Current Deployments - Crystal Group Inc.

Current Deployments
Crystal Group Inc, an employee-owned small business, designs and manufactures deployment-ready, rugged
servers, NAS and displays for mission critical applications. Crystal excels at providing commercial-offWKHVKHOI&276DQGFXVWRPGHVLJQHGFRPSXWHUV\VWHPVWDLORUHGWR\RXUVSHFLÀFDWLRQV$OOSURGXFWVDUH
designed and built to meet and exceed MIL-STDs 810F, 167-1, 461E, MIL-S-901D and beyond. Crystal Group
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year warranties. Some of our current deployments include:
Air Force
ICAN
ICAN (Interim Capability for Airborne Networking) is a Northrop Grumman program
for the airborne platform that enables rapid and reliable communications with the
Joint STARS program. The system works by routing data through existing radios
to the DOD SIPRNET (secure network). Crystal Group provides rugged computer
hardware to collect data transmitted between Army mobile ground station modules and Air Force E-8C aircraft becoming the
com traffic gateway through the SIPRNET and NIPRNETs. Crystal’s CS100s (1U, short, commercial server) meets all of the
ICAN program’s requirements for altitude, shock/vibration, thermal robustness, compact size and low power.
ROBE
ROBE (Roll-on Beyond Line of Sight Enhancement) is a TACCOM system
developed to increase the global reach of the US Armed Forces. ROBE is a
Northrop Grumman program funded out of Hanscom Air Force Base. The ROBE
system was developed to rapidly establish a transportable tactical data link
via tanker aircraft prior to engagement. The system is used as a node to relay
C2, dataflow, and SITREP information to and from any location in the world using
existing operational assets. Crystal Group provides the computer hardware (RS112
- 1U rugged servers and RS376 - 3U rugged servers) that forms the backbone of the
ROBE program. Crystal was selected because if its exceptional value by providing
rugged hardware quickly and within budget.
BACN
BACN (Battlefield Airborne Communications Node) is a forward-deployed airborne
communications relay and network-centric enterprise information server that
allows real-time information exchanges among many different, distant military and
commercial communications systems. BACN is designed for use in a variety of
unmanned and manned aircraft, and is currently installed on a Global Express jet
and NASA’s WB-57 high-altitude aircraft. The Crystal server CS100s was chosen
for the combination of customizable form factors, with superior computing density.
www.crystalrugged.com
Army
DCGS-A
The DCGS-A (Distributed Common Ground System) is an industry wide
effort between General Dynamics C4 Systems, Northrop Grumman,
Lockheed Martin, SAIC and Crystal Group. The effort is tasked with
developing and integrating, manufacturing and delivering a fully armored,
mobile intelligence network on the battlefield by interfacing with multiple
nodes throughout the Net Centric DCGS collaborative intelligence
operations. Crystal Group’s RS235 rugged server provides a compact form factor, rugged
packaging, superior performance and ample feature set for the DCGS program.
C-RAM
The C-RAM program is a Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) activity
designed to help protect U.S. and coalition troops against mortars and rockets
fired by insurgents. This system is a ground-based version of Phalanx together
with the Army’s Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar (LCMR) and Q-36 Target
Acquisition Radar. The Army uses Crystal’s RD2217 advanced liquid crystal
dual displays to monitor and target incoming rocket and mortar threats with dual
17" hi-res side by side displays which fit in a 2U space within a standard 19" rack
or transit case. Crystal Group’s 17" dual display was chosen for its enhanced
resolution, innovative rugged design and sunlight readability characteristics.
Prophet
The Army Prophet program uses Crystal's RS112 server in a HMMWV based
EW/SIGNET application. The Prophet is the Division and Armored Cavalry
Regiment (ACR) commander's principal signals intelligence and electronic
warfare system. It supports Force XXI and Army After Next (AAN) concepts
by providing the commander with greatly enhanced situational awareness.
The Prophet provides the Tactical Commander with an enhanced capability
for electronic Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB), battlespace
visualization, target development and force protection. It gives the maneuver
commander a comprehensive picture of the electronic emitters within the
battlespace and provides the ability to locate, collect and electronically attack
selected emitters where ground reconnaissance assets cannot penetrate or cover in a timely manner. Prophet gives the
commanders a dedicated and dynamically re-taskable asset with the capability to look wide, as well as deep into their
battlespace (150 kilometers wide by 120 kilometers deep). Crystal Group's RS112 (1U rugged server) was chosen for the
Prophet program for superior ruggedness, configuration management capability and overall value to the armed forces.
Current Deployments
Marines
JECCS
JECCS - Joint Enhanced Core Communications System - is a telecommunications
system that allows deployed military personnel to establish voice, video and data
network connectivity. JECCS provides telecommunication services, Local Area
Network (SIPRNET and NIPRNET) and network management services, messaging
services, INMARSAT and UHF-TACSAT capabilities. The system is designed to
interface with SATCOM (T1 and T3) that extends its services over the horizon and
provides reach back capabilities. It supports the seamless transition from a small
force's command and control element to that of a larger force. The transition to
larger telecommunications systems such as the Digital Technical Control (DTC),
and the Tactical Data Network (TDN) are fully supported by JECCS. The JECCS
is housed in a S788 shelter that is mounted in a M1097 Heavy High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV). Within this
vehicle, Crystal's CIS100X mobile network server is used to maintain reliable Net Centric data connectivity. The Crystal
CIS100X hardware was chosen in conjunction with Crystal's integration capability to provide a total solution package for the
Marine JECCS program.
NASA
WAVE
WAVE (WB-57 Ascent Video Experiment) is an important safety aspect of NASA's
Return to Flight program. WAVE provides high-resolution, high-speed, on-board
video imaging data of the Space Shuttle during launch and landing operations. The
imaging equipment is carried in the nosecones of NASA's WB-57 jets. The WB-57s
operate at altitudes higher than 60,000 feet on missions as long as 6.5 hours over
2,500 miles at speeds as fast as 410 knots. WAVE uses Crystal Group's CS500
servers to capture detailed images of the Space Shuttle as it climbs toward orbit.
The CS500 Crystal server is tested to MIL-STDs 810F and 167-1, indicating that it
meets the requirements for altitude, humidity, shock and vibration as well as extended operational temperature ranges.
SVG
The Space Video Gateway (SVG) system uses live and recorded downlink
capabilities to deliver High Definition (HD) and Standard Definition (SD) video
streams from the International Space Station (ISS) to the Johnson Space Center.
Footage transmitted from the ISS includes research information, educational
footage, external and internal equipment inspection data, and communications
from the crew. SVG uses Crystal's CS900 server on the Space Station to receive
HD and SD video from on-board cameras and downlink the video streams using a
NASA-developed network card. The CS900 server is tested to MIL-STDs 810F &
167-1 and MIL-S-901D, meeting the requirements necessary for a space based operational environment.
www.crystalrugged.com
Navy
GBS
Global Broadcast Service (GBS) operates as a one-way, wideband transmission
service capable of supporting timely delivery of classified and unclassified data
and information products for mission support and theater information transfer.
Basically like Direct TV for the war fighters! GBS disseminates IP-based realtime video and large data files (up to 4GB in size) over-the-air (30 Mbps per
transponder) to garrisoned and deployed combat forces using smart push and user
pull - information based on unit mission reception priority profiles. GBS operates
from Satellite Broadcast Manager (SBM) sites, broadcast satellite payloads and
receive suites (RS). A primary uplink site, through which information products are
transmitted to the satellite for relay to forces over a large geographic area, serves
each satellite. GBS also has the capability, through use of the Theater Injection
Point (TIP), to inject information directly from within a theater of operations. The
Navy uses Crystal's CS100S to support the simultaneous broadcast of information
to multiple war fighters using transportable receiver terminals on the ground and
fixed receivers on surface and subsurface vessels. The Crystal Group CS100S
server was chosen for its small form factor (1U, 17" depth), ability to handle shock
(MIL-S-901D) and vibration (MIL-STD-167-1) and low noise levels (NMT 45dB).
SSEE
Ship's Signal Exploitation Equipment (SSEE) is a signals exploitation system that
allows the operators to monitor and analyze signals of interest aboard a variety
of ship classes. SSEE is the most modern and extensive communications intelligence
system that is deployed on U.S. Navy surface ships. SSEE uses Crystal Group's
CS650MB (2U commercial) server and RS112 (rugged 1U) server for data processing.
The servers were chosen for the combination of customizable form factors with superior
computing capabity.
Current Deployments
Navy
ALMDS
Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) was developed by the US Navy
to detect and classify floating and near-surface, moored mines. All ALMDS
components are housed within a pod attached to the MH-60S helicopter. ALMDS
uses Crystal Group's RS232-SF rugged server as part of the communications
system. The RS232-SF was chosen for its custom form factor, shallow depth and
front I/O capability.
RAMICS
Rapid Airborne Mine Clearance System (RAMICS) is the detonation side of the
ALMDS program. This platform uses a laser imaging and detecting system to
reacquire moored mines and disable the mines from a safe distance, using a 30mm
chain gun. RAMICS is integrated into the MH-60S helicopter to provide Carrier
Battle Groups and Amphibious Ready Groups an organic mine countermeasures
capability. The Crystal Group RS235 rugged server (2U) was chosen for its
superior environmental performance including gun-fire vibration.
DDG Modernization
The DDG Modernization Program provides a comprehensive mid-life upgrade
that will ensure the DDG 51 class vessel will maintain mission relevance and
remain an integral part of the Navy's Sea Power 21 Plan. While manning and
workload reduction have been designated as the primary objectives of the DDG
modernization agenda, many of the proposed technologies also offer substantial
improvements in the areas of situational awareness, survivability, and decision
making. The network design, use of multi-function workstations, and distributed
data acquistion improves the survivability of the system by allowing all smart
and/or critical users to be redundantly connected. The goal of the DDG
Modernization effort is to reduce manning requirements and increase situation awareness, survivability, and decision
making while reducing total ownership cost to the Navy. The DDG Modernization technologies will be integrated during
new construction of DDG 111 and 112, then retrofitted into DDG Flight I and II ships during in service overhaul periods. The
DDG Mod program uses Crystal RS232-S13 & RS232-S17 rugged servers as part of the steering and navigations systems.
The RS232-S13 and RS232-S17 servers were chosen for their custom and compact form factor as well as their superior
thermal and acoustic performance.
www.crystalrugged.com
Navy
LCS
Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is a small specialized variant of the DD(X) family of
future surface combat ships. The ships are easy to reconfigure for different roles,
including anti-submarine warfare, mine countermeasures, anti-surface warfare,
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, homeland defense, maritime
intercept, special operations, and logistics. Crystal Group's RS232-SF rugged
server (2U) is used in the ship's radar system. The RS232-SF was chosen for its
custom form factor, shallow depth, front I/O capability and rugged features.
ADNS and ISNS
The Automated Digital Network System (ADNS) is a ship and shore
communications network system. The system is based on a COTS, open
architecture, worldwide communications network for Naval fleet communications.
The system provides automated secure connectivity between shipboard LANs and
piers, enables IT-21, IP/ATM and web hosting, video teleconferencing, battled
encrypted email, common operational picture, tactical messaging, and routes
defense messaging system traffic. The system is managed by the Space and
Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) in Charleston, NC. Crystal's RS235
2.66GHz Quad Core server was selected as the platform to host the ADNS
program. The Integrated Shipboard Network System (ISNS), a subset of the ADNS,
uses open architecture systems to outfit ships with a local and wide area network and also uses Crystal's RS235 2.66GHz
Quad Core server with ruggedized 1TB HDD's. These servers were chosen in this application for superior environmental
performance and capability at a competitive price.
CENTRIXS
Combined Enterprise Regional Exchange System (CENTRIXS) allows U.S. forces
to share information and operational planning. CENTRIXS creates an environment
where information can be shared by various types of organizations, governments
and vessels. CENTRIXS is the premier network for coalition interoperability in
support of military operations. The Crystal Group RS112 (1U) Quad Core rugged
server was chosen for use on these Navy applications due to its superior
environmental performance and competitive price.
Current Deployments
Industrial Servers
MANDIANT Intelligent Response™ (MIR)
MANDIANT Intelligent Response is an enterprise-grade incident response
solution, built from scratch by expert incident responders, engineers and IT
security specialists. MIR enables precise data collection, advanced analysis and
effective computer security incident management. Investigators can collaborate
during response, analysis and reporting, making their response more efficient
and cost effective. Crystal Group was selected to provide the hardware platform
for this leading edge solution because of our unique engineering skills, rapid response capabilities and our ability to develop
the exact server MANDIANT needed for this crucial security role. Features include custom injection molded faceplate, robust
stainless steel chassis and unique removable drive arrangement. Learn more about MANDIANT Intelligent Response at:
http://www.mandiant.com/intelligentresponse.htm
Crystal Group Inc., 850 Kacena Road, Hiawatha, Iowa USA 52233
Tel: 1.319.378.1636 FAX: 1.319.393.2338 1.800.378.1636 www.crystalrugged.com
All trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
Design and specifications are subject to change.
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(C) 2009 Crystal Group Inc. All rights reserved.
01/09 Rev #2