Wind River Partners with Leonardo to Enhance Aerospace Safety Systems
On April 2, 2025, Wind River, a leading software company specializing in solutions for the intelligent edge, revealed that Leonardo, a major player in the aerospace, defense, and security sectors, has chosen the VxWorks real-time operating system (RTOS) for its advanced safety-related radio frequency (RF) systems. The decision aims to improve and streamline software-defined technologies across various multicore processor architectures.
As Leonardo faces the challenge of integrating different multicore processors for each function within their RF system, they will utilize VxWorks to create a unified application environment that works across these processors. The company is set to develop applications on VxWorks while also pursuing DO-178C DAL C certification to ensure compliance with safety standards.
Jay Bellissimo, president of Wind River, stated, “As we move towards a more software-defined environment driven by multi-core processors, there are new chances to enhance aerospace and defense systems. VxWorks offers unmatched high performance and reliability, establishing a safe and secure framework for critical computing. Working alongside Leonardo, we can help organizations adapt to changing technologies, improving both the performance and lifespan of their systems while mitigating risks related to programs and certification.”
VxWorks supports both single-core and multicore setups across various architectures, allowing systems to be tailored to specific performance and safety certification needs. Wind River’s technology has been successfully used in over 750 safety-critical projects across more than 120 commercial and military aircraft, helping organizations meet strict safety certifications like EN 50128, IEC 61508, ISO 26262, and DO-178C/ED-12C in a cost-effective manner.
Remarkably, VxWorks is the first and only commercial RTOS that supports Open Container Initiative (OCI)-compliant containers. This capability, which integrates with VxWorks Real-Time Processes (RTP), allows for the efficient development of containerized applications, empowering Leonardo to swiftly roll out new software-defined features.
Leonardo stands out as one of Europe’s largest aerospace and defense firms, dedicated to advancing innovation in collaboration with industry, academia, and government. Their focus areas include data and AI, electronic warfare, sensing, uncrewed systems, and future aviation technologies.
Wind River will showcase their innovative products during Aerospace Tech Week on April 2-3 at booth K5, highlighting their commitment to transforming aerospace and defense through cutting-edge technology.
For more information about Wind River’s contributions to the aerospace and defense sectors, further details can be found by visiting their website.
