Glenair: Mission-critical Interconnect Systems
Glenair is a manufacturer and supplier of connectors, cables and military standard connector accessories. The products are used in interconnect cable assemblies in systems as diverse as military vehicles, jet-fighters, satellites and future soldier systems. The basic function of high-reliability interconnect cables and harnesses is to deliver reliable power and data streams to electronic equipment. Virtually every platform or device currently in use in military and civilian aerospace, or in the command, control, communication and computer systems used in army equipment employs connector technologies. High-reliability connector and cable systems enable technicians to quickly and efficiently swap-out damaged electronic packages, install new system upgrades or disassemble complex equipment for routine maintenance cycles. Glenair’s contribution to this work is in the area of highly-miniaturized, mission-critical connectors and associated hardware such as connector backshells, braided shielding and other technologies. In addition to the discrete, or individual interconnect components, Glenair manufactures and supplies turn-key cable assemblies for both electrical as well as fiberoptic applications.
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Example of an interconnect cable assembly fabricated by Glenair. Multi-branch cable assemblies of this type are typically equipped with highreliability, miniaturized connectors, strain-relief clamps, EMI braided shielding and various forms of environmental protection such as adhesive shrink-boots, polymer jacketing and/or overmolded connector seals. |
Glenair interconnect solutions are designed for ruggedized applications that must withstand extreme mechanical, electromagnetic and environmental abuse. The company’s connector and cable systems are specified in front-line systems including Land Warrior, Joint-Strike fighter, Abrams, MRAP and others. In almost all cases, Glenair connectors, cables and interconnect accessory products are selected due to the ability of the products to solve significant interconnect problems, such as size and weight reduction, corrosion protection, EMI/EMP filtering, hermetic sealing and so on. Simply put, Glenair solutions are designed for applications, such as the AAAV, that subject their electronic equipment to brutal levels of wear and tear. Glenair is both a value-added engineering house, as well as a fully integrated manufacturer. The company’s 400,000 sq. ft. factory space Glendale, California is thesite for all manufacturing, assembly and testing. While many American manufacturers have shifted production to offshore and other low-cost regions, Glenair is proud to manufacture all the interconnect products it makes for both military and commercial systems in the USA.
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| The Glenair factory in Glendale, California is a vertically integrated facility with machining centers, injection molding, welding, die-casting, plating and all other processes critical to the manufacture of high-reliability interconnect components and cables. |
Glenair follows a unique business model focused on extremely high levels of customer service for every stake-holder in the business, including customers, suppliers, employees and partners—but most especially the end-users who work with Glenair products on a daily basis in arduous land, sea, air and space applications. The bulk of Glenair products are organized according to the military standards that govern interconnect systems. Glenair is qualified to produce mil-qualified connector products such as:
- MIL-DTL-83513 Micro-D Connectors and Cables
- MIL-DTL-24308 D-Subminiature Hermetic Connectors
- MIL-PRF-24758A Wire Protection Conduit Systems and Fittings
- MIL-DTL-38999 Series I, II, III and IV Hermetic Connectors
- AS85049 Backshells and Connector Accessories
- MIL-T-29504 Fiber Optic Connector Termini
- MIL-DTL-32139 Nanominiature Connectors
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| Land Warrior is a key component in the integrated Future Combat System. Glenair manufactures the miniaturized connectors and cable-sets that interconnect the many electronic sub-systems on Land Warrior, including power distribution units, weapon systems, vision systems and integrated communications gear. |
Glenair also manufactures a broad range of non-Mil-Spec products that are selected for military systems due to their ability to solve significant problems, such as size and weight reduction. One such connector systems, the Glenair Series 80 “Mighty Mouse” has quickly become the standard circular, miniaturized connector for soldier systems, unmanned vehicles, battery packs, weapon interconnects and other systems that require advanced levels of connector performance in a reduced size and weight connector. In developing the Mighty Mouse Series connector, Glenair recognized a growing need in tactical military, aerospace and specialty industrial markets for a connector series that mimics the electrical and mechanical performance of popular milstandard connectors, but is smaller in size and lighter in weight. The Series 80 “Mighty Mouse” Connector is ideal for high-speed applications such as gigabit Ethernet and perfectly suited for the wide range of data I/O applications that depend on USB and IEEE 1394 compatible interconnects and reliable environmental, mechanical and EMC performance. Six different coupling styles are offered. Size # 23 AWG crimp contacts are standard, set on .076 in. centers.
As a sustaining member of AUSA, Glenair salutes the men and women of the US Army for their unflagging dedication to our country’s security and freedom. For more information on Glenair’s mission-critical range of interconnect products please view the company’s website at www.glenair.com