Aitech Introduces New C165 Single Board Computer to Support VME System Development and Modernisation
National Harbour, Maryland — Aitech, a global leader in rugged embedded computing and AI-based connectivity solutions for defence and aerospace applications, has today announced the C165 Rugged 6U VME Single Board Computer (SBC). This new technology assists defence and aerospace organisations in building or modernising mission-critical systems while maintaining proven VME infrastructure currently utilised across various aerial, terrestrial, and maritime platforms.
As military programmes face increasing pressure to enhance performance, strengthen cybersecurity, and address component obsolescence, many programmes continue to rely on VME architectures that remain operationally effective but are difficult to maintain due to the costs, schedule disruptions, and technical risks associated with complete platform redesigns. The C165 enables programme teams to modernise computing capabilities within existing systems, extending platform lifespans and accelerating technological updates without the need to migrate to entirely new architectures.
Aitech showcased the new C165 SBC alongside its mission-ready computing and connectivity solutions at the Air & Space Forces Association Air, Space & Cyber Conference held in National Harbour, Maryland.
“Customers in the defence sector require practical modernisation solutions to enhance operational capabilities while minimising programme risks,” said Alex Trigoub, Aitech Product Manager. “The C165 delivers modern Intel processing optimised for power efficiency, high-performance integrated GPUs, advanced cybersecurity, versatile I/O, and secure high-capacity storage in a rugged 6U VME form factor. With these capabilities, customers can improve performance, overcome component obsolescence challenges, and extend the operational life of existing systems without redesigning platform architecture, whilst minimising upgrade and operational costs.”
The C165 reflects Aitech’s commitment to helping customers modernise and maintain mission-critical systems through a combination of proven technology assets, specialised engineering expertise, and long-term lifecycle support. As a pin-compatible successor to Aitech’s C164 and C163 SBCs, the C165 offers an efficient upgrade path to help customers address technological obsolescence while protecting existing investments in qualified hardware, software, and platform infrastructure.
Based on the 11th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-118_5GRE Tiger Lake UP3 processor, optimised for SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) with integrated Intel® Iris® Xe graphics, the C165 delivers significantly higher computing and graphics performance compared to previous-generation VME solutions. This allows system integrators to support increasingly complex workloads, including mission computing, ISR processing, video analytics, and sensor-based applications, while maintaining compatibility with existing VME systems.
Beyond performance enhancements, the C165 meets the growing cybersecurity and data management requirements of modern defence programmes. The board supports up to 32 GB of LPDDR4X memory and up to 4 TB of secure NVMe storage, and is equipped with Aitech’s AiSecure™ cybersecurity framework, including TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, Intel Boot Guard, encrypted storage, and secure erase capabilities to protect mission-critical data and maintain system integrity.
Key Features:
11th Generation Intel Core i7-1185GRE Tiger Lake UP3 processor
Intel Iris Xe graphics with 96 execution units
Up to 2x increase in CPU performance per watt compared to previous Aitech VME platforms
Over 2.5x increase in graphics performance
Up to 32 GB LPDDR4X-4267 memory with in-band ECC to optimise memory-intensive workloads
Self-encrypting NVMe SSD up to 4 TB with Quick Erase and Secure Erase
AiSecure cybersecurity framework with TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and Intel Boot Guard support
Support for PMC and XMC mezzanine slots to expand functions and I/O
Pin-compatible upgrade path for existing Aitech C164 and C163 systems
Air-cooled and conduction-cooled variants available
Rugged 6U VME form factor for defence and aerospace systems
The C165 is now available for mission system development and platform modernisation programmes.