Offering whole new levels of compute density in ever smaller sizes, SFF box systems are now also embedded advanced networking and security functions.

JEFF CHILD, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

It’s clear that small form factor rugged box have become a staple in today’s military embedded computing market. On the standard-based side, only one of the three VITA specification efforts is continuing forward toward full ANSI standardization. Meanwhile a new wave of smaller, more compute-dense SFF systems is emerging. As prime contractors continue to try to reduce their costs by outsourcing more technology, they’re often now looking to upgrades at box- or subsystem level and not just at the slot-card level.