* Lockheed Martin to use a real-time Linux platform to train fighter pilots
The U.S. Air Force plans to use a real-time Linux platform to train its fighter pilots with F-16 flight simulation software from Lockheed Martin, which makes the fighter jet.
Lockheed Martin chose real-time Linux vendor Concurrent along with MultiGen-Paradigm, a maker of 3D visual simulation software, to provide the base for the flight-simulation software. The Linux-based simulation packages are going to Luke Air Force Base in Goldwater, Ariz., home of the 944th Fighter Wing, which trains U.S. Air Force Reserve pilots on the F-16.
Two existing F-16 flight cockpit simulators at Luke Air Force Base will be refurbished with the new software. Concurrent’s RedHawk real-time Linux servers will host 3D and imaging software from MultiGen, which simulates images outside the cockpit window, as well as night-vision images, for pilot trainees.
Concurrent’s RedHawk Linux is a derivative of Red Hat Linux, with patches and modifications made to the kernel, which allow applications running on the platform to have 30-microsecond response time. The software runs on standard Intel/AMD multiprocessor hardware. This Linux kernel is combined with Concurrent’s Real-Time Clock and Interrupt Module (RCIM), a PCI acceleration card used to boost performance of real-time code. The RCIM card provides additional timing and interrupt resources to the applications such as flight simulation. RedHawk also has its own development environment, debugging tools and analysis software.
Other users of RedHawk Linux include the U.S. Navy and aircraft maker EADS. In addition to real-time flight simulation, Concurrent software is also used in other time-sensitive applications, such as controlling video on-demand services.
The move to Linux and other commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software is an ongoing trend for military applications.
“The selection of [Concurrent and MultiGen] was based on their offering of COTS products, the overall solution provided, and the fact that they were able to commit to a very short delivery schedule with low risk at a very cost effective price,” stated Norman Ackerson, Lockheed Martin Program Manager at Luke’s NTC.
