SDT Avionics and Mission Systems

SDT’s first indigenous avionics equipment design integrated to platforms is the Digital Data/Video Recording System (DDR) product family. Both the hardware and software of the DDR has been designed by SDT engineering. The products have been manufactured by SDT’s Production, Testing and Integration Division and provided as off-the-shelf product family to local and foreign aviation programmes. 

Basically, the DDR has the capability of  recording digital control data, video and audio signals at various platforms. Among the digital control data types, data received through MIL-STD-1553B, ARINC429, CAN and Ethernet data buses can be given as examples. Video interfaces can be PAL, NTSC, RS170, RS343, DVI, SDI or DisplayPort. The digital control data can be accessed via direct communication with data buses or it could be by means of a central control computer. The video and audio data received by DDR  is recorded by high efficiency compression algorithms. Removable memory modules used for recordings are connected to the post-flight ground support computer via standard industrial interfaces (USB, Ethernet, SATA etc.) in order to access the recorded data.

Similar products previously obtained from foreign sources can now be completely obtained from a local source that has led to an increase in local contribution in the main aviation programmes and has contributed to localisation in the support of avionics logistics. Today, all mission data recording system requirements that are within the agenda of air platform projects is being fully met with indigenously designed SDT products in Turkish defence market. The T-38 Trainer Aircraft, the ASELPOD Targeting Pod, the Turkish Unmanned Airborne Vehicle (TIHA) ANKA and the ATAK Helicopter’s  Data Recording System are some of the current programmes that SDT provided DDR products and SDT has still been providing such DDR products. Today, SDT data recording systems are deployed in over 200 platforms, new ones are being added as time passes and with each new product, the success of SDT’s data recording systems are being matured. 

The commercial success, accumulated technological know-how and obtained respect in the sector achieved via SDT’s DDR product family have opened the way to SDT for the development of many different avionics systems as derivatives of this hardware architecture. In order to give an example to these derivative avionics products, it will be necessary to mention the products stated below: 

Within the scope of the Turkish Gendarmerie Helicopter Modernisation Project, the Airborne  Computer System (ACS)/the Mission Support Computer has been developed by SDT and this equipment enables communications via the MIL-STD-1553 and ARINC 429 avionic data buses and possesses high performance computing power and has low power consumption.  The ACS Mission Support Computer, aside from the ability to run 3D video applications, such as the moving map software, at the same time has the features to record data, video and audio signals. The ACS Mission Support Computer can be used as a major mission avionics in various air, sea and land platform applications. 

Missile Data Acquisition and Storage  (MIDASU) Unit, another SDT avionics, is matured and developed as a result of transferring SDT’s know-how of recording units on platforms to on-board missile systems and in- flight test data collection in the design & testing stage of guided missiles. In MIDASU, the data obtained from tens of gauges measuring vibration, acceleration, temperature, pressure, voltage and strain on a missile and data collected from digital data generators is transferred to the ground station via a telemetry  link as well they are stored on a ruggedized 32GB memory module inside the unit. Aside from this sensor and digital data, the images obtained from the missile seeker are compressed and stored on the same memory. After the flight and impact of missile under test , the ruggedized memory part of the MIDASU can be recovered and is not affected by the shock incurred and the recorded data can be transferred to a computer environment  and can be accessed. 

Merging the shock-resistant memory design in the MIDASU with the output from the Digital Data Recording System developed for avionic platforms has led to the design of the Flight Data Recording System (FDRS) to be used as a “black box” in airborne applications. With the thermal insulation on the shock-resistant memory module, a FDRS design suitable to all avionic platforms has been completed. Review of data recorded by the FDRS after an accident will enable the users to do analysis and preventive actions for design, pilotage, maintenance, parts and etc. 

The Platform Health Management System (PHMS) that allows continuous monitoring of the health of all systems on the platform, records abnormal conditions and the status of limited lifetime parts and gives alarm prior to any defects and any exceedances to certain set values, has been developed from this architecture as well. The PHMS will increase the percentage of missions of modern fleets and lower maintenance costs and has been indigenously localised by SDT. Compared to a high-cost foreign system, the PHMS provides another successful example of an increase in domestic contribution share to the defence industry while enabling domestic logistic support. 

The Symbology Generator and Video Processing Computer is an FPGA and DSP based system with compact size, small power consumption and high level of reliability. SGVPC has been designed to show critical flight data (engine status, obstacle warnings, flight level etc.) together with the platform camera video outputs on a single monitor unit. System also has an additional video output for operator and an interface for helmet tracking systems. 

 SDT, within the framework of product development approach and vertical expertise focus, has put forth sensor signal processing, image processing, missile launching, platform management and video & data recording avionics. The product portfolio in these fields and the fields focused to develop products are continuously growing. By means of SDT’s self R &D funding and the support of SSM and TUBITAK R&D funding, SDT has developed indigenous products and fielded them. That has made an important contribution in reducing the dependence on foreign sources in domestic market and also that enabled SDT to be mature enough to go in export markets with its field proven products.