Mercury Introduces First Safety-Certifiable, SOSA-aligned Mission Computer for Aviation Platforms

Core Viewpoint - Mercury Systems, Inc. has introduced the ROCK3, the first safety-certifiable, SOSA-aligned aviation mission computer, aimed at enhancing aircraft capabilities for government and commercial organizations, particularly in the context of next-generation applications like 5G and AI [1][2]. Product Features - The ROCK3 is a DAL-certifiable, 3U OpenVPX mission computer featuring Intel Core i7 safety-certifiable processors, delivering up to 20 times the performance compared to PowerPC-based aircraft computers [2]. - It is designed for advanced, safety-critical applications in military and urban mobility aircraft, including mission management, sensor fusion, processing, and surveillance [2]. - The open architecture of ROCK3 allows customers to avoid vendor lock-in, facilitating greater application interoperability and faster, more cost-effective deployment of new capabilities [2][4]. Development Background - The development of ROCK3 incorporates insights from Mercury's involvement in the U.S. Army's Aviation Mission Common Server (AMCS) program, which aimed to create a unified mission computing architecture for the Army's rotorcraft fleet [3]. Strategic Importance - The introduction of ROCK3 is expected to enhance safety and survivability for current and next-generation aircraft by utilizing advanced sensors and data fusion applications, providing pilots with timely and accurate information for decision-making [4]. - Mercury Systems emphasizes that ROCK3 represents a new approach for aviation organizations to implement more affordable, scalable, interoperable, and sustainable avionics solutions through open architectures [4]. Industry Engagement - Mercury will showcase various next-generation mission computing applications at the Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit 2025, held from May 14-16 in Nashville, Tennessee, in collaboration with industry partners [5].