Aircraft Systems - from EDO Corporation

Aircraft Systems
GDS is proud to tender a range of Aircraft Systems products to Australian Defence and Industry.

GDS in partnership with EDO offers:

• Aircraft Weapon Systems Integration
• Multiple Carriage "Smart" Bomb Rack
• MIL-STD-1760 Carriage System Controllers
• Weapon System Controllers
• Interface Assemblies and Bridges
• Pylon Accessories (FRCS, CRU etc.)
• Simulators and Test Sets

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• Uses the MIL-STD-1760 interface (A/C-to-Rack and Rack-to-Weapons)
• Aircraft currently consist of the F-16 and F/A-18
• Future expansion is possible to other MIL-STD-1760 aircraft and weapons
• Weapons currently consist of JSOW, 1000 lb JDAM, and WCMD

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Field Replaceable Role Change Harnesses (FRCS)
GDS in association with EDO MBM Technology Ltd offers the next generation MIL-STD-1760 ‘smart’ weapon snatch connector harness incorporating the EDO MBM Field Replaceable Connector System (FRCS). Unlike current MIL-DTL-38999/31 snatch connectors, FRCS provides an efficient, ‘jam free’ electrical interface on weapon disconnect with predictable and consistent separation forces.

End users will benefit considerably from the FRCS harness. In addition to being fully field replaceable and repairable, the connector is self-aligning (preventing contact damage) and eases blind or recessed connector mating. The new design does not require any modification to the mating weapon connector or aircraft. FRCS can also be retro-fitted to existing harnesses.

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Connector Retention Unit (CRU)
The Connector Retention Unit (CRU) has been designed to actively adjust and retain the electrical umbilical interconnect during loading and release.

The system is designed to accept any MIL-C-38999 Series III connector system including the interconnects called up in MIL-STD-1760.

The system ensures that the vertical store interconnect height is adjusted so that as the store is released it provides a direct pull force instantly. This resolves the problems of the large shell size interconnects used in MIL-STD-1760 interfaces binding together. The threshold for this effect is if the store interconnects exceeds 15 degrees from the vertical. This can be easily achieved if using a standard fixed strong point and a single connector lanyard length.

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