Story ID: 590
TE Connectivity Showcases Rugged, Fast Connections
By: James Wynbrandt
Caption: U.S. company’s new Multigig RT 3 connector leads display at Paris Air Show
Word Count: 245
U.S.-based technology and manufacturing powerhouse TE Connectivity (Hall 2B B32) is displaying at the Paris Air Show a variety of its connectivity and sensor solutions, led by its recently released Multigig RT 3 connector. The Rt 3 is TE’s fastest rugged backplane connector and the industry’s lightest for comparable connectors, according to the company.
It supports speeds of more than 25 GB per second for embedded computing or VPX systems and is designed to withstand extreme military and space environments, the company said. Applications include military electronics; C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence [C4] and information, surveillance, and reconnaissance [ISR]); electronic warfare systems; ground and missile defense; and systems designed for outer space.
The connectors conform to VITA 46 industry standards, making them backward compatible with legacy OpenVPX systems, and their modular design enables numerous configurations by interchanging higher-speed RT 3 connectors with the legacy Multigig RT 2 and RT 2-R connectors. 
“We have a long history of working side-by-side with technology leaders to move the industry forward through innovation,” said TE Aerospace, Defense and Marine product manager Mike Walmsley. “The Multigig RT 3 connector is the next generation of high-speed backplane connector for rugged applications.” 
In recent months, more than half of dozen new products have joined TE Connectivity’s line of solutions, spanning distributed avionics, IFE & cabin systems, power distribution, embedded computing, and integrated systems.