AN/AYK-14

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 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 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]

Applications

• Aircraft
  • F-18 Central Mission Computers
  • LAMPS MKIII Central Mission and ESM Processor
  • EA-6B Electronic Warfare Computer
  • E-2C Passive Detection System Computer
  • AV-8B Central Mission Computer
  • EP-3 Electronic Data Processor
  • P-3C ESM Processor
  • F-14 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

• AN/UYK-20
• AN/UYK-44
• CMS-2 programming language
• List of military electronics of the United States

References

1. "AN/AYK-14 (V) Navy Standard Airborne Computer Overview Including P3I" (PDF). Control Data Corporation.
2. Hajdu, Frank, "Control Data AN/AYK-14(V)", Rhode Island Computer Museum, retrieved January 11, 2025
3. "AN/AYK-14 (V) Navy Standard Airborne Computer Technical Description" (PDF). Control Data Corporation.