Modern defense networks demand more than bandwidth—they demand resilience. In field shelters, forward bases, and mobile command environments, network downtime isn’t an inconvenience; it’s a mission risk. That’s where tactical robotic fiber switching from XENOptics steps in, delivering carrier-class optical performance hardened for the front line.
Built for Combat Conditions
Every second counts when forces redeploy or when command shelters shift position. The XENOptics Compact Smart Optical Switch (CSOS) automates all fiber cross-connections inside a ruggedized chassis qualified for extreme environments.
- Operating range: –40 °C to +65 °C
- Insertion loss: ≤ 1.0 dB, field-connectorized
- Return loss: < -55 dB (UPC)
- Power profile: 6 W standby, < 0.5 W deep sleep
- Switching time: 24–60 s per operation
The system’s passive latching mechanism keeps every optical circuit live even during generator failure or battlefield power loss—no relays to reset, no reboot window. Power is only drawn during switching, making it ideal for battery or generator-based shelters.
From Manual Patching to Mission-Ready Automation
Traditional fiber patch panels depend on trained personnel physically re-routing jumpers under tight operational windows. In conflict zones, that model breaks. The CSOS and larger XSOS family replace manual optical distribution frames with fully robotic switching modules.
Each cross-connect is executed by a precision manipulator inside a sealed optical enclosure, guided by a control plane accessible through secure REST API and SNMPv3 interfaces. Every connection, disconnection, and approval is timestamped, logged, and verified—meeting the same zero-trust and four-eyes standards used in fixed data-center deployments.
When command posts relocate, operators can reconfigure entire optical paths remotely—without technicians touching live fibers. In a mobile shelter network, that means faster recovery, less human error, and zero exposure to live circuits during re-cabling.
Zero-Downtime Resilience
A passive-first architecture ensures that even during a total power loss, all established links remain optically latched. The super-capacitor UPS completes any in-progress switch action before shutting down, guaranteeing service continuity.
Each module integrates environmental sensors and a dust-extraction unit to preserve optical clarity in harsh conditions—whether the rack sits in a desert base or a maritime operations room.
That same reliability has been validated across 20-year service life testing under NEBS 3 and ETSI 300019 Class 3.2 standards.
Compact Scale, Strategic Impact
The CSOS family scales from 72 to 144 ports per unit, while the larger XSOS-576D handles nearly 7,000 managed ports per rack in fixed facilities. Both share the same robotic topology, allowing defense integrators to standardize from mobile shelters to regional command centers.
In logistics terms, automation reduces truck rolls and on-site visits by hundreds per year, saving fuel, labor, and time.
For deployments running on generator power, idle loads under 6 W and deep-sleep states below 0.5 W cut energy draw to negligible levels. Passive optics mean no signal processing, no latency, and no EMI signature, critical for electromagnetic-sensitive missions.
Field-Proven Security
Layer 0 automation also strengthens defense communications security. Each port change requires authenticated approval through a segregated management network, and the optical layer itself remains packet-blind—no data parsing, no metadata exposure.
Extending zero-trust principles to the physical layer means every optical connection is software-controlled, authenticated, and logged. Each patch or reconfiguration is executed through secure workflows, so the fiber plant itself becomes part of the protected domain—auditable, locked, and immune to manual tampering. No technician ever needs to handle a live connector.
Ready for the Next Mission
From fixed command hubs to rapidly deployed shelters, XENOptics’ automated fiber systems deliver the same advantage: faster provisioning, fewer errors, and guaranteed uptime.
With proven 24–60 second cross-connects and power-independent optics, military operators can reconfigure entire tactical backbones in the time it takes to boot a radio.
Zero human error. Zero unplanned downtime. Full control of the mission network—down to each strand of glass.