Fiber Optic Considerations for Insertion into Legacy Avionics Platforms

Modern avionics have created requirements for the insertion of fiber-optic technologies. Applications, such as fly by light, net-centric warfare, high fidelity sensing and in-flight entertainment find utility in the increased bandwidth of fiber optic networks. In addition, in applications involving standoff jamming (SOJ) and radar sensing, there is a need for electromagnetic interference (EMI) immune systems. In still other systems, there is a drive to decreasing weight, where fiber optics can be a solution. When considering the replacement of electronics with fiber optics in legacy avionics systems, it is sometimes unclear whether fiber-optic technologies will lead to an overall benefit. At times, fiber optics are inserted without a rigorous analysis of the benefits. In this paper, we define some considerations for fiber optics insertion and derive a rubric to serve as a guideline for insertion.