C-MAC MicroTechnology has won a major contract, expected to be worth around 8 million pounds over the next five years, from Galileo Avionica to supply high-speed microelectronic and electro-optical modules for the Eurofighter Typhoon military aircraft—as well as for the NATO NH90 and AgustaWestland EH101 Merlin helicopters.

C-MAC components based on the Stanag 3910 optical data-bus specification will provide the interface between critical components of Typhoon’s advanced "fly-by-light" control system, including radio communications, altimeter, cockpit control and munitions computers. This optical system is a safeguard against jamming and other electromagnetic interference that can adversely affect the electrical data bus of a conventional "fly-by-wire" system.

While fly-by-wire typically operates over a 1-Mbps data bus based on Mil-Std-1553, the Stanag 3910 optical system used in Typhoon is designed for transfer rates that are 20 times as fast.

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