Standardized Interfaces for the Next Generation of Weapons for Unmanned Systems: Miniature Munition Store Interface vs. Interface for Micro Munitions

The Aircraft System & System Integration Systems Committee (AS-1) Committee from the Society of Automotive Engineer Avionics System Division (SAE-ASD) Council has recently developed two new interface standards for the next generation of small smart, precision guided munitions (also known as stores) consisting of two different classes: miniature munitions and micro munitions. The following paper begins with a background on the weaponisiation of be Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), sometimes referred to as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), and then is followed by a review of two new interface standards consisting of the Miniature Munition Store Interface (MMSI) and Interface for Micro Munitions (IMM) standards that have been developed under the jurisdiction of the SAE-ASD AS-1 Committee.