Introduction
In any industry, getting your SSD choice right is important.
In the world of aviation, space, and defence it’s absolutely critical.
All three sectors have their own unique challenges, sets of conditions and potential threats, which all need to be carefully considered and accounted for. In this short article, we explore some of the things you need to be thinking about when it comes to selecting an SSD for aviation, space or defence applications.
Can you rely on it and will it stand the test of time?
First up, you’ve got to be able to rely on your SSD. Aviation, space and defence applications throw up particularly severe environments, including extreme temperatures, high altitudes and intense vibrations, and your standard SSD just isn’t designed to cope with those sorts of challenges.
Most applications will need to remain supported for decades, so it’s important to look for suppliers with a track record of supporting these type of applications.
And it’s not just that – your SSD needs to endure too, as it’s often not straightforward to replace an SSD in the air, in space, or in particular defence environments. If it breaks down at the worst possible time, then what could the repercussions be?
Does it meet the standards?
For good reasons, products used in aviation, space and defence often need to meet specific, exacting standards in order to show that it’ll do what it needs to do, and keep those affected by it safe as a result.
The high altitude conditions for space applications require SSD to be resistant to the effects of radiation exposure, often called radiation hardening. Using a drive that doesn’t meet radiation hardened standards could lead to file corruption, malfunction and firmware crashes.
Products that meet these standards can be relied on to survive and function properly in the tough environments and situations that these sectors face.
Does it perform as you need it to?
Onto performance, which matters a lot.
The whole point of using an SSD is to ensure your particular application works effectively – it’s all very well specifying something that can “handle” the environment, but if it doesn’t do the original job effectively, it isn’t the answer.
Generally in space, aviation and defence, the requirement is for an SSD with fast read/write speeds – this allows you to handle large data volumes quickly.
This is essential for real-time applications, such as navigation systems and data logging in defence operations. High-performance SSDs reduce lag and increase efficiency, which is vital for mission-critical tasks.
Is it secure?
Particularly in sensitive sectors like defence, it’s absolutely vital that your SSD is secure. In aviation and space too, there’s likely to be data you don’t want falling into the wrong hands, or being tampered with, and that’s why security is of critical importance.
An SSD for space, defence or aviation needs advanced encryption – that’ll help protect sensitive data, while features like secure erase, write protection and self-destructing drives are all worth consideration.
Are they the right size and shape?
Physical space is often at a premium in defence, aviation and space applications, which is why it’s important to ensure that your SSD has the right form factor to meet the specific needs of your application. Aircrafts, spacecrafts and military equipment often require compact hardware to fit into tight areas, so understanding what the final design is going to be and selecting an SSD accordingly is the right way to go.
How much power do they consume?
Energy efficiency is a hot topic across all industries, but particularly in space, defence and aviation, where an application will frequently be found in a remote or inaccessible location.
Understanding the amount of energy an SSD consumes will help guide your thinking on the right one for your application.
Who makes it and what’s the support like?
Finally, it’s smart to choose an SSD from reputable manufacturers with a track record in these industries.
Yes, you can find anything on the internet these days, but the surety that comes from choosing a manufacturer who’s operated in the space for some time, has a proven track record and case studies that can prove their product does what you need it to.
In addition, a reputable manufacturer will provide the reliable support and comprehensive warranties that are essential to back up the product’s performance and longevity.
Summary
In summary, when selecting SSDs for aviation, space, and defence, focus on:
- Reliability and Endurance: Must withstand extreme conditions and meet strict standards.
- Performance: High-speed read/write capabilities for real-time data processing.
- Security: Advanced encryption and data protection features.
- Form Factor and Power Consumption: Compact and energy-efficient designs.
- Manufacturer Reputation: Proven reliability and strong support services.
Choosing the right SSDs ensures they can handle the specific challenges of these demanding applications.
If you’d like to talk about military, space and aviation grade SSDs for your application, our range of Foremay SSDs could be perfect for you – click here to check them out, and if you want to talk to a member of the Nexus team, pick up the phone and call us on 01794 301439, or email info@nexusindustrialmemory.com now.