Aerospace & Defense

Advancing Aerospace Excellence: Innovations in Defense Technology

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Real-Time Simulation and Computing for Aerospace & Defense

Concurrent Real-Time provides deterministic computing, real-time simulation, data acquisition, and system integration solutions for aerospace and defense testing, training, and deployment.

From closed-loop flight-control validation and missile-system testing to sensor simulation and crew training, our platforms help engineering teams reproduce complex operating conditions in controlled, repeatable laboratory environments.

Built on RedHawk Linux and scalable commercial-off-the-shelf computing technology, Concurrent solutions give aerospace and defense programs the performance, flexibility, and system visibility required for time-critical applications.

Deterministic Performance for Complex Aerospace and Defense Systems 

Aerospace and defense systems must respond correctly within defined timing requirements, even when processors, models, networks, I/O devices, and visualization systems are operating under load.

High computational speed alone does not ensure that outcome. Effective real-time systems must execute critical workloads predictably, maintain synchronization across system components, and interact with physical hardware within the required time window.

Concurrent Real-Time provides the computing foundation for applications that require:

  • Deterministic model execution
  • Predictable interrupt and process response
  • Low-jitter interaction with connected hardware
  • Synchronized data acquisition and I/O
  • Scalable multi-core and multi-node processing
  • Repeatable test conditions
  • Detailed system monitoring and analysis
  • Integration with existing laboratory infrastructure

These capabilities allow engineering teams to test embedded hardware, flight software, control systems, sensors, and operator interfaces before relying on more expensive physical prototypes, field trials, or live-test events.

Aerospace and Defense Applications

Hardware-in-the-Loop and XiL simulation, or HiL, testing connects physical equipment to a real-time simulation that reproduces the system, environment, and signals surrounding the equipment under test.

The hardware operates as though it were connected to the complete system, while engineers control test conditions, introduce faults, monitor responses, and repeat scenarios that may be difficult or unsafe to reproduce in the field.

Concurrent platforms support HiL testing for:

  • Flight-control computers
  • Guidance and navigation systems
  • Avionics components
  • Embedded controllers
  • Sensor-processing hardware
  • Actuators and control surfaces
  • Vehicle and propulsion subsystems
  • Mission-system components

By integrating models, real hardware, real-time I/O, and test controls in one environment, engineering teams can identify interface, timing, and integration problems earlier in development.

Explore Hardware-in-the-Loop and XiL Simulation

Training systems must respond to operator input and changing scenarios without delays that disrupt realism or affect training value.

Concurrent platforms support real-time model execution, image generation, physical controls, instrumentation, and operator interfaces for man-in-the-loop simulation. These capabilities can be used to create interactive environments for pilots, vehicle crews, mission operators, and maintainers.

Applications include:

  • Pilot and aircrew training
  • Ground-vehicle crew training
  • Mission-system training
  • Operator-in-the-loop evaluation
  • Virtual test environments
  • Instructor-controlled scenarios
  • Real-time visual and display systems

Missile and weapon-system development requires coordinated testing of guidance algorithms, embedded processors, sensors, actuators, communication interfaces, and environmental models.

Real-time simulation allows these components to be evaluated in repeatable closed-loop scenarios before complete system integration or live testing. Engineers can examine how the system responds to changing trajectories, sensor inputs, target conditions, component faults, and timing behavior.

Concurrent solutions can support:

  • Guidance, navigation, and control validation
  • Six-degree-of-freedom model execution
  • Seeker and sensor emulation
  • Embedded flight-computer testing
  • Actuator and control-surface simulation
  • Signal generation and acquisition
  • Closed-loop engagement simulation
  • Fault insertion and off-nominal testing
  • Test-data recording and analysis

This approach helps teams isolate subsystem behavior, evaluate interfaces, and build confidence as the program progresses toward integrated testing.

Missile and Weapon-System Validation

Missile-system development requires coordinated testing of guidance algorithms, embedded processors, sensors, actuators, communication interfaces, flight dynamics, and control software.

Real-time simulation allows these elements to be evaluated in repeatable, closed-loop scenarios before complete system integration or live testing. Engineers can examine how the system responds to changing trajectories, sensor inputs, target conditions, hardware faults, and timing behavior while maintaining control over every test variable.

Concurrent Real-Time solutions support:

  • Guidance, navigation, and control validation
  • Six-degree-of-freedom model execution
  • Seeker and sensor emulation
  • Embedded flight-computer testing
  • Actuator and control-surface simulation
  • Sensor-fusion testing
  • Closed-loop engagement simulation
  • Fault insertion and off-nominal testing
  • Real-time data recording and analysis

This approach helps engineering teams isolate subsystem behavior, identify interface and timing problems, and build confidence as a program progresses toward integrated testing.

Missile TestBench: Scalable HIL for Missile Development

Missile TestBench is Concurrent Real-Time’s scalable Hardware-in-the-Loop simulation solution for missile-system development and validation. It combines real-time computing, deterministic execution, simulation software, FPGA-based I/O, and analysis tools in preconfigured systems aligned with different stages of the development lifecycle.

Rather than requiring every program to assemble a test environment from individual components, Missile TestBench provides an integrated foundation that can be configured around the program’s models, interfaces, timing requirements, and equipment under test.

Level 1: Subsystem Validation and Sensor Simulation

Level 1 supports early-stage validation of missile subsystems, sensors, embedded algorithms, and physical interfaces.

Typical applications include:

  • Real-time data acquisition and signal processing
  • Sensor and actuator interface testing
  • Initial guidance and control software validation
  • Embedded algorithm testing
  • Early identification of interface and timing issues

Level 1 provides a controlled environment for validating individual components before they are introduced into more complex system architectures.

Level 2: GN&C Prototyping

Level 2 supports closed-loop development and validation of guidance, navigation, and control systems.

Typical applications include:

  • GN&C algorithm development and verification
  • Sensor-fusion testing
  • Inertial navigation modeling
  • LVDT and RVDT simulation
  • Software and hardware interface synchronization
  • Evaluation across varied flight and engagement profiles

By introducing physical interfaces and deterministic real-time execution, Level 2 helps engineering teams evaluate behaviors that may not be visible in software-only simulation.

Level 3: Full-System Flight and Control Validation

Level 3 expands the environment for integrated testing of missile flight control, avionics, power, communication, and propulsion-related subsystems.

Typical applications include:

  • Avionics integration
  • Flight-control system testing
  • Power-management validation
  • Propulsion subsystem testing
  • End-to-end mission simulation
  • Advanced fault insertion
  • Full-system performance analysis

Level 3 provides the computing capacity, I/O density, and system integration required to evaluate complex mission profiles before live testing.

Each Missile TestBench configuration is built from Concurrent Real-Time technologies, including iHawk, RedHawk Linux, SIMulation Workbench, SignalHawk I/O, FPGA Workbench, and NightStar Tools.

Explore Missile TestBench

Flight-control systems depend on precise interaction among software, processors, sensors, actuators, aircraft dynamics, and communication interfaces.

A deterministic real-time test environment can execute aircraft and subsystem models while exchanging physical signals and bus data with the equipment under test. This allows engineers to evaluate control behavior under both nominal and off-nominal conditions without placing an aircraft or crew at risk.

Applications include:

  • Flight-control computer validation
  • Autopilot and stability-control testing
  • Navigation-system evaluation
  • Avionics integration
  • Propulsion-control testing
  • Sensor and actuator emulation
  • Flight-software regression testing
  • Pilot and operator interface evaluation

Space and launch programs must validate systems that cannot be fully tested under operational conditions before deployment. Real-time simulation gives engineering teams a controlled environment for evaluating flight hardware and software against dynamic models of the vehicle, mission, and surrounding environment.

Concurrent platforms can support:

  • Launch-vehicle simulation
  • Spacecraft flight-software testing
  • Guidance and navigation validation
  • Attitude determination and control
  • Propulsion and stage-control simulation
  • Sensor and actuator emulation
  • Ground-system integration
  • Operator training and mission rehearsal

Scalable computing and flexible I/O allow these environments to grow as programs progress from subsystem development to larger integrated test configurations.

Sensors and seekers must be evaluated against a wide range of signal conditions, environmental variables, target behaviors, and fault scenarios.

Concurrent real-time systems can integrate digital models, physical interfaces, programmable FPGA hardware, and high-speed data acquisition to produce and capture time-sensitive signals. This allows test teams to create repeatable conditions and evaluate how connected hardware responds.

Applications include:

  • Radar-system testing
  • Seeker simulation
  • Inertial sensor emulation
  • Position and navigation inputs
  • Environmental signal generation
  • Target and threat simulation
  • Signal conditioning
  • High-speed signal acquisition
  • Custom digital and analog interfaces

Training systems must respond to operator input and changing scenarios without delays that disrupt realism or affect training value.

Concurrent platforms support real-time model execution, image generation, physical controls, instrumentation, and operator interfaces for man-in-the-loop simulation. These capabilities can be used to create interactive environments for pilots, vehicle crews, mission operators, and maintainers.

Applications include:

  • Pilot and aircrew training
  • Ground-vehicle crew training
  • Mission-system training
  • Operator-in-the-loop evaluation
  • Virtual test environments
  • Instructor-controlled scenarios
  • Real-time visual and display systems

AeroHawk is Concurrent Real-Time’s integrated simulation platform for aerospace and defense applications. It combines real-time computing, deterministic software, simulation tools, I/O, and engineering services in a system configured around the requirements of the application.

Built on the iHawk real-time computing platform and RedHawk Linux, AeroHawk can support complex HiL, XiL, and man-in-the-loop environments without locking programs into a proprietary computing architecture.

AeroHawk configurations can include:

  • RedHawk Linux for deterministic execution
  • SIMulation Workbench for model execution and test control
  • iHawk real-time computing platforms
  • SignalHawk I/O
  • FPGA and GPU processing
  • Data recording and playback
  • Image generation and display systems
  • Commercial and custom interfaces
  • System integration and engineering support

Because each test environment has different model, timing, I/O, packaging, and integration requirements, AeroHawk systems can be configured to support new laboratories as well as the modernization of existing test environments.

Supporting the Complete XiL Development Workflow

Aerospace and defense programs rarely move directly from a desktop model to a complete integrated test system. Validation typically progresses through multiple stages as software, processors, interfaces, and physical hardware become available.

Concurrent solutions can support this progression across:

Control logic and system behavior are evaluated against mathematical models early in development.

Production or representative software is executed against simulated inputs and system models.

Software is evaluated on its intended processor or a representative processing environment.

Physical controllers, sensors, processors, or other system components interact with the real-time simulation through production-representative interfaces.

Operators interact with the system through controls, displays, visual environments, or mission interfaces.

A consistent simulation architecture across these stages helps teams reuse models, test definitions, interfaces, and recorded data as the program matures.

Real-Time Simulation and Integration Capabilities

Concurrent aerospace and defense solutions can be configured to support:

  • Deterministic, multi-rate model execution
  • Closed-loop interaction with equipment under test
  • CPU isolation and workload partitioning
  • Multi-core and multi-node simulation
  • Distributed simulation and synchronization
  • Analog and digital I/O
  • Serial and avionics interfaces
  • Sensor and actuator emulation
  • FPGA-based signal processing
  • GPU-accelerated models and visualization
  • Fault insertion and test automation
  • High-speed data acquisition
  • Time-stamped data recording and playback
  • Operator-controlled test sessions
  • Legacy laboratory modernization
  • Custom hardware and software integration

Field-Proven Across Aerospace and Defense Programs

Concurrent Real-Time technology has supported aerospace and defense simulation, testing, training, and integration programs around the world.

Publicly referenced programs and applications include:

  • THAAD missile program
  • Ground-based Midcourse Defense system
  • Joint Laser Deconfliction Safety System
  • Naval surface and undersea warfare applications
  • C-130 aircrew training
  • F-16 pilot training
  • AH-64 Apache simulation
  • B-1B simulation systems
  • Eurofighter Typhoon simulation
  • Eurocopter Tiger helicopter simulation
  • SH-60K and AH-1S helicopter flight simulators
  • NASA Space Launch System
  • United Launch Alliance rocket programs
  • U.S. Marine Corps Supporting Arms Virtual Trainer
  • K-Series Tank Platoon Simulator
  • T-90 tank gunner training simulator
  • KAI KF-X host system
  • Airbus heavy-lift simulation
  • Honda HF120 jet-engine vibration testing

These applications demonstrate the breadth of real-time computing requirements across subsystem development, integrated testing, training, data acquisition, and mission-system simulation.

Engineering Services and System Integration

Building an effective real-time system requires more than selecting individual hardware and software products. Models, I/O, networks, processors, operating-system settings, data acquisition, and test controls must work together within the required timing constraints.

Concurrent Real-Time’s engineering team can support:

  • Test-system architecture and planning
  • Hardware and software configuration
  • Model integration
  • I/O selection and mapping
  • Signal conditioning
  • FPGA development
  • Application migration
  • RedHawk Linux tuning
  • Test automation
  • Data acquisition and recording
  • Integration with existing equipment
  • Legacy-system modernization
  • On-site installation and system validation
  • Training and ongoing technical support

Whether a program is building a new laboratory or extending an established test environment, Concurrent can provide individual components or an integrated system configured around the application.

An Integrated Real-Time Technology Stack

RedHawk Linux provides the deterministic operating environment at the foundation of Concurrent aerospace and defense solutions.

It combines the familiar Linux ecosystem with real-time scheduling, processor shielding, interrupt control, memory management, and system-tuning capabilities for time-critical workloads. This allows teams to use standard Linux development practices while maintaining control over when critical processes execute.

RedHawk Linux supports both x86 and ARM64 architectures and can be deployed on Concurrent platforms or qualified customer hardware.

Explore RedHawk Linux

SIMulation Workbench, or SimWB, provides an integrated framework for developing, configuring, executing, and monitoring real-time simulations.

SimWB separates models from I/O through its real-time database, helping engineering teams connect model variables to physical channels without embedding hardware-specific logic throughout the model. This architecture supports system changes, I/O updates, and model reuse as test requirements evolve.

SimWB supports models and applications developed using:

  • MathWorks Simulink
  • C and C++
  • Python
  • Fortran
  • Selected third-party modeling environments
  • Custom application code

Engineers can configure test sessions, monitor simulation data, record time-stamped results, replay captured data, and manage connected I/O through the SimWB environment.Workbench, and NightStar Tools.

Explore SIMulation Workbench

iHawk is Concurrent Real-Time’s Linux-based computing platform for time-critical simulation, data acquisition, and control.

Available in multiple processor, enclosure, memory, storage, GPU, and I/O configurations, iHawk systems can be tailored to different laboratory and deployment requirements. The use of commercial-off-the-shelf computing technology also gives programs a practical path for scaling or refreshing system hardware over time.

Aerospace and defense test systems often require combinations of analog, digital, serial, avionics, timing, and custom interfaces.

SignalHawk I/O products provide the connection between real-time models and physical equipment. FPGA Workbench supports development of application-specific FPGA functionality for signal processing, custom protocols, timing logic, and specialized I/O behavior.

Together, these capabilities help engineering teams integrate new and legacy equipment into a coordinated real-time test environment.

NightStar provides tools for debugging, tracing, monitoring, scheduling, and tuning time-critical Linux applications.

Engineers can examine application and operating-system behavior without relying only on average performance measurements. This helps teams identify timing interference, resource contention, scheduling problems, and unexpected interactions that may be difficult to reproduce through conventional debugging methods.

ImaGen provides integrated image-generation platforms for simulation, training, and visualization applications.

These GPU-based systems can support interactive visual environments across aerial, ground, maritime, and other simulated domains. ImaGen can be integrated with real-time models, operator controls, displays, and simulation infrastructure as part of a larger training or engineering system.

A scalable, pre-integrated HIL solution for missile subsystem, GN&C, and full-system validation.

Learn More about Missile TestBench

Aerospace and Defense Real-Time Computing FAQs

What is real-time simulation in aerospace and defense?

Real-time simulation executes a model in synchronization with actual elapsed time. Each calculation, input, and output must be completed within the timing requirements of the system being simulated. This allows physical hardware and human operators to interact with the simulation as though they were interacting with the real system.

What is Hardware-in-the-Loop testing?

Hardware-in-the-Loop testing connects physical equipment to a real-time simulation of the surrounding system and operating environment. The simulation sends signals to the equipment under test, receives its responses, and updates the model continuously to form a closed control loop.

Why is determinism important in aerospace simulation?

Determinism means that critical operations complete within known timing boundaries. Aerospace control and test systems depend on when data is received and processed, not only how quickly a computer performs on average. Excessive latency or jitter can change system behavior, reduce test fidelity, or make results difficult to reproduce.

Can Concurrent integrate with an existing test laboratory?

Yes. Concurrent systems can be configured to work with existing models, I/O, networks, displays, test equipment, and laboratory infrastructure. Integration requirements are evaluated based on the current architecture, interfaces, timing needs, and future program goals.

Can the same platform support both engineering and training applications?

Many underlying capabilities are shared, including deterministic model execution, I/O integration, data acquisition, operator controls, and visualization. The final system configuration depends on whether the primary objective is engineering validation, operator training, or a combined environment.

Which modeling tools can be used with SIMulation Workbench?

SimWB supports Simulink models, C, C++, Python, Fortran, custom code, and selected third-party modeling environments. Exact integration requirements depend on the model format, solver, sample rates, and target system.

Can Concurrent support custom I/O requirements?

Yes. Concurrent provides commercial I/O, SignalHawk products, FPGA-based interfaces, signal conditioning, and engineering services for specialized or legacy interface requirements.

Build a Real-Time Environment Around Your Program

Every aerospace and defense program has a different combination of models, embedded hardware, interfaces, timing requirements, test objectives, and existing infrastructure. Concurrent Real-Time can help your team define a platform that supports current validation requirements while providing a path for future expansion.