Rugged Networking Solutions

Modern defence platforms rely on fast, reliable data connections that perform in the harshest conditions. Our range of rugged military Ethernet switches, routers, USB hubs and media converters is engineered specifically for mission-critical land, sea and air applications.

MILTECH networking solutions combine high-performance switching with compact, robust designs that meet demanding SWaP requirements. With both MIL-STD packaged and board-level ruggedised configurations, they use passive cooling and flexible power options while complying with MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-1275, MIL-STD-704 and ingress protection ratings up to IP67 and IP68.

Whether you’re specifying a switch for a vehicle network, a router for an airborne ISR system, or a media converter for a naval retrofit, our team can help you find a solution that’s already qualified for your environment, not one you have to test and hope for the best.

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Rugged Ethernet Switches
Need dependable Ethernet switching in harsh environments?

Our rugged Ethernet switches are built specifically for mission-critical use in military and harsh industrial settings, where temperature extremes, shock, vibration and moisture are part of everyday operation. With fanless, passively cooled designs, compact footprints and flexible power options, they deliver high-performance switching while meeting strict SWaP constraints.

Certified to key MIL-STDs, including environmental (MIL-STD-810), EMC (MIL-STD-461) and power standards (MIL-STD-1275, MIL-STD-704), and available in both fully sealed and board-level configurations, they provide reliable, secure connectivity for vehicles, aircraft, naval platforms and field-deployed systems.

Managed or unmanaged, whichever your platform needs

Managed rugged Ethernet switches give you VLAN support, traffic prioritisation (QoS) and on-device routing between virtual LANs, ideal where multiple subsystems share a single network backbone. Unmanaged switches are the simpler, lower-cost option where plug-and-play connectivity is all that’s required. We can help you work out which fits your architecture before you commit.

If your network has to keep working when conditions are at their worst, these switches are engineered to stay online.

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Rugged Routers

Our rugged routers are engineered to deliver secure, resilient routing in the most demanding military and harsh-environment applications. Designed to withstand extreme temperatures, shock, vibration and moisture, they provide reliable voice, video and data connectivity across vehicles, aircraft, naval platforms and fixed installations.

Compact, fanless and optimised for SWaP-constrained systems, these routers support flexible power inputs and advanced security features while meeting key MIL-STD and ingress protection requirements.

What makes a router “mission-ready”?

A rugged military router isn’t just a commercial router in a tougher box. It needs to maintain routing performance and security under sustained vibration and shock, hold a stable connection across multiple bearers (Ethernet, fibre, radio), and keep working through power fluctuations that would trip a standard unit. That’s the standard every router is built to.

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Media Converters & USB Hubs

Not every platform runs on a single connector type or cable medium, and converting between them shouldn’t introduce a point of failure. Our rugged media converters bridge copper and fibre network segments, useful where you need to run fibre over longer platform distances but still terminate on copper at the endpoint, while meeting the same MIL-STD environmental and EMC requirements as the rest of the range.

Our rugged USB hubs extend reliable USB connectivity to multiple peripherals in vehicle, airborne and shipboard installations, built to the same shock, vibration and ingress protection standards so a single connection point doesn’t become your weak link.

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Why Work With Active Electronics
  • Source obsolete or hard-to-find networking components: saving you time, effort and engineering resource when a part’s gone end-of-life
  • Onsite product roadshows: hands-on guidance from our team, so you specify the right switch or router the first time
  • Access to hundreds of manufacturers worldwide: one point of contact for your entire networking supply chain
  • Tailored solutions: every platform is different, so we don’t push a one-size-fits-all product
  • Traceable supply chain: full documentation from source to delivery, so you can evidence compliance to your prime contractor
  • Anti-counterfeit assurance: in-house inspection and verification measures on the components that go into your network, for peace of mind
  • Significant cost savings: through sourcing optimisation and vendor consolidation across your networking requirements
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Rugged Networking FAQs

Our rugged Ethernet switches, routers, media converters and USB hubs are certified to MIL-STD-810 (environmental), MIL-STD-461 (EMC), MIL-STD-1275 and MIL-STD-704 (power), with ingress protection ratings up to IP67 and IP68 depending on the product. [Confirm with client: any additional standards, e.g. DEF STAN, RTCA DO-160?]

Managed switches support VLANs, traffic prioritisation and on-device routing, useful when several systems share one network. Unmanaged switches offer simpler, lower-cost plug-and-play connectivity where that level of control isn’t needed.

Yes, our range spans board-level and fully sealed MIL-STD packaged configurations suitable for ground vehicles, aircraft, naval platforms and fixed installations, each selected against the environmental and power profile of the platform.

Yes, both are available depending on your integration requirements and SWaP constraints.

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