Affordable battlefield modernization at mission speed: New MOSA-compliant Expansion™ modules transform virtually any compatible platform into a rapidly upgradeable C5ISR and mission system, enabling low-cost insertion of plug-and-play AI, autonomy, advanced networking, secure storage, and next-generation warfighting capabilities without costly platform replacements.
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--#AUSA2026--General Micro Systems (GMS), the undisputed leader in ultra-rugged small form factor (SFF) embedded computing for defense and aerospace applications, today unveiled its MOSA-compliant smart peripheral Expansion™ modules, a breakthrough family of Thunderbolt™-enabled subsystems that fundamentally redefine how advanced capabilities are deployed at the tactical edge. The company directly compares the MOSA modules’ affordability, scalability, and low design-in barrier with the older, more complex OpenVPX systems touted by the modern defense department. The secret ingredient is the open Thunderbolt interface.
By combining Thunderbolt's extraordinary high-speed connectivity and power delivery with GMS's unmatched rugged computing expertise, these plug-and-play, open standard, compact, mission-ready modules enable defense and aerospace platforms to rapidly integrate powerful new capabilities with unprecedented simplicity for a fraction of the cost of a new system. Whether deployed in next-generation systems or connected to compatible fielded platforms, GMS Expansion modules deliver a faster, smarter, and dramatically more cost-effective path to modernization.
As defense programs race to field artificial intelligence or super intelligence, autonomous mission systems, advanced sensors, and increasingly data-intensive technologies, conventional modernization strategies have become a major obstacle to innovation. Integrating new capabilities into existing platforms often demands costly hardware redesigns, lengthy integration cycles, and exhaustive testing and requalification efforts that can delay deployment for months or even years. GMS Expansion modules shatter this paradigm, providing a revolutionary COTS plug-and-play approach that dramatically accelerates technology insertion, reduces program risk, and enables warfighters to capitalize on breakthrough capabilities without the burden of extensive platform redesign or disruption.
“Thunderbolt changed everything with its extraordinary ability to extend high-speed PCI Express connectivity, video, data, and power beyond the host computer,” said Ben Sharfi, CEO and Chief Architect of GMS. “The real breakthrough, however, is what GMS has engineered around it. We've harnessed Thunderbolt in ways conventional rugged computing architectures can't match, enabling military platforms to gain advanced AI, super intelligence, autonomous mission systems, secure data movement, advanced networking, and mission-specific I/O without tearing apart the host system. What once required years of engineering, integration, and testing can be accomplished in a fraction of the time via a single open standard cable. Without Thunderbolt, this kind of expansion simply wouldn't be possible, and without GMS's unique engineering, it wouldn’t be possible in this extremely small form factor. It’s truly the most significant advancement in military platform modernization in decades.”
GMS Expands Thunderbolt Capabilities for the Battlefield
By extending high-speed PCI Express connectivity beyond the host computer, Thunderbolt allows compatible remote peripherals to communicate with the processing system through a high-bandwidth connection. Thunderbolt also supports DisplayPort video, USB connectivity, and in supported configurations, power delivery over a single cable, reducing cabling complexity while providing greater flexibility in where capabilities are installed.
GMS takes these capabilities beyond conventional commercial applications, combining Thunderbolt 3/4/5 connectivity with proprietary ultra-rugged system engineering and complementary open interfaces, including USB 3/4 and high-speed Ethernet. The result is a family of compact, field-deployable subsystems designed to bring advanced computing, networking, storage, and mission-specific functionality beyond the physical boundaries of the host computer—without requiring extensive modifications to the underlying platform.
Add Mission Capabilities Without Redesigning the Platform
The Expansion modules deliver plug-and-play AI and autonomous mission system processing, high-performance computing, enterprise-class Ethernet switching, modular I/O, removable storage, conditioned power, advanced thermal management, and multi-domain security in compact, lightweight, ultra-rugged packages engineered for the harshest operational environments. Each module delivers mission-critical capabilities as independent, field-deployable subsystems that can be added whenever new requirements emerge, including:
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Artificial Intelligence, Autonomy & Vision Processing: The AI GPU Module, powered by NVIDIA® Jetson™ AGX Orin, instantly transforms virtually any military platform into an AI-enabled edge computing node. Supporting Camera Link, HD-SDI, CoaXPress™, 10GigE and other sensor interfaces. It delivers real-time AI inference, autonomous target recognition, sensor fusion, video analytics, autonomous mission system processing, and up to 100GigE networking output. The module provides one of the fastest available paths for bringing next-generation AI-enabled and autonomous mission capabilities to both legacy and newly developed systems.
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Workstation I/O (WSIO) Docking Station with Add-in I/O: Plug-and-play MOSA subsystem allows up to twelve (12) sites for add-in modules such as MIL-STD-1553, ARINC-429, CANbus, serial, SDR, A/D or D/A, resolver, Ethernet, GPS, 5G/LTE—or any I/O type on Mini-PCIe, M.2, or other miniature open standard interface. Built-in features include removable drive, 10GigE, DisplayPort video, and USB 3.x. WSIO is powered over Thunderbolt with single-cable connection between module and host computer. WSIO is the easiest and most affordable way to add massive capability and forward tech refresh to any system without modifying or requalifying the existing system.
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High-Speed Removable Mission Storage: Powered via the Thunderbolt data cable, the Storage Canister Module provides up to 64TB of secure, removable storage using sealed quad-U.2 or octal-M.2 architectures built for extreme military environments. Designed for ISR, SIGINT, EW, and mission-recording applications, the module supports rapid mission-data extraction, streamlined declassification workflows, and transfer rates up to 40Gbps, enabling operators to move mission-critical data from platform to exploitation systems in minutes.
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Cross-Domain Security & Encryption: The Expansion family includes dedicated hardware modules for secure multi-domain architectures, including the Encryption Module with integrated General Dynamics KG-175N, plus Red, Black, and LZ Domain I/O Controller Modules featuring TACDS® support, PTT, CAC readers, and FIPS 140-2 validated removable storage. Together, these modules simplify deployment of secure cross-domain systems while protecting sensitive mission data across multiple security enclaves and communications networks. Select cross domain modules are powered via the Thunderbolt cable.
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Networking, Routing & Modular I/O: The Intelligent Switch Module combines four 100GigE fiber ports and eight 10GigE copper ports to deliver high-bandwidth Layer 2/3 packet routing at the tactical edge. Complementing it, the Workstation I/O Module enables seamless integration of virtually any legacy or modern interface, including MIL-STD-1553, ARINC, CANbus, serial, digital, or analog I/O, without host redesign, software disruption, or platform requalification.
- Power Conditioning & Thermal Management: Expansion modules also address two of the most persistent deployment challenges: power and cooling. Available options include 2kW MIL-STD-1275-compliant AC/DC power supplies, integrated UPS modules utilizing supercapacitor or lithium-ion technology, and advanced active or passive cooling modules leveraging vapor-phase thermal management to maintain maximum performance across the most extreme operating environments. Power modules offer Thunderbolt Power Delivery, sufficient to power multiple Expansion modules.
“Defense programs can't afford to spend years re-engineering platforms every time a new AI capability, autonomous mission requirement, sensor suite, or security standard emerges,” Sharfi added. “Expansion gives program managers a faster, more flexible way to field advanced capabilities while preserving existing platform investments. That means accelerating technology insertion, reducing integration risk, and getting critical capabilities into the hands of warfighters when they're needed—not years later. I mean, if you had to do the same thing with OpenVPX—itself a 20-year-old technology—it would be at 8-10x the cost and over 10x the weight of Expansion modules. And that’s not to mention the development time of years.”
As military organizations increasingly prioritize autonomous systems, AI-enabled operations, open architectures, and rapid technology insertion, the Expansion family provides a practical bridge between today's deployed platforms and tomorrow's mission requirements. By decoupling capability growth from platform redesign, GMS enables defense organizations to modernize at the pace of technology rather than the pace of traditional acquisition. The result is a dramatically faster path to fielding AI-enabled and autonomous mission systems across the force while preserving existing platform investments.
For additional technical specifications, visit https://www.gms4sbc.com/products/product-categories/expansion
Experience the Expansion family at AUSA 2026
GMS will showcase the Expansion family alongside its latest portfolio of SOSA-aligned OpenVPX systems, rugged servers, Ethernet switches, cross-domain solutions, and intelligent displays at AUSA 2026, October 12-14, in Washington, D.C., Booth 4339, Hall ABC.
About General Micro Systems
For nearly 50 years, General Micro Systems (GMS) has pioneered the industry's most advanced high-density, compute-intensive, modular, and rugged embedded computing systems. Designed and manufactured in the United States, GMS solutions power mission-critical applications across defense, aerospace, intelligence, industrial, medical, and energy markets. As an IEC, ISO, AS9100, NIST 800-171, and MIL-SPEC-compliant supplier, GMS provides the long-life, configuration-controlled platforms trusted by the world's most demanding programs. For more information, visit www.gms4sbc.com.
Contacts
Press:
Chris A. Ciufo
General Micro Systems
360-921-7556
cciufo@gms4sbc.com
Kelly Wanlass
HCI Marketing and Communications, Inc.
801-602-4723
kelly@hcimarketing.com
