Building an electronics pedigree

Aerospace Manufacturing's Mike Richardson learns more about API Technologies and the supply of its innovative microelectronic and electro-optical modules into the Eurofighter Typhoon programme. Whether it's whilst performing awesome aerobatic manoeuvres at airshows or during actual military action, there is no doubt that the Eurofighter Typhoon is simply a jaw-dropping feat of aviation technology.

Launched in 1994, Eurofighter Typhoon has helped to power European manufacturing technology to the forefront of international capabilities. First conceived over 20 years ago, the multirole jet fighter possesses the kinds of electronics systems that give it the edge in avionics and fly-by-wire systems which are essential in today's theatre of war operations.

The brightest minds

The supply chain combines the brightest European aerospace minds within the leading companies of each of the partner nations and one such company, API Technologies, is a designer and manufacturer of custom high-speed microelectronic and electro-optical modules that are custom-built to withstand extreme environments.
The company is among the leading suppliers of some of the most advanced and sophisticated aerospace and defence electronic microcircuits used on board the Typhoon and its Great Yarmouth plant has a long heritage that feeds directly into the programme itself.

“API Technologies provides a range of products to aid communication between the various systems present on the aircraft,” says the company's general manager & head of engineering operations, Matt Howchin. “While there are a number of companies supplying similar products into the programme, it is fair to say that over time API Technologies has become the dominant provider.”

Howchin says he feels this success was due to meeting the challenge to design products that met the performance requirements and were also rugged, robust, lightweight and therefore suitable for military avionics applications.

The ties that bind

API Technologies has forged close partnerships with both Eurofighter and its many suppliers, and it engages closely with a number of programme partners it supplies into.

“We hold regular meetings with them to discuss our products and the continuity of supply to support the ongoing lifecycle of the programme. The Eurofighter programme has been running from the initial design concept stage since the early 90s and we certainly see many more years of usage in the supply of our products. In order to supply and maintain these products, we have to work closely with our customers and our supply chain to ensure we do it in the most cost effective way.

“This means maintaining a flow of information, and understanding the issues that our customers and their customers - and subsequently Eurofighter itself - are dealing with, as well as some of the difficulties we face in ensuring the products we supply are correctly supported. There is a good flow of information throughout the entire supply chain and Eurofighter itself has been instrumental in building this supplier community. We are very supportive of this - as are our customers - and we have found it to be very helpful.”

Keeping pace with technology

Ever eager to move with the times by incorporating sophisticated electronics systems that are gradually obsoleting traditional hydraulic systems, such as the philosophy espoused by the advent of All Electric Aircraft, I'm interested to hear how this impacts upon military fighter jet programmes?

“The industry talks a lot about fly-by-wire and fly-by-light and there is an element of fly-by-wire and fly-by-light already evident in many programmes,” Howchin agrees. “API is involved in future aircraft programmes and is developing a next generation range of high speed optical transceiver products.

“We certainly see a drive to increase and extend the useful life of existing airframes for as long as possible, rather than investing in expensive programmes to design and develop new aircraft. Meanwhile, the employment of drones and unmanned aerial systems is likely to increase and we certainly believe that our lightweight, highly robust, ruggedised, high reliability modules will have a major role to play in the future of these programmes.”

API Technologies Corp completed the acquisition through its UK-based subsidiary API Technologies UK of C-MAC Aerospace in March 2012. Based in Great Yarmouth and Milton Keynes, UK, C-MAC is a leading provider of high-reliability electronic systems, modules, and components.

www.apitech.com