Military & Defence Rugged Computer Solutions

Military and Defence Solutions

• Military IPC Solutions: Rigorous Testing and Compliance for Mission-Critical Use
  • Certifications
  • Connectivity
  • BVM Defence Design, Manufacturing and UK Distribution Services
  • Military and Defence: Case Studies
  • Military and Defence Systems – MIL-STD-810
  • Portable, Ruggedized PC Solutions with Touchscreen Interactivity
  • System-on-Modules ( SOMs )
  • Touchscreen Panel PCs and Rugged Tablets
  • AI-based Military and Defence Solutions

Military IPC Solutions: Rigorous Testing and Compliance for Mission-Critical Use

Mission-critical, Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) , and custom computing hardware aligned with MIL-STD and DEF STAN requirements.

Military IPC solutions are required to go through extensive testing for compliance, ensuring safety and efficiency during both indoor and outdoor activities, as well as durability under extreme conditions. The following criteria must be met for a military-grade PC solution to be deemed operational

Electromagnetic Interference

For MIL-STD 461F compliance, provide detailed testing specifications to confirm that the PC product adheres to electromagnetic interference control requirements.

Anti Vibration

Military equipment should meet the US military standard MIL-STD-810F-514.5, C1 / C2 / C3 for vibration resistance, and include M12 connectors for enhanced reliability.

Unstable Power Supply

Power supply units able to handle wide power input and isolation to protect devices from power surges is a generally a must.

Environmental Conditions

For products compliant with MIL-STD 810G, they are tested to withstand extreme environmental conditions.

Certifications

Generally, “off-the-shelf” Military IPC products are always built and tested according to military standards MIL-STD-810 and MIL-STD-461.

MIL-STD-461 is a United States Military Standard that describes how to test equipment for electromagnetic compatibility.

Specifically, MIL-STD-461F details testing specification to ensure the conducted emissions (CE), conducted susceptibility (CS), radiated emissions (RE), and radiated susceptibility (RS) of a system can meet the requirements for the control of electromagnetic interference.

• MIL-STD-461 Method – CE101/CE102: Conducted Emissions
• MIL-STD-461 Method – RE101/RE102: Radiated Emissions
• MIL-STD-461 Method – CS101/CS106/CS109/CS114/CS115/CS116: Conducted Susceptibility
• MIL-STD-461 Method – RS101/RS103: Radiated Susceptibility

The MIL-STD-810 test series are approved for use by all departments and agencies of the United States Department of Defence (DoD).

The standard describes environmental management and engineering processes that can be of enormous value to generate confidence in the environmental worthiness and overall durability of a system design.

• MIL-STD-810 Method 501.4: High Temperature
• MIL-STD-810 Method 502.4: Low Temperature
• MIL-STD-810 Method 507.4: Humidity
• MIL-STD-810 Method 514.5: Vibration
• MIL-STD-810 Method 516.5: Shock

Connectivity

Typically, military Panel PCs and displays come with MIL-DTL-38999 type I and III connectors – high-performance cylindrical connectors for cable-to-panel applications in military, air traffic controller, or situations where their optimisation of device ‘up time’ is paramount.

MIL-DTL-38999/I Power Connector	MIL-DTL-38999/III VGA/RS-232/USB-A/LAN

BVM Defence Design, Manufacturing and UK Distribution Services

Tactical & Embedded Hardware Engineered and Supported in the UK

• In-House UK Military-Grade Design and Customisation
  • Bespoke mechanical engineering for rugged enclosures, advanced thermal management, secure internal cabling, and ruggedized PCBs.
• Rugged COM Carrier Board Engineering
  • UK-engineered custom carrier boards optimized for shock, vibration, and thermal performance, supporting COM Express, SMARC, Qseven, NVIDIA Jetson, and Raspberry Pi modules.
• Rugged and Portable Pelicase PC Solutions with Touchscreen Interactivity
  • An alternative to rugged laptops or tablets, providing better protection and IP rating (if required)
  • Space for custom electronics and selectable I/O.
  • Cost-effective option when seeking a customized portable computer solution with HMI
• Mission-Ready Hardware & Rugged COTS Distribution
  • Tactical-grade fanless box PCs, high-performance 4U rackmount systems for military AI inference, Rugged IP65–IP69K touchscreen panel PCs (7″ to 32″).
  • Long-lifecycle, strictly revision-controlled industrial motherboards, SBCs, and Computer-on-Modules.

Over 35 Years of UK Computing Expertise

Backed by over 35 years of industrial and embedded computing experience, BVM is a trusted partner for UK defense primes, aerospace OEMs, and military systems integrators. Operating from our Southampton facilities, we design and build mission-ready hardware optimized for deployment in electronically dense and environmentally harsh tactical environments.

What We Offer Military OEMs and Systems Integrators

From our ISO 9001:2015 certified design and manufacturing facility in Southampton, BVM provides secure UK supply-chain continuity. We offer a comprehensive portfolio of ready-made, ruggedized Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) computing platforms. Our local engineering team configures, integrates, and tests these systems to meet strict program guidelines – simplifying procurement and offering ITAR-free/controlled design options.

Bespoke Defence Solutions & Prototyping

When standard COTS platforms cannot meet specialized mission parameters, our Southampton-based engineering team designs and manufactures bespoke hardware from the ground up. We manage the entire lifecycle of your project, from initial concept to prototyping, production, and long-term obsolescence management. Our designs are developed in alignment with DEF STAN 00-35 (environmental), DEF STAN 59-411 (EMC), MIL-STD-810H, and MIL-STD-461G requirements, ensuring repeatable, reliable operation at the tactical edge.

If you can’t find an “off the shelf” product that suits your needs, our in-house design team can create a new solution from scratch.

Military and Defence: Case Studies

Military and Defence Systems – MIL-STD-810

Military and defence computers are rugged, mission-critical systems designed to comply with military standards including MIL-STD-810 and MIL-STD-461. Built to operate reliably in extreme conditions, they offer resistance to shock, vibration, temperature fluctuations, and electromagnetic interference. These systems provide dependable computing performance for command and control, surveillance, communications, and deployed defence applications.

• Ruggedised Construction: Reinforced chassis designed to withstand shock, vibration, impact, and harsh handling in military environments.
• Wide Operating Temperature Range: Reliable operation in extreme temperatures, typically from -40°C to +70°C or higher.
• MIL-STD-810 Compliance: Tested against military standards for shock, vibration, humidity, altitude, dust, and environmental conditions.
• Ingress Protection (IP Rated): Sealed enclosures with IP65, IP67, or higher ratings to protect against dust, water, rain, and sand.
• Fanless Design: Passive cooling eliminates moving parts, improving reliability and reducing maintenance requirements.
• High Reliability Components: Industrial-grade components with long lifecycles and enhanced resistance to temperature fluctuations and vibration.
• Secure Data Protection: Support for TPM modules, hardware encryption, secure boot, and cybersecurity features to protect sensitive information.
• Wide Power Input Range: Designed to operate from military vehicle, aircraft, naval, and field power sources with protection against surges and voltage fluctuations.
• Long-Term Availability: Extended product lifecycles and revision control to support military programmes that may remain operational for 10+ years.
• Multiple High-Speed I/O and Expansion Options: Support for Ethernet, serial communication, CAN Bus, GPS, wireless communications, video capture, and expansion cards for mission-specific applications.

MIL-STD Panel PCs combine a rugged computer and display into a single unit. Built for demanding environments, they provide reliable operation for military vehicles, command centres, and field deployments.

MIL-STD Touchscreen PCs >

MIL-STD PCs are rugged computers built for military and defence applications. They are designed to withstand shock, vibration, extreme temperatures, and harsh conditions while delivering reliable performance.

MIL-STD Computers >

MIL-STD displays are rugged monitors engineered for use in harsh military environments. They offer dependable visual performance and are designed to withstand shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures.

MIL-STD Displays >

Portable, Ruggedized PC Solutions with Touchscreen Interactivity

Rugged Industrial Peli Case PCs are a great alternative to rugged laptops or tablets – providing better protection, IP rating (if required) and space for custom electronics and selectable I/O.

• Custom Sizes: Available in a range of sizes to suit portable to workstation needs.
• High Performance: Powered by Efficient Intel Atom to High Performance iCore CPUs
• Interactive Displays: TFT screens from 7″–21″ with optional touch for easy use.
• Advanced Connectivity: LTE and Wi-Fi ensure reliable, continuous connectivity.
• Flexible Storage: Durable SSD-based storage options for high performance.
• Expansion Ready: Supports mPCI-E, M.2, and PCIe for added functionality.
• Custom Electronics Integration: Bespoke electronics and custom I/O.
• Clear Design: Custom labelling and intuitive interfaces for ease of use.
• Rugged & Secure: IP67-rated protection with lockable components.
• Ergonomic Build: Designed with handles for easy and comfortable transport.
• Long Lifespan: Industrial-grade build with 5–7 year longevity and replacement support.

Why do customers choose our Peli Case PC solutions?

• They’re a great alternative to rugged laptops or tablets – providing better protection, IP rating and space for custom electronics, integrated hardware and selectable I/O.
• They’re a good solution for combining instrumentation and computing in one rugged and portable package.
• Good value where a bespoke – rugged embedded computer solution with HMI is being sought, one that can be protected from its immediate environment.
  

System-on-Modules (SOMs)

These features make Computer-On-Modules highly suitable for deployment in demanding conditions where traditional computing hardware might fail

System-On-Module products are the ideal solution for many space-constrained applications
where the build-up of heat within the operating environment can become an issue.

System-On-Modules and Carrier Boards

COM/SOM modules are ideal for applications where product time to market and longevity of solution are critical to your business. Today’s COM modules mainly come in two main formats; COM Express (COMe) in Mini, Compact, Basic and Qseven.

Plugged into carrier boards (baseboard), they can be upgraded to newer, backwards-compatible versions as processor technology capability progresses. COM/SOM modules are typically used in military solutions.

SYSTEM-ON-MODULES AND CARRIER BOARDS >

Touchscreen Panel PCs and Rugged Tablets

To meet the demands of military applications, Panel PCs must incorporate a range of ruggedisation features, certifications, and specialised design processes.

Typically, the products being sought after for a military applications will quite often cross over to the products found in our Harsh Environment and Transportation (Land, Sea, Rail and Air) Industries. Our advice at BVM would be speak to us first – as there may be a product that serves your application already fit for harsh environment operation, possessing the prerequisite certifications you need.

Rugged Panel PCs

Rugged Panel PCs are designed for harsh environments with wide temperature operation (-40°C to +85°C) and variable DC power inputs (typically 9-36V). Available with 7″ to 24″ displays, they offer PCAP or resistive touch, high-brightness backlighting, optical bonding, and anti-glare technologies for reliable operation.

RUGGED PANEL PCS >

In-Vehicle Panel PCs

In-Vehicle Panel PCs are built to withstand shock, vibration, and fluctuating vehicle power conditions. Featuring wide voltage input, sunlight-readable displays, ignition control, and flexible mounting options, they are ideal for transport, military, and mobile applications in extreme environments.

IN-VEHICLE PANEL PCS >

Rugged Tablets

Rugged Tablets are designed for military and government environments where reliability and durability are essential. With high IP ratings, sunlight-readable displays, robust connectivity, and military-grade protection, they provide dependable mobile computing in demanding conditions.

RUGGED TABLETS >

AI-based Military and Defence Solutions

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the military and defence sectors, driving efficiencies, cutting costs, and bolstering security. Developments in AI-powered intelligence, surveillance, autonomous systems, cybersecurity, and logistics are enhancing operations, minimizing human risk, and optimizing resource management. This technology is poised to dramatically reshape defence strategies and operations.

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Military and Defence

• Autonomous systems: AI enables more autonomous operation in military devices such as drones and tanks, enhancing navigation, targeting, and engagement capabilities.
• Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance: AI analyses sensor and data sources, improving pattern recognition and situational awareness to support strategic decisions.
• Language translation: AI facilitates real-time translation for military communications across language barriers, crucial during international missions.
• Training and simulation: AI-powered simulations provide realistic training environments, preparing military personnel for various operational scenarios.
• Cybersecurity: AI detects and mitigates cyber threats, safeguarding military networks through advanced pattern recognition and rapid response mechanisms.

The hardware needed for artificial intelligence (AI) varies based on the application and type of AI. Some algorithms demand powerful resources to function optimally. For instance, deep learning algorithms, used in image and speech recognition, need specialized hardware like graphics processing units (GPUs), which excel in complex matrix calculations, outperforming traditional central processing units (CPUs). In contrast, simpler AI types, such as rule-based systems, can operate on standard CPUs.