RF Technology Helps Connect Avionics Systems

Avionics systems provide electronic guidance, navigation, and communications through harsh and hostile environments for a wide range of airframes. Operating environments present elevated levels of shock and vibration; vacuum-like conditions of high altitudes; corrosive effects of hydraulic fluids, fuels, and other chemicals; and the effects of wide temperature ranges. Avionics systems must handle such challenging environments even as they are being designed with greater functionality into smaller payload spaces.

The high-frequency RF/microwave coaxial interconnections within those systems are essential components that must perform repeatably and reliably while also meeting modern military electronic systems requirements for reduced size, weight, and power (SWaP). RF/microwave coaxial cables and connectors for military avionics systems must perform according to many electrical, mechanical, and environmental demands, still they must be accessible when avionics systems maintenance or troubleshooting is needed, so finding the “best fit” RF/microwave cables and connectors for these systems often involves balancing tradeoffs.