White Paper

OpenRFM Wideband Rx Tuner Module 6U VME Carrier with three OpenRFM Modules - Quad Downconverter (left), Wideband Tuner (middle with chip & wire technology) and DDS-based Synthesizer (right) 3 OpenRFM is a modular, open architecture that combines hardware, firmware and software that can be applied to EW and SIGINT chal- lenges. It's benefits are that it allows: • Affordability driven by high channel density, modular design, advanced connector technology, and the integration of digital signal processing and RF technologies • Sustainability with a solution that provides maximum re-use of standardized technology that will protect your investment for the long haul- making it "future proof" • Flexibility by providing many systems designs with multiple building blocks • Interoperability driven by modular architecture, standardized control plane, and advanced software interface OpenRFM - The next logical wave in open system architectures RF and Microwave technologies have been part of the underlying fabrics of critical defense applications for generations. As Electronic Warfare and Electronic Attack missions and associated programs have grown in sophistication, the level of lower band RF as well as higher frequency RF, or microwave, technologies continues to grow. The many technology piece parts within RF and Microwave in support of EW, EA and SIGINT continue to play an important role. Mixers, filters, capacitors, limiters, oscillators, digital receivers, and more have all been part of the lexicon for decades. Today the demands of modern Electronic Warfare, Electronic Attack, and Signals Intelligence are ramping up to meet emerging threats around the globe. Advanced DRFM (Digital Radio Frequency Memory) jammers, and IMAs (Integrat- ed Microwave Assemblies) utilize this "kit of parts" in ways that before hadn't been imagined. An IMA, for example, often offers customized designs for mission specific applications. They can combine the inte- gration of switches and switch matrices, amplifiers, attenuators, filters, oscillators, as well as other RF and microwave functions. Yet today's technologies, while advanced, have not kept pace with the need to provide a standardized way of building, integrating, testing, and re-using these systems. In other words, the world of open systems and open architectures has not been brought to RF and Microwave so- lutions. Nor have RF and Microwave based solutions kept up with the DoDs directives around open systems architectures alluded to earlier in this paper. Mercury Systems has been working to solve this challenge for the past three years. Today we introduce OpenRFM. It is a way we believe will address the challenges our customers have told us they face. What is Open RFM? New EW programs and technologies need to keep getting more sophisticated to meet emerging needs. Our need to control the spec- trum, attack an enemy or prevent enemy as- saults via the spectrum has never been greater. I'm tired of the RF and Microwave industry re- inventing the wheel. When will someone build technologies that can be built once and re-used to create an affordable path to meeting the increasing needs of EW, EA and SIGINT? When will open architectures get applied here? Open TM RFM

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