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TDM Assembly

Technical Information

Catalogue No: C0231
Category: Mission Systems
Object Type: Data Storage
Object Name: TDM Assembly
Part No: 047-011-01
Serial No: 0051
Manufacturer: GEC-Marconi Avionics
Division: Unknown
Platform(s): Tornado
Year of Manufacture: Unknown
Dimensions: Width (mm): 105
Height (mm): 30
Depth (mm): 190
Weight (g): 520
Location: Grey Dexion Shelf Unit [Main Store]
Inscription(s):

GEC-Marconi Avionics Ltd
TDM Assy. Part No. 047-011-01
Ser No. 0051 NSN Code K0656

Notes:

This is the TDM (Transfer Data Module) onto which the mission planning data is loaded at the ground workstation. The cartridge plugs into the drawer in the Data Entry Unit (C0230, C0558). The data cartridge itself has to be rugged and reliable with a high data integrity and the ability to download fast. A typical cartridge has about 4Mbyte solid state non-volatile memory so that no battery backup is needed.
The 12 round glass-windowed photo-transistors, interspersed with light emitting diodes form a 12-bit electro-optical data interface that is more rugged than normal mechanical electrical connectors. The Data Entry Unit will have a similar electro-optical array within it.

Mission planning was once carried out with the aid of paper maps but modern military aircraft have sophisticated navigation and attack systems and film or digital map displays. An aircraft’s mission is planned on the ground at a workstation  now called  an Advanced Mission Planning Aid (AMPA).
Currently Tornado missions are planned manually, and a cassette preparation ground station (CPGS) is used to load the plan on to a cassette which is taken to the aircraft and downloaded into the mission computer via the voice recorder. While the plan is being prepared the aircraft waits, armed and ready to go.
Apart from the route and waypoints information on threats, Radio/Nav settings, Weapons settings, terrain and flight profile are just some of the information a pilot might need for a successful mission.
Although it cannot be verified at present it is likely that these units were made by Powerplant Systems Division.

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