SRC: Military Communications Systems
R&D company relies on FPGAs for fast turnaround of electronic-warfare, radar, and comms systems.
SRC is a not-for-profit research-and-development organization that for more than 50 years has partnered with the U.S. government to rapidly solve some of the most challenging issues the military faces, on and off the battlefield. The company, which has roughly 1,000 employees in 12 offices nationwide, is a longtime customer of Xilinx and uses FPGAs to quickly prototype and deploy systems as they are needed.
A large segment of SRC’s business specializes in developing proof-of-concept prototype radar and communication systems. These programs leverage the latest technologies in innovative ways to perform their intended mission. As a prototype developer, the company faces three fundamental obstacles: schedule, evolving requirements, and cost. Typically, it takes a year to go from an initial concept to having a working prototype system.
In 1991, SRC began using FPGAs, recognizing that the programmable devices could improve turnaround time, adapt to changing customer requirements and lower costs.
By using Xilinx FPGA-based systems, SRC has been able to swiftly and easily change and enhance system functionality in the field to adapt to the evolving threats that U.S. soldiers face every day. SRC continues to leverage Xilinx’ latest-generation FPGAs to dramatically increase performance while decreasing the size, power and weight of the systems deployed to the field.
Additional Information
- Excerpts taken from the article, “SRC Rapidly Innovates to Save Lives, on and off the Battlefield,” in Xcell Customer Innovation 2010.