AN/AYK-14
| AN/AYK-14(V) | |
|---|---|
| Weapons Systems Computer | |
| Status | In use | 
| Manufacturing Info | |
| Manufacturer | Control Data Corporation | 
| Introduced | 1976 | 
| Production Period | 1976–Present | 
| No. Produced | >10,000 | 
| Specifications | |
| Operating Temperature | −54 °C (−65 °F) to 71 °C (160 °F) --> | 
| Usage | |
| Used by Aircraft | |
| Used by Military | US Navy | 
The AN/AYK-14(V) is a family of computers for use in military weapons systems.[1] It is a general-purpose 16-bit microprogrammed computer, designed in 1976 by Control Data Corporation Aerospace Division in Bloomington, Minnesota intended for airborne vehicles and missions.[2] Its modular design provides for common firmware and support software. It is still in use on Navy fleet aircraft including the F/A-18, and the AV-8B. The AN/AYK-14(V) family of systems is designed to meet military standard MIL-E-5400 (airborne) requirements.[3]
General information
The AYK-14(V) computer was designed for military weapons systems, capable of operating at altitudes up to 70,000 feet and in temperatures ranging from -54C to 71C.[2] A complete AN/AYK-14(V) computer system is composed of processor, memory and input/output (I/O) modules.[1] The 16-bit CPU is based on the AMD 2900 series chips, capable of running between 0.3 and 2.3 mega-instructions per second (MIPS).[2]
In accordance with the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the "AN/AYK-14" designation represents the 14th design of an Army-Navy airborne electronic device for armament fire control equipment. The JETDS system also now is used to name all Department of Defense electronic systems.
Applications
- Aircraft 
- F-18 Hornet Central Mission Computers
 - LAMPS MKIII Central Mission and ESM Processor
 - EA-6B Prowler Electronic Warfare Computer
 - E-2C Hawkeye Passive Detection System Computer
 - AV-8B Harrier II Central Mission Computer
 - Lockheed EP-3 Electronic Data Processor
 - P-3C Orion ESM Processor
 - F-14 Tomcat Avionics Improvement Program
 
 - Special applications 
- ALWT Torpedo Guidance Computer
 - ACLS Landing System Processor
 - DASS ASW Training Computer
 - Firebrand Drone Guidance Computer
 
 
History
The AYK-14(V), designed in 1976, had an original unit price of $185,000.[2] By 1986, it was designated as the US Navy's Standard Airborne Computer.[2] In 1987, the computer was upgraded delivering twice the performance and eight times the memory.[2] Upgraded again in 1991, the operational speed was improved to 18 MIPS.[2] Over 10,000 units have been delivered.[2]
Technical description
The AN/AYK-14(V) series of systems are microprogrammed computers, intended for airborne vehicles and missions, but are also capable of shipboard and land use.[3]
General characteristics
The AN/AYK-14(V) is a general-purpose 16-bit computer capable of 675 thousand operations per second. Its modular design provides for common firmware and support software.[3]
System specifications and features
General Features
The AN/AYK-14(V) is designed to be physically and functionally modular. It can be expanded with plug-ins and additional enclosures. It's microprogrammed to emulate an extended AN/UYK-20. LSI components are used, and the system is packaged in ARINC Air Transport Rack (ATR) enclosures.
Central Processor
- Microprogrammed
 - 2's complement arithmetic
 - Executive and user states
 - Two sets of 16-word by 16-bit general registers
 - Two status registers
 - Three-level interrupt system
 - Addressing to 524,288 words
 - Fixed and floating-point arithmetic
 - 4-, 8-, 16-, and 32-bit operands
 - 16-, and 32-bit instructions
 - Direct, indirect, and indexed addressing
 - Optional hardware floating-point module
 - Loadable/readable 32-bit RTC clock, 1-MHz rate; 16-bit monitor clock, 10-KHz rate
 - Built-in-test functions
 - Bootstrap PROM memory
 - Power failure shutdown/recovery
 - I/O controller capability 
- Chaining capability
 - Control memory for each channel
 - Up to 16 channels in various combinations
 
 - Interface to support equipment
 - Sample instruction times 
- Shift 1.5 μsec
 - Add, subtract 0.8
 - Multiply 4.2
 - Divide 8.4
 - Basis: single GPM, core memory, overlapped access, interleaved addresses
 
 
Memory control and memory
- Core memory module (CMM), 32K words of 18 bits
 - Semiconductor memory module (SMM), 32K words of 18 bits
 - Interchangeable core and semiconductor memory modules
 - CMM has 900-nanosecond cycle time and 350-nanosecond access time
 - SMM has 400-nanosecond cycle time and 200-nanosecond access time
 - Interleaved or non-interleaved addressing
 - Read/write expandable memory (RXM), 4K x 18-bit RAM with optional 4K PROM
 - Parity bit per byte
 - Protect features 
- Write protect
 - Read protect
 - Execute protect
 - Block protect in paging system
 
 - Memory controller with paging to 524,288 words
 
I/O Processor (optional)
- I/O controller capability
 - Instruction subset compatible with central processor
 - Microprogrammed
 - Usable in conjunction with a central processor or as a stand-alone processor
 - Real-time and system clocks
 - 16-word by 16-bit general register set
 - Addressing to 65,536-words
 - Fixed point 16-bit arithmetic
 - Interface to support equipment
 
Subsystems
Processor
The general processing control module (GPM) and the processor support module (PSM) make up a 16-bit central processor. for a general purpose computer. The extended arithmetic unit (EAU) is 32-bit floating-point hardware, controlled by the GPM. An input/output processor (IOP) can be added to increase processing throughput. It can function as an input/output controller (IOC) or as a single-module, 16-bit general purpose CPU.[3]
Memory
The memory subsystem includes two 32K-word with an 18-bit word length. The memory control module (MCM) provides the interface between the GPM and the memory modules. The read/write expandable memory module (RXM) is a 4K word module with an 18-bit word that serves as memory for the IOP.[3]
Input / Output
The AN/AYK-14(V) can support up to 16 I/O channels. A single chassis provides four to six I/O channels. XN-3 type enclosures can be added to expand the number of I/O channels.[3] I/O module types include:
- MIL-STD-1553A avionics serial multiplex bus
 - NTDS (fast, slow, ANEW, and serial) MIL-STD-1397
 - RS-232-C
 - PROTEUS
 
Environmental requirements
The AN/AYK-14(V) family of systems is designed to meet MIL-E-5400 (airborne) requirements.[3]
See also
References
- ^ a b "AN/AYK-14 (V) Navy Standard Airborne Computer Overview Including P3I" (PDF). Control Data Corporation.
 - ^ a b c d e f g h Hajdu, Frank, "Control Data AN/AYK-14(V)", Rhode Island Computer Museum, retrieved January 11, 2025
 - ^ a b c d e f g "AN/AYK-14 (V) Navy Standard Airborne Computer Technical Description" (PDF). Control Data Corporation.