Spectra Aerospace & Defense is a trusted and growing platform of C5ISR companies – CALCULEX, Galleon Embedded Computing, and ArgonFDS - bringing over a half-century of rugged, mission-ready, battle-tested experience to bear in aerospace and defense applications. From high-speed data acquisition, data recording and secure, high-density storage, to computing and rugged, clear display of mission data, Spectra delivers the products and subsystems needed for the most demanding military air, land, and sea platforms. With our comprehensive portfolio of rugged products, systems, and solutions, the Spectra family of companies’ customized end-to-end solutions for the C5ISR market help military end-users achieve mission success. Simply put, Spectra's rugged solutions Capture, Process, and Display your mission-critical data in the harshest environmental conditions. In the air, at sea, on land, and in space; We simplify integration.

CAPTURE

Data Acquisition

Sensor Recording

PROCESS

Mission Computing

Encrypted Storage

NAS & File Serving

Processing & Routing

DISPLAY

Displays

Peripherals

Tablets

Workstations

quote card Lars Sørfang

Exploring Spectra Aerospace & Defense’s mission-critical computing solutions across multiple domains

 

August 5, 2025  

 

Spectra Aerospace & Defense Vice President of Sales Lars Sørfang explores rugged embedded computing solutions for ground, airborne and naval platforms, plus strategic growth opportunities for the company.

In this Q&A, Lars Sørfang discusses the company’s strategic market position, domain-specific rugged computing solutions, and vision for deeper partnerships with global defense primes.

 

Market Positioning & Solutions

Q: How is Spectra Aerospace & Defense positioned in today’s market, and what key solutions are you seeing the most demand for across ground mobile, airborne and naval applications?

A: We are well-positioned in today’s defense and aerospace market as a trusted provider of high-performance, rugged computing solutions. Our core focus lies in mission-critical data recording, rugged data storage systems and processing tailored for harsh environments. That’s especially the case with our SWaP-optimized (Size, Weight and Power) designs. Galleon continues to serve Tier 1 defense contractors and military programs across multiple domains with aerospace data management systems that meet the most demanding operational requirements.

 

Industry Trends & Challenges

Q: What major industry trends are you observing in the aerospace and defense sectors right now, and how are these shaping customer requirements?

A: Current trends include increasing deployment of artificial intelligence, machine learning (AI/ML), autonomy and enabling of MUM-T (Manned Unmanned-Teaming) at the tactical edge. This directly impacts our customer requirements:

  • Demand for GPU-accelerated, SWaP-optimized systems that can process sensor data in real-time
  • Need for low-latency edge computing in ISR, SIGINT and autonomy applications
  • Increased interest in AI-ready embedded platforms capable of running real-time analytics without relying on backhaul to centralized systems
  • Addresses the challenge of balancing compute power with thermal and power constraints in harsh, mobile environments

Domain-Specific Solutions & Capabilities

Q: How do Galleon Embedded Computing solutions specifically address the unique challenges and requirements across ground mobile, airborne and naval platforms, and what are your most popular solutions for each domain?

A: Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of how Galleon addresses domain-specific challenges with targeted technologies:

Ground Mobile Systems

Key Challenges

    • Extreme shock, vibration, dust and temperature variations
    • Space and power constraints in armored vehicles and UGVs
    • Need for real-time data capture from multiple onboard sensors (radar, EO/IR, LIDAR, comms)
    • Secure, field-replaceable storage for sensitive missions

Key Demands

    • Rugged data recorders and mission computers with SWaP-optimized systems to fit into compact vehicles
    • NVMe-based storage for high-speed data logging (e.g., ISR feeds)

Galleon’s Solutions

    • XSR mission ready data recorders & G1 military grade mission computers: Ruggedized to MIL-STD-810 for shock/vibration; small form factor, fanless options for tight spaces
    • Removable NVMe storage: Enables quick offload and secure handling of mission data with high-speed data logging for ISR feeds
    • Low-power designs: SWaP-optimized systems specifically designed for vehicle-mounted and dismounted configurations

Airborne Platforms (manned and unmanned)

Key Challenges:

    • SWaP-C constraints for UAVs and rotorcraft
    • Need for deterministic, low-latency data recording (ISR video, SIGINT, radar feeds)
    • High-altitude, high-temperature, and pressure differentials
    • Safety certifications and secure communication requirements

Key Demands:

    • High-speed storage and real-time processing capabilities
    • Lightweight, conduction-cooled systems for airborne environments

Galleon’s Solutions:

    • XSR Recorder with removable SSDs and XSR Server: Airborne-qualified, lightweight, conduction-cooled systems
    • High-bandwidth data handling: Synchronized time stamping and fast RAID storage for real-time processing
    • Secure data encryption: Built-in security features for classified operations

Naval and Maritime Systems

Key Challenges

    • Long mission durations with massive data accumulation (sonar, radar, navigation, comms)
    • Harsh saltwater environments with electromagnetic interference
    • Shock and vibration from shipboard operations
    • Data security requirements for classified missions

Key Demands

    • Long-duration storage and secure data handling capabilities
    • Systems resilient to harsh maritime environments

Galleon’s Solutions

    • High-capacity battle tested network attached storage systems: XSR NAS with advanced RAID and encryption options, designed for continuous uptime
    • Environmental sealing: Resilient to EMI, shock, and harsh maritime conditions
    • Flexible data interfaces: Support for Ethernet, fiber channel, and custom I/O configurations for long-duration storage and secure data handling

This comprehensive approach allows us to serve Tier 1 defense contractors and military programs across all domains with mission-critical solutions that meet the specific operational demands of each platform type.

 

Trade Show Strategy & Market Presence

Q: What’s on the horizon for Galleon in terms of trade shows and industry events? How do you leverage these opportunities to showcase your solutions and connect with key customers?

A: Spectra Aerospace & Defense has several strategic trade shows coming up, including:

  • DALO Industry Days August 20-21 in Ballerup, Denmark
  • The Norwegian Defence and Security Industries Association (FSi) exhibition on August 28 in Oslo
  • Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) September 9-12 in London

We will showcase a variety of different solutions for the ground vehicle, airborne and naval markets. These shows are always excellent opportunities to interact with our potential and existing customers. It’s an ideal way to showcase a larger portion of our product portfolio and demonstrate how our systems operate in real-world scenarios.

 

Strategic Vision & Growth

Q: Based on your experience at Teledyne FLIR, Kongsberg Defence and Exail, what’s your strategic vision for strengthening Galleon’s competitive position with primes and system integrators globally?

A: Drawing from my previous leadership roles, a strong strategic vision for Galleon Embedded Computing focuses on reinforcing trust, innovation and integration-readiness with global primes and system integrators.

Our goal is to position Galleon not just as a hardware vendor, but as a mission-enabling technology partner who understands the unique challenges each domain faces. Whether it’s the extreme shock and vibration of ground mobile platforms, the SWaP-C constraints of airborne systems, or the long-duration storage demands of naval operations, we’re embedded early in the customer’s solution architecture lifecycle with Tier 1 primes.

By combining Galleon’s technical credibility with a sharper customer interaction and mission alignment strategy, the company can elevate from a trusted product vendor to a core integration partner for global defense primes. The path forward lies in agility, openness and embedded trust.

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