The Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) provides a digital interface for navigation, flight, and communication systems that is interchangeable between the MH-60 and MH-47 helicopter models. CAAS components include 4 multi-function displays, 2 control display units, 2 power switching modules, 2 video processing modules, and 1 data transfer unit. These components work together to process and display critical flight data, control aircraft systems, and transfer data and video.

1. Common Avionic
Architecture System
By Austin Hanika

2. CAAS
Overview
The common Avionics Architecture
System (CAAS) provides a digital
interface for navigation, flight, and
communication systems.
CAAS components are
interchangeable between MH-60’s
and MH-47’s

3. CAAS Components
4 Multi function
Displays (MFD’S)
2 Control Display
Units (CDU’s)
2 Power Switching
Modules (PSM’S)
2 Video processing
Modules (VPM’S)
1 Data Transfer
Unit

4. Multi function Displays
• MFD’S provides critical system data as well as maps
• Provides statuses for systems. Green means fully functional,
yellow means partially functional Red means non functional
and grey means not installed or disconnected
• MFD position dictates what roles they perform
• Positions 1 and 4 being flight critical
MFD #1 MFD #2 MFD #5 MFD #3 MFD #4

5. Control Display Unit’s
• Both Located in the center console
• Control Display Units are used for setting radio
channels, filling radios with keys for secure
comms and performing built in tests on aircraft
components
• CDU’S controls powering on and off CAAS
systems
• One CDU is selected to be the bus controller

6. Power and Switch Modules and Video
processing Modules
• Located in Left and Right Forward Avionics bays
• Takes analog radio signals from radio recievers
and converts them to digital signal.
• 23-port high-integrity Ethernet
data bus switch
• Advanced video processing
module for analog and digital video
management
• Embedded, high-integrity mission
processor with dedicated graphics
engine

7. Data Transfer Unit
• Flash Drive slots provide way to input map and flight
data
• Video recordings can be stored on flash drives
• Four slots are provided two top slots are one card
type and bottom two are another card type. Bottom
two are the only ones used normally.

8. CAAS connections
• MIL-STD-1553 is the military standard
serial data bus used in military Avionics
• Data bus couplers (shown to the right)
provide connections for several serial
lines that go to the same area
• Terminators (shown below) provide end
points for the signals to stop at