Mercury enables Airbus A330 MRTT to become world’s first tanker certified for automatic air-to-air refueling operations
On October 11, 2022, Mercury Systems, Inc. (MRCY) announced the certification of its mission computer for the Airbus A330 MRTT, marking the world's first approval for automatic air-to-air refueling (A3R) boom operations. This achievement is facilitated by Mercury's cutting-edge ROCK platform, designed for safety and high-performance computing. The system enhances the in-flight refueling process, improving safety and reducing operator workload without additional equipment. Mercury's long-standing expertise in safety-certifiable systems underscores this milestone, aiding Airbus in advancing air fleet operations.
- Certification of A330 MRTT's mission computer for A3R operations enhances operational capabilities.
- Improved safety measures and reduced refueling operator workload due to advanced technology.
- Utilization of Mercury's proven ROCK platform demonstrates innovation in aerospace technology.
- None.
ANDOVER, Mass., Oct. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mercury Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com), a leader in trusted, secure mission-critical technologies for aerospace and defense, today announced that the mission computer built for the Airbus A330 MRTT allowed the tanker to receive the world’s first certification for automatic air-to-air refueling (A3R) boom operations.
Mercury Mission Systems International, located in Switzerland and Spain, delivered a purpose-built computer for Airbus based on the commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) ROCK family of pre-integrated subsystem platforms that draw from a range of safety-certifiable modular COTS building blocks, addressing both the need for high-end video processing and the safety-criticality of the application. The system handles video streams with very low latency across multiple processors while meeting stringent DO-178 and DO-254 software reliability processes.
Why It Matters
The in-flight refueling process must be reliable and repeatable, and it must meet avionics flight safety certifications designed to eliminate risk of catastrophic failure caused by computing malfunction. Airbus’s SMART MRTT program enables A3R operations with no additional equipment on the receiver aircraft, which can reduce refueling operator workload, improve safety, and enable air superiority.
“Mercury has a 30-year track-record in delivering safety-certifiable systems, and we are proud to contribute to this extraordinary milestone,” said Wolfgang Tostmann, vice president and general manager, Mercury Mission Systems International. “Airbus is an avionics visionary that tapped into the Mercury processing platform to develop a capability that will revolutionize air fleet operations.”
“Through our past experience working with Mercury as a trusted solution provider, we knew they’d be the perfect partner to contribute to this remarkable milestone,” said Luis Miguel Hernández, Airbus SMART MRTT Program Manager. “Mercury developed the high-performance computing platform that allowed Airbus DS to integrate the core artificial vision algorithms that made this achievement possible.”
Mercury envisions, creates, and delivers innovative technology solutions purpose-built to meet its customers' most pressing high-tech needs. For more information, visit mrcy.com or contact Mercury at (866) 627-6951 or info@mrcy.com.
Mercury Systems – Innovation That Matters®
Mercury Systems is a technology company that delivers commercial innovation to rapidly transform the global aerospace and defense industry. From data to decision, silicon to systems, A&D leaders turn to the products, services, technologies and people that comprise the secure, end-to-end Mercury processing platform—the exponential power that connects customers to what matters most. Innovation That Matters®. By and For People Who Matter. To learn more, visit mrcy.com, or follow us on Twitter.
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CONTACT
Turner Brinton, Sr. Director of Corporate Communications
Mercury Systems Inc.
turner.brinton@mrcy.com
Mercury Systems and Innovation That Matters are registered trademarks of Mercury Systems, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
FAQ
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