VersaLogic Raptor: Rugged Compute for SWaP-Sensitive Radar

Big Processing in a Small Payload

Posted by Nigel Norman
October 6, 2026

Ask any radar payload engineer about their biggest headache, and you’ll usually hear the same answer. Every new programme wants more processing at the sensor edge, yet the space, weight and power left for the mission computer keeps shrinking. On a UAV or helicopter, every gram and every watt has to earn its place.

That’s exactly the gap VersaLogic’s new Raptor (VL-EPU-5530) is designed to fill.

It squeezes a 13th Gen Intel processor, up to 64 GB of soldered LPDDR5x memory, three M.2 expansion sites and dual 2.5GbE with time-sensitive networking (TSN) into an 80 × 95 mm unit weighing around 265 g. That’s the footprint of a COM-HPC Mini module, yet the Raptor is a complete embedded computer with its own I/O, ready to drop into a payload.

Raptor at a glance
 

Feature	Published Specification
Product	VL-EPU-5530 embedded processing unit (pre-release)
Form Factor	COM-HPC Mini-sized, 80 × 95 × 36 mm
Mass	Approximately 265 g
Processor	Intel Core i5-1345URE (10 cores) or Intel Processor U300E (5 cores)
Memory	Up to 64 GB soldered LPDDR5x with in-band ECC (IBECC), depending on model
Expansion	Three M.2 M-key sockets: two 2242 and one 2280
Networking	Two magnetically isolated 2.5GbE ports (100/1000/2500) with TSN support and latching connectors
Other I/O	Two USB4, two USB 3.2, up to eight USB 2.0, two serial COM ports, eight GPIO and one I²C
Video	Mini DisplayPort++ and two USB4 Type-C DisplayPort outputs; graphics capability varies by CPU
Power Input	10–15 V DC
Environmental	−40°C to +85°C operating temperature; operating altitude up to 50,000 ft; MIL-STD-202H shock and vibration specification
Security and Lifecycle	TPM 2.0; removable storage; AES-256 encryption capability; 10+ year typical production lifecycle
Specifications are preliminary and subject to change.

 
 
Where the Raptor Fits in a Radar System
In most radar payloads, the heavy lifting of digitisation and pulse compression is done by a dedicated RF front end and FPGA. The Raptor sits alongside that chain as the brains of the operation, looking after radar control, health monitoring, track processing, sensor fusion and mission recording, then passing results to the wider platform. Its two isolated 2.5GbE ports let you keep the radar link and mission network apart, and TSN support helps wherever latency really matters. Examples include:
 

• UAV Radar Payloads: If you’re integrating radar on a UAV, the Raptor can handle mission control, radar mode management, track processing, and onboard recording, with headroom left for edge inference. The Sarsen team can help you work through payload power, heat rejection, and how much data reduction is needed before the 2.5GbE link.
• Helicopter Surveillance Radar: Rotorcraft are relentless on electronics. With MIL-STD-202H shock and vibration performance, soldered memory and latching connectors, the Raptor can run radar control, sensor fusion and mission data handling from one compact unit without cables or modules shaking loose.
• Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs): Paired with a sealed, marine-rated enclosure, the Raptor can process topside radar and sensor data, supervise autonomous missions and log everything for post-mission analysis.

Built for Harsh Environments
VersaLogic rates the Raptor for operation from −40°C to +85°C and at altitudes up to 50,000 ft. Heat-plate-cooled versions let you conduct heat straight into the enclosure or airframe structure, which is a real advantage in sealed pods and avionics bays.

Of course, a rugged board is only part of the picture. Cooling at altitude, power conditioning, and EMC still need system-level qualification, and our team can support you with configuration and integration advice right from the start. For long defence programmes, VersaLogic also offers a typical 10+ year production lifecycle, plus modified COTS options such as conformal coating, revision locks, and additional screening, even at low OEM volumes.

Beyond Radar: Other UK Mil/Aero Applications
The same architecture is worth evaluating for the roles below, with interfaces and qualification tailored to each programme. These are potential use cases, not announced programme selections or platform certifications.
 

Application	Value-add	Important Boundary
EO/IR Surveillance and Target Tracking	Sensor management, image handling, track fusion and recording in compact spaces	Check video rates, graphics and accelerator needs, and sensor interfaces.
Electronic Support or Spectrum Monitoring	Supervisory control, event correlation, local storage and network distribution beside dedicated RF/FPGA hardware	Not an RF receiver or a high-rate deterministic DSP engine.
Uncrewed Aircraft Mission Computers	Navigation aiding, payload coordination, telemetry and mission data management	Safety-critical flight control needs separate assurance and certification.
Counter-UAS and Perimeter Sensing	Fusion of radar, EO/IR and other detections	Performance depends on the wider sensor and software stack.
Maritime Patrol and Coastal ISR	Compact processing and recording for airborne or vessel-mounted sensors	Salt, humidity, vibration and EMC qualification apply to the installed system.
Ground Vehicles and Deployable Command Systems	Sensor gateway, HMI, health monitoring and mission-network processing	Vehicle power, connectors, cabling, GVA interoperability and environmental compliance need project-level design.
Test, Instrumentation and Training Rigs	Small controller for radar test sets, data capture and maintenance interfaces	Define deterministic I/O, bandwidth and calibration interface needs.

 
The same small, rugged package lends itself to plenty of other UK defence roles, including EO/IR surveillance, counter-UAS sensor fusion, electronic support systems, ground vehicle sensor gateways, and radar test and training rigs.

With SWaP budgets only getting tighter, a compact computer that can handle radar control and processing at the edge is a valuable addition to any payload designer’s toolkit. The Raptor is currently in pre-release, so now is a great time to start the conversation.

For more information on evaluation units, or to talk through how the Raptor could fit into your next programme, please get in touch.