Z Microsystems Receives AWACS Block 40/45 Rugged Displays Order

- Company extends leadership in the production of airborne military displays -

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Z Microsystems, a leading provider of mission-ready computing systems, today announced its has received a contract from Boeing Defense, Space and Security for its Gen3 Orion Universal Display Platform (UDP) for installation on the U.S. and French Air Forces’ Advanced Warning and Control System (AWACS). The value of the combined contracts is approximately $1.2 million.

“The selection of Z Microsystems’ Gen3 UDPs for the AWACS Block 40/45 upgrade program is a testament to the quality, performance and reliability of our rugged display products”

The Gen3 Orion UDP was selected for the AWACS Block 40/45 upgrade, which is the largest in the history of the AWACS program. The Block 40/45 upgrade dramatically enhances the system’s potential for using network-enabled operations and increases the AWACS mission execution capability, effectiveness and reliability while lowering life-cycle costs through a number of improved features. The Block 40/45 upgrade includes enhancements to the primary AWACS display, which increases situational awareness through its intuitive mission displays and detailed map database.

Z Microsystems will deliver customized Gen3 Orion UDP’s for installation in the AWACS fleet under this contract through 2014.

“The selection of Z Microsystems’ Gen3 UDPs for the AWACS Block 40/45 upgrade program is a testament to the quality, performance and reliability of our rugged display products,” said Jack Wade, CEO of Z Microsystems. “We are proud to support the Boeing Company and the U.S. Air Force on this important air battle management platform.”

The Gen3 Orion UDP boasts a new ultra-high performance modular video processor that supports Picture-in-Picture (PIP), Dual-View, Quadview, and Real Time Enhanced Video (RTEV) options. The UDP’s resistive touch technology offers operators the most advanced options in control and customization. Z Microsystems’ new third generation electronics feature high-performance FPGA-based graphics cards, designed to be smaller and more powerful, delivering cutting edge display solutions in a new lower-profile Orion design. The models to be delivered under the Block 40/45 upgrade contract have passed stringent environmental qualification testing, including Mil-Std-810 and Mil-Std-461 standards.

A unit of the Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space and Security is one of the world’s largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft.

For more information on the Z Microsystems Gen3 Orion UDP Displays, visit Z Microsystems at www.zmicro.com or call at (858) 831–7054.

About Z Microsystems

For more than 25 years, Z Microsystems has been supplying superior computing technology to the US military and defense system integrators. Today, Z Microsystems designs and manufacturers mission-ready computing solutions for military, medical, industrial and law enforcement applications. The company’s commercial off–the–shelf (COTS) products include rugged flat panel displays, high-performance computers, flexible storage systems and imaging systems. For more information, visit www.zmicro.com.