iWave Global, a global leader in FPGA-based embedded computing and defense-grade system design, has announced its strategic adoption of the SOSA™ (Sensor Open Systems Architecture) Technical Standard across its comprehensive 3U VPX product portfolio. This initiative marks iWave’s commitment to advancing modular, interoperable, and future-ready architectures for mission-critical defense, aerospace, and radar applications.
The new lineup of SOSA-aligned 3U VPX systems spans across leading AMD and Altera FPGA families, providing developers with scalable performance options tailored to a variety of high-speed signal processing and embedded computing workloads. The portfolio includes platforms based on:
| Product | Switch Profile | Payload Profile |
|---|---|---|
| ZU48/ZU47/ZU43/ZU28/ZU27/ZU25DR RFSoC | _ | RF Payload |
| ZU19/ZU17/ZU11 MPSoC | Switch | _ |
| ZU7/ZU5/ZU4 MPSoC | Switch | Payload |
| Versal™ AI Edge | RF Switch | RF Payload |
| Versal™ AI Edge Gen2 | RF Switch | RF Payload |
| Versal™ Prime | RF Switch | RF Payload |
| Versal™ Prime Gen2 | RF Switch | RF Payload |
| Virtex™ UltraScale+ / Virtex™ UltraScale | Switch | Payload |
| Kintex™ UltraScale+ / Kintex™ UltraScale | Switch | Payload |
| Agilex™ 9 Wide-Band | _ | RF Payload |
| Agilex™ 7 (R24C) | Switch | Payload |
| Agilex™ 7 | _ | Payload |
| Agilex™ 5 | RF Switch | RF Payload |
What is the SOSA™ Standard and Why It Matters
The SOSA Technical Standard, developed by The Open Group, defines a common, open architecture framework for sensor systems used in defense and aerospace applications. It standardizes hardware, software, and electrical interfaces across vendors to ensure interoperability, modularity, and rapid technology insertion.
By enabling a common reference architecture for C4ISR, radar, EW, and signal processing platforms, SOSA reduces system development time, minimizes vendor lock-in, and extends product lifecycles. It allows system developers to mix and match payloads, switches, and timing modules from multiple vendors without custom integration, ensuring seamless collaboration across the supply chain.
iWave’s alignment with the SOSA standard ensures that its 3U VPX payload, switch, or timing modules adhere to standardized slot profiles and backplane connectivity, simplifying integration into multi-vendor, open-architecture defense systems.
Driving Open Standards and Interoperability
By embracing the SOSA framework, iWave is reinforcing its role as a key enabler in the defense electronics ecosystem. Each iWave 3U VPX module is engineered to align with SOSA-defined interoperability and management standards, ensuring seamless integration into open architecture defense systems.
The platforms support multiple SOSA-aligned slot profiles, enabling flexible system configuration across diverse payload, switch, and timing modules. They are compliant with VITA 46.11 IPMI Tier 3, providing comprehensive system management and monitoring capabilities crucial for mission-critical operations. Designed to meet SOSA cooling specifications, the modules incorporate ANSI/VITA 48.2 Type 1 conduction-cooled designs with a 1.0” pitch, ensuring optimal thermal efficiency in rugged environments.
Additionally, each 3U VPX card features unique slot number assignment through geographic addressing for precise system-level slot identification and configuration, while the system controller functionality enables the generation and distribution of REF_CLK signals across the backplane for synchronized system operation.
“The adoption of SOSA standards across our VPX portfolio represents a major step forward in our mission to deliver interoperable, modular, and future-proof embedded computing systems,” said Pradap Raj – Associate Director – System on Modules, iWave Global. “Through this initiative, we are empowering defense and aerospace organizations to accelerate mission deployment, reduce lifecycle costs, and simplify system modernization.”
iWave’s Vision for the SOSA Ecosystem
Through the adoption of SOSA, iWave continues to expand its leadership in open standards-based computing. The company’s design philosophy combines in-house FPGA design, RF digitization expertise, and ODM manufacturing capabilities to provide end-to-end solutions from COTS 3U VPX modules to fully customized, mission-ready systems.
With over 26 years of innovation in FPGA and embedded design, iWave stands as a trusted partner for OEMs and system integrators building the next generation of modular, high-performance defense and aerospace systems. With experience over the decades in the FPGA domain and a strong design-to-deployment competence, iWave transforms ideas into time-to-market products with reliability, cost, and performance balance.
For more information or inquiries, please reach out to us at mktg@iwave-global.com
