Engineering firm Azure Summit Technology has demonstrated its latest 3U Switchblade radio-frequency (RF) receiver to the US Navy.

The four-channel 3U open VPX software-definable RF receiver offers modular, open-architecture multi-channel RF performance with low cost and reduced size, weight and power (SWaP).

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The equipment includes fully integrated RF, digital and on-board computing resources in a form factor designed specifically to suit small manned and unmanned air, surface and subsurface platforms.

Azure Summit Technology chief executive officer Dr Thomas Green Jr said: “With the addition of the 3U form factor to the Switchblade product family, the navy can deliver the same advanced RF mission capabilities to the warfighter across larger platforms, hosting the 6U, and smaller platforms, hosting the 3U, achieving substantial software / firmware reuse, simplified logistics and lower development and lifecycle costs.”

“The navy can deliver the same advanced RF mission capabilities to the warfighter across larger platforms.”

In addition, the Azure system is fully compatible with all tuner modules and software / firmware applications that are available and in use with the company’s production Switchblade 6U transceivers, including both the 80MHz and 500MHz instantaneous bandwidth (IBW) tuners.

Furthermore, the RF receiver is also compatible with the Switchblade Wideband Transmitter Module, which is currently under development.

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Once built, it will enable the 3U to operate as a wideband transceiver.

Currently, the company is in the process of finalising the development and design of the 3U Switchblade system.

The receiver will be ready to enter full-rate production in the second quarter of the fiscal year 2019.

Last month, Azure received a $5m second delivery order on its five-year, $48.5m indefinite-delivery / indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, for the supply of four, five and eight-channel Switchblade RF transceivers to the US Navy.

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