F-22J's CPU woes

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/9/2/asia/18745551&sec=asia
Even if the US export ban is lifted, the capabilities of an exported
F-22 might be diluted if Washington chooses to redesign the onboard
computer.

They'll have to do that anyway, just to produce more F-22s locally, as
they're out of i960MX CPUs.

http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?gao-04-391
The primary processor in CIP is the Intel i960MX microprocessor,12 which
is used strictly for avionics processing. This microprocessor is based
on 1990’s technology and has a 32-bit processor that operates at speeds
of 25mhz. By today’s technology standards, the processor is considered
obsolete and cannot support spiral developments beyond the Global Strike
Enhanced. In mid-2003, the manufacturer of the microprocessor informed
the Air Force that it planned to permanently shut down the i960MX
production line by January 2004 because the microprocessor was no
longer a viable product for the company.
As a result, the Air Force decided in November 2003 to replace its
computer architecture and avionics processors to support the F/A-22’s
expanded capabilities. In December 2003, the Air Force purchased its
last i960MX microprocessors when it bought 820 of the microprocessors.
According to program officials, this quantity and previously purchased
quantities are sufficient to support production of 155 F/A-22 aircraft.
These officials believe that with some minor upgrades to improve
processing capacity, these processors will be able to support the
baseline aircraft and the developmental spirals—Global Strike Basic and
Global Strike Enhanced. However, the Air Force plans for the remaining
production aircraft to include a new computer architecture and avionics
processor needed to support the final two planned spirals—Global Strike
Full and Enhanced Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance.
At the time of our review, the Air Force believed its best long-term
solution to its avionics architecture and computer-processing shortfalls
was a new, modern, open system architecture. Rather than start a new
development program, the program office plans to leverage two other
ongoing Air Force development or modification programs for this
processing capability: the new architecture being developed for the F-35
and the new commercial off-the-shelf general-purpose processors
designed for newer versions of the F-16.

And both F-16 and F-35 are export aircraft, so where's the beef? The
F-22 is just the twin engine variant of the F-35, right? ;-)

-HJC
.

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