Leonardo selects Wind River’s VxWorks RTOS to advance next-generation aerospace systems

To meet the challenge of managing diverse processor types within the RF system, Leonardo will use VxWorks as a unified application runtime environment. The applications are being developed to meet DO-178C Design Assurance Level C certification standards, which are crucial for safety-critical systems in aerospace.

“VxWorks delivers unrivaled deterministic high performance, setting the standard for a scalable, safe, secure, and reliable operating environment for mission-critical computing,” said Jay Bellissimo, president of Wind River. “Together with Leonardo, we can help companies navigate a shifting technology landscape—extending the performance and lifespan of their systems while reducing program and certification risk.”

VxWorks offers both single-core and multi-core processor support across various architectures, allowing flexibility to match application and certification requirements. Its proven capabilities in safety-critical environments help customers like Leonardo meet international standards such as EN 50128, IEC 61508, ISO 26262, and DO-178C / ED-12C.

As the only commercial RTOS supporting Open Container Initiative (OCI)–compliant containers, VxWorks enables the development of lightweight, real-time containerised applications. This allows Leonardo to accelerate the deployment of new software-defined features across its systems.

Leonardo, one of Europe’s largest aerospace and defence firms, continues to invest in innovation across sectors including artificial intelligence, electronic warfare, future aviation, uncrewed systems, and space. The collaboration with Wind River supports its commitment to developing agile, secure, and future-ready defence technologies.