Modern military operations rely on robust, reliable, and secure military-grade computers to provide communications, manage logistics, and train soldiers. Whether deployed in the field or back at base, these computers must be designed and manufactured to exceptionally high standards.
The Role of Computers in the Military
What is a military computer? As the name implies, it is a computer designed specifically for use by the armed forces. Compared to civilian products, military computers are typically ruggedized and more secure, specifically to support military operations. The histories of computers and military operations are inextricably tied together; Colossus, the first electronic computer ever developed, was created during World War 2 to break the German Enigma cipher and decode military transmissions. Since then, computers have been adopted for a broad range of roles, including:
Communication, Command, and Control
The U.S. military is a colossal organization, with nearly three million service members and civilian employees spread across its branches and on bases around the world. Coordinating the efforts of soldiers and workers alike requires constant communication, from the soldiers in the field to the generals in the Pentagon. Computer-based systems such as email and camera sharing are essential to maintain the chain of command in both war and peacetime.
Weapons and Systems Control
Modern warfare is increasingly reliant on automated or robotic platforms and unmanned vehicles, which in turn rely on computers to serve as a control interface. Personnel controlling these weapons or systems can watch and react to communications, sensors, and imaging information as the situation demands via their computer.
Cybersecurity & Electronic Warfare
As militaries become increasingly reliant on computers for communications and control, the need for cybersecurity against digital attacks becomes increasingly critical as well. Military computers are often used to coordinate cyber-based offensives and defensive measures. They’re also used to run simulated attacks to test security features and discover weaknesses before the enemy can.
Logistics & Inventory Management
Having the most powerful military in the world means nothing if soldiers don’t have food to eat, bunks to sleep in, and bullets in their magazines when they need them most. Quartermasters and supply officers use military computers to track inventories, file requisition forms, and monitor the usage of supplies to ensure they have the equipment they need when it matters the most. Maintenance crews also rely on military computers to access technical manuals and repair guides, helping them keep vehicles and systems running smoothly.
Training & Simulations
Soldiers often use military computers along with VR/AR technology to train for a variety of situations, including combat, medical emergencies, and operating equipment. Doing so lets them simulate a variety of conditions, including those that would be extremely dangerous in real life, without actually putting themselves at risk.
Required Features for Military Computers
Given the high stakes that they work under, military computers must meet extremely stringent requirements for performance, reliability, and flexibility. The most important military computer features are…
Rugged Designs
All military computers, whether they will be used in the barracks office or in the field, need to meet certain requirements for their ruggedness. Many of these requirements are set by MIL-STD-810, the standard for equipment durability and testing methods. MIL-STD-810 is designed to replicate how harsh operating conditions affect the equipment that troops use, simulating everything from extreme temperatures to harsh vibrations. By testing devices to these standards, the military can be sure they will continue functioning even when out in the field.
Fanless Cooling
Military computers are often used in environments with high amounts of sand, dust, or other particles in the air. The problem is that this debris can get sucked into a computer via its cooling fans, which leads to overheating and damage to the computer itself. To prevent this from happening, military computers will instead rely on fanless cooling technology. This approach keeps the computer running smoothly, without using noisy and unreliable fans.
Cybersecurity Features
Given the sensitive information that they often handle, robust cybersecurity defenses are some of the most critical features for military computers to have. This is why the Department of Defense makes encryption features like TPM chips mandatory, as they help prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing critical data. Access control methods like biometrics or RFID readers are also a necessity; that’s why the Department of Veterans Affairs requires all medical computers to have built-in smart card readers, ensuring that only authorized healthcare providers can access the private health information they store.
Sunlight Readable Display
Anyone who’s tried to use their smartphone while outside has dealt with the frustration of having most of the screen obscured by harsh glare. Now imagine you’re a soldier on patrol in the middle of the desert, trying to review a map on your tablet computer. Given that soldiers are almost always outdoors, any equipment in the field with a display or monitor needs to have an anti-glare filter added to that screen. These filters block out obscuring sunlight while still giving soldiers a clear view of vital information.
Multiple Mounting Options
Military computers are used in a wide range of environments, from a base’s office to the interior of a vehicle. To make deployment and use easier, military computers will integrate a range of mounting options such as VESA mounts and DIN rails. These mounting solutions are designed to be universally compatible and adjustable to the specific needs of their role, making it simple to get computer support where it is needed most.
Benefits of Using Military Grade Computers
Using computers with military-grade features is often a necessity, given the high demands of their operating environments. Their superior design brings benefits to both military and civilian applications.
Superior Reliability
MIL-STD-810 and other regulations aren’t just some theoretical documents dreamt up by engineers who never go into the field themselves. They are standards that are constantly reconsidered and updated to ensure they remain applicable and valuable for equipment tested under them. Designing and manufacturing computers to meet these standards helps ensure they are rugged and reliable under any conditions for both civilian and military applications.
Greater Flexibility in Deployment
Just as the U.S. military must operate in a wide variety of theaters, so too must its equipment. By designing military computers for a broad spectrum of operating environments and roles, manufacturers make it easier for their products to be adopted in the first place. Whether the computer will be used in a base in the Nevada desert or on a cruiser in the Pacific, users can rest assured that it will continue to perform the same as it always has, reducing the need to train on new equipment.
Enhanced Cybersecurity Protection
Cybersecurity remains a pressing concern in both the military and civilian sectors, with both under threat of data breaches and sabotage. The security features that military-grade computers are required to have, such as data encryption and access control, go a long way in preventing these kinds of cybercrimes and protecting mission-critical systems.
Military-Ready Computers from Cybernet Manufacturing
The idea of “what is a military computer” has changed over the years, from massive machines filling entire buildings to small rugged tablets that comfortably fit inside a backpack. However, the mission remains the same: empower troops on the ground and the commanders leading them with the information and tools to get the job done.
If you’re looking for rugged computers and tablets that can serve in military roles, contact Cybernet Manufacturing. We’d be happy to explore how our devices can be adopted for military usage, or how our qualifications as an original equipment manufacturer enable us to customize products to fit your exact needs better. Concerned about reliability? So are we, which is why our computers boast a failure rate of under 0.5%.