Xilinx Virtex-4 FPGAs Provide Critical DSP Functionality In General Dynamics JTRS Radios

Low power, high-performance FPGA with embedded DSP enable low-power modem DSP design for leading defense contractor  

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 22, 2006 — Xilinx Inc. (NASDAQ: XLNX), a leading supplier of programmable logic solutions to the aerospace and defense market, today announced that General Dynamics C4 Systems has adopted the Virtex™-4 Platform FPGA for use in the development of handheld, manpack and small form fit products for the U.S. Department of Defense Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) military communications program.

General Dynamics C4 Systems is using the embedded digital signal processing (DSP) features of the device to enable critical modem functionality in the multi-functional radios, aimed at providing a more flexible and consistent communications platform for the U.S. military. Specifically, General Dynamics chose the Virtex-4 programmable platform for its ultra-low power efficient DSP processing capabilities, a necessity for handling complex waveforms.

“Xilinx is honored to provide such a critical component of this important development program. Our embedded DSP capabilities provide the performance, flexibility and low power features required by this very demanding application. We’re confident in our ability to deliver the functionality the General Dynamics team needs to implement the JTRS handheld, manpack and small form fit products successfully,” said Omid Tahernia, vice president and general manager of the DSP Division at Xilinx

“Today’s announcement underscores our long-term heritage and commitment to serving the aerospace and defense industry,” said Mustafa Veziroglu, general manager of the Market Specific Products Division at Xilinx. “Our programmable solutions have been used for more than 15 years across a variety of applications that meet rigid and diverse specifications.”

About Xilinx Virtex-4 FPGAs
Named 2004 Product of the Year by Electronic Products Magazine, Xilinx Virtex-4 FPGAs deliver more options, higher performance and lower power than any other FPGA family available today. With more than 100 technical innovations, the Virtex-4 family consists of 17 devices and three domain-optimized platforms; Virtex-4 LX FPGAs optimized for logic-intensive designs, Virtex-4 FX FPGAs optimized for high-speed serial connectivity and embedded processing, and Virtex-4 SX FPGAs optimized for high-performance signal processing

Xilinx Virtex-4 SX devices are designed specifically for DSP-centric applications, offering the industry’s highest ratio of DSP to logic resources. Virtex-4 SX devices deliver twice the DSP performance and one-seventh the power of previous generation FPGAs. Devices are shipping now. For more information on the Virtex-4 product family, visit www.xilinx.com/virtex4.

About the JTRS Program
The handheld, manpack and small form fit radios developed under the JTRS program will transform joint service operations by providing communication flexibility and adaptability to fighting forces. By delivering three different power efficient applications, the program will meet future battle needs for decades to come. As many as 14 radio sets or form factors could be called for under the contract, each driven by an advanced radio core the size of a deck of playing cards.

Currently, joint military deployments require the services to rely on many makes, models and types of radios, and few of them communicate seamlessly with others. The JTRS program plans to replace the traditional hardware radios currently deployed with devices that can emulate any radio’s capabilities by simply changing software. Fielded JTRS radios can be upgraded with new software via the wireless information network. This ability to insert emerging technology into the JTRS system paves the way for broadening the radios’ performance and creating new applications such as sensors for signals intelligence.

About Xilinx
Xilinx is the worldwide leader in complete programmable logic solutions. For more information, visit www.xilinx.com.

Contact Xilinx, Inc. Fill out this form for contacting a Xilinx, Inc. representative. Your Name: Your E-mail address: Your Company address: Your Phone Number: Write your message: