E-3D Sentry AWACS aircraft

Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors Division (MS2) has selected the LynxOS real-time operating system (RTOS) and Luminosity integrated development environment (IDE) for integration into the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) Boeing E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.

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The LynuxWorks-developed LynxOS RTOS is a Unix-like commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) embedded operating system designed to meet critical security and mission-critical software requirements. The software features an advanced version of the Luminosity IDE providing powerful development, debug and analysis tools that are integrated into an industry-standard Eclipse-based framework for maximum interoperability.

Luminosity offers a fast and easy way to create, edit, compile, manage, debug and profile C/C++ embedded and real-time applications as well as effectively build and debug kernel downloadable images from configurable LynuxWorks operating systems. All operating system components within LynxOS are designed to deliver real-time performance by responding within a known period of time. The predictable response is ensured by the kernel’s threading model, even in the presence of heavy I/O traffic.

The software also exhibits linear scalability during heavy task flows and even extends to networking applications, which can stay responsive even during critical situations. Powered by GE/SNECMA CFM-56-2 high-efficiency turbofan engines, the E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft is designed to conduct airborne surveillance and command, control and communications (C3) functions for both tactical and air defence forces.

The aircraft provides an airborne early warning capability by tracking aircraft at extended ranges and is central to airborne command and control for relaying vital information to commanders on the ground.

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Image: Lockheed selects LynxOS RTOS and Luminosity IDE for integration into the UK RAF’s E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft.

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