GORE^® Ethernet Cables for Defense Aircraft

As the defense sector requires faster digital networks in avionics, cables must transmit data reliably at much higher rates. The aerospace industry is also moving away from proprietary networks to open-source architectures and standardized protocols, like Ethernet.

GORE Ethernet Cables are designed with speed, signal integrity and durability in mind. We offer several high-density configurations and performance lengths that support Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6a protocols to meet your specific application needs and requirements. Available in 4 pairs, quadrax or 2 pairs, these cables provide the fast speeds, excellent signal integrity and robustness needed to support today’s airborne digital networks and critical avionics.

Our Ethernet cables’ compact designs offer significant size and weight reduction over competing cables. Their slender diameters are inherently lighter with more flexibility without compromising durability, signal integrity or transmission speed. They can be easily installed, retrofitted and maintained, even when space is at a premium. Maintainers will appreciate how quickly it is to install our cables, saving valuable time and replacement costs.

Whatever configuration you pick for your defense aircraft, you can be confident that GORE Ethernet Cables will perform at fast speeds without failure after routing and throughout missions.

GORE Ethernet Cables are engineered with unique features that make them more durable against challenging environmental factors and aircraft conditions, including:

• chemically inert, temperature- and abrasion-resistant, EMI shielding materials
• slender, lightweight, highly flexible cable diameters
• several configurations and performance lengths

Our cables provide aircraft system architects and engineers with many benefits that improve electrical, mechanical and environmental performance, like:

• meet Cat 5e, Cat 6 and exceed Cat 6a high speed data protocol requirements
• proven excellent signal integrity with stability after installation and over time
• low crosstalk performance for less RF signal interference among electronic systems
• high-density constructions tolerate harsh aviation conditions
• valuable weight savings with smaller, lighter weight designs
• quick, easy routing in tight areas from greater flexibility and small bending
• compatible with a variety of high-speed connector systems and backshells
• selected pre-qualified samples with short lead times for prototyping and evaluation
• low risk based on validated product performance in real-world conditions

For more information about the features and benefits of our cables, contact a Gore representative today.

Our award-winning Ethernet Cat6a version exceeds stringent protocol requirements, maintaining clear data transmission at speeds up to 10 Gb at lengths up to 80 m (262 ft).

This version is approved to SAE AS6070™ standards that support AS50881 EWIS (electrical wiring interconnection systems) specifications and on the Qualified Products List (QPL). Our Cat6a version is also qualified according to C21091 specifications and has been selected for aircraft program upgrades, like the F-16 and more.

Our Ethernet Cat6a cables improve signal integrity and provide additional margin that helps overcome routing issues and mission challenges. They’re proven to outperform several leading alternative cables with:

• vastly better insertion loss to crosstalk ratio for more reliable data transmission
• lower crosstalk and consistent impedance control at higher frequencies after routing
• sufficient margin below the specification limit for return loss after routing
• reduced RF interference at higher frequencies for better noise immunity and less EMI missions among electronics

Based on test results using cable routing simulators that we built, our high-density Cat6a version with a multi-layer construction delivers proven installed performance compared to leading alternatives.

Not only that, but our 4-pair design is 24% smaller and 25% lighter than standard designs. In fact, they’re proven to save 5.9 kg/km (13 lb per 1000 ft) in military aircraft.

Compact, high-density construction of GORE Ethernet Cables (4 Pairs, Cat5e/6/6a)

When you don’t want to use a standard 4-pair design in your aircraft system architecture, our star quadrax design is a perfect alternative to meet Ethernet Cat5e protocol requirements.

These dual differential pairs transmit continuous bi-directional signals at high speeds in a variety of applications, like flight and propulsion control, box-to-box systems and more. Their performance is proven reliable up to 100 MHz at lengths up to 70 m (230 ft) using size 24 AWG and 50 m (164 ft) using size 26 AWG.

This pioneering cable geometry, which we invented originally, is lightweight and roughly 40% smaller than dual twisted pair constructions. Our cable’s lightweight build is also proven to save more than 5.0 kg (11 lb) on aircraft, like the latest fifth-generation F-35.

Yet, our cables offer robustness throughout every mission and over the system's lifetime. Our star quadrax Ethernet Cat5e version is a proven reliable substitute to dual twisted pair constructions for meeting high data rate needs.

Lightweight, robust build of GORE Ethernet Cables (Quadrax, Cat5e)

For Ethernet Cat5e protocol, our 2-pair cable is an ideal solution if you don’t want to use a 4-pair or quadrax design in your system architecture. This small, robust version preserves signal integrity, significantly exceeds crosstalk requirements and reliably carries up to 1 GHz of high-speed data.

For Ethernet 1000BASE-T performance, positioning our cables side by side gives engineers more flexibility when designing avionics systems.

Smaller Form Factor of GORE Ethernet Cables (2 Pairs, Cat5e)

Gore has been a long-time supporter of testing our products extensively to show how reliably they perform in real-world conditions before launching them to market. So, we designed a cable routing simulator to evaluate the effects of severe bending on high-speed data cables while being routed through an airframe.

Watch Gore engineers in these videos and more on YouTube demonstrating the durability of GORE Aerospace High Speed Data Cables.

Available in several designs to meet Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6a protocols, GORE Ethernet Cables are the proven solutions for airborne digital networks. For more information or to discuss your specific military aircraft application needs, contact a Gore representative

If you're ready to order our cables in 4 pairs, quadrax or 2 pairs, contact one of our defense wire and cable distributors. You can also request tested, prequalified samples, which are complimentary and available within 48 hours.