SCIENCE

Sixnet announced the launch of the MIL-326 Layer 3 IP67 Ethernet switch, the latest addition to its military-rated switch portfolio. Featuring Layer 3 networking, the MIL-326 provides 24 ports of Gigabit Ethernet, military D38999 connectors and 10-Gigabit Ethernet uplinks to integrate high-performance connectivity with rugged reliability in harsh defense environments.

With durable packaging, protected circuitry and advanced software, Sixnet’s MIL-326 switches offer an ideal Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) solution that reduces development time and simplifies procurement. Providing 26 Ethernet ports and military D38999 connectors on each individual port, the MIL-326 design and certifications meet all MIL-standard requirements to deliver significant cost savings to the customer. The switch also delivers high-performance Gigabit Ethernet to support a variety of bandwidth-intensive applications, including live video. Reliable multi-service network performance is optimized with IPv6 and IPv4 support, coupled with IP67 classification to protect against dust, water, oil and debris. Additional features include:

• Advanced Networking & Redundancy – prioritizes traffic to ensure delivery and provides mission-critical redundancy
• Powerful Management & Monitoring – simplifies configuration and enables fast, easy troubleshooting
• Rugged, Reliable Performance – meets military standards to deliver proven reliability under extreme field conditions
• Hardware-Based Layer 3 Routing – enables wire-speed packet forwarding and expands virtual switch capacity
• Advanced Cyber Security – prevents unauthorized access and protects against unwanted intrusion

“We listened closely to our customers, and found an increasing need in the military for higher bandwidth and more advanced features,” said Scott Killian, Sixnet’s director of military sales. “By combining rugged Layer 3 networking with individual port flexibility, the MIL-326 switch eliminates the need to change configuration or media type. Sixnet has more than 9,000 military-rated switches deployed in combat vehicles on varying platforms, and we will continue expanding our military product lines to meet our customers’ future requirements.”

Sixnet will be exhibiting the new MIL-326 switch with A.E. Petsche, its master distributor for military-related products, at the Military Vehicles Exhibition & Conference in Detroit from August 10-11, 2011 (Booth #118), as well as at the Defense & Security Equipment International Conference in London from September 13-16, 2011 (Stand #N6-230).

Sixnet’s military-rated IP67 industrial Ethernet switches support extreme operating conditions such as unpredictable temperature fluctuations, shock, dust and vibrations. By seamlessly linking in-vehicle communication systems, these switches support military applications on land, in the air and at sea that include ground support facilities, missile delivery systems, bombers, aircrafts, UAVs, naval vessels and land vehicles like the Stryker, MRAP and Humvee.