approaches with a focus on multicore processor airworthiness certification,” stated Dave Schreck, vice president, Military Avionics & Helicopters for Collins Aerospace. “The purpose of this collaborative agreement is to enhance airworthiness certifications for this emerging technology sector that meet the expectations of both Army and the industry. By working collectively, we will concentrate on expediting certification timelines and improving cost-effectiveness to ensure warfighter superiority in support of the contemporary and future fleets of military rotorcraft platforms and beyond.”

Collins has been a premier provider of civil-certified, high integrity, safety-critical processors for military aviation for over twenty years and is now leveraging that expertise in the development of multicore processors and MOSA solutions. The company has recently inaugurated a MOSA Center of Excellence in Huntsville and is collaborating closely with Army Aviation on its Future Vertical Lift and enduring fleet enhancement initiatives.