# RAD5500

> radiation-hardened computer

**Wikidata**: [Q21463441](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21463441)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAD5500)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rad5500

## Summary
The RAD5500 is a radiation-hardened single-board computer designed for use in avionics and high-radiation environments. Manufactured by BAE Systems, it serves as the successor to the RAD750. The system was designed using technologies contributed by IBM and Freescale Semiconductor.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Radiation-hardened single-board computer (SBC).
*   **Manufacturer:** BAE Systems.
*   **Designers:** IBM and Freescale Semiconductor.
*   **Predecessor:** Follows the RAD750 (a radiation-hardened computer released in 2001).
*   **Also Known As:** BAE RAD5500.
*   **Category:** Subclass of avionics.
*   **Function:** Operates as a complete computer built on a single circuit board with specialized radiation hardening.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the RAD5500?
A: The RAD5500 is a radiation-hardened computer built on a single circuit board, classified as a single-board computer (SBC). It is designed to operate in avionics and other environments subject to high levels of radiation.

### Q: Who manufactures the RAD5500?
A: The RAD5500 is manufactured by BAE Systems.

### Q: What computer came before the RAD5500?
A: The RAD5500 follows the RAD750, a radiation-hardened computer that was inceptioned in 2001.

### Q: Who designed the RAD5500?
A: The technology was designed by IBM and Freescale Semiconductor.

## Why It Matters
The RAD5500 represents a critical evolution in aerospace and defense computing hardware. As a radiation-hardened single-board computer, it addresses the fundamental challenge of operating reliable electronics in environments where standard commercial hardware would fail due to radiation exposure. This capability is essential for modern avionics, ensuring that control and data processing systems remain functional under extreme conditions.

The system is significant because it combines the expertise of major technology firms—IBM and Freescale Semiconductor—with the manufacturing capabilities of BAE Systems. By succeeding the RAD750, the RAD5500 marks the continuation of a specialized computing lineage that balances processing power with physical resilience. Its existence allows for more advanced computing in avionics without sacrificing the structural integrity required for survival in harsh operational theaters.

## Notable For
*   **Radiation Hardening:** Specifically engineered to withstand ionizing radiation, distinguishing it from standard commercial single-board computers.
*   **Lineage:** Being the direct successor to the widely recognized RAD750 system.
*   **Industry Collaboration:** Combining design inputs from semiconductor giants IBM and Freescale.
*   **Form Factor:** Integrating a complete computer system onto a single circuit board tailored for avionics.

## Body
### Development and Manufacturing
The RAD5500 is a product of BAE Systems, a major defense and aerospace contractor. The development of the computer involved significant contributions from technology leaders IBM and Freescale Semiconductor. This collaboration suggests the utilization of PowerPC architecture or similar high-reliability processor technology common in the RAD series lineage.

### Technical Classification
The system is technically defined as a single-board computer (SBC), meaning a complete computer—including microprocessor, memory, and input/output—constructed on a single printed circuit board. It falls under the broader umbrella of avionics.

A defining characteristic of the RAD5500 is its "radiation hardening" (qualified under the subclass of single-board computers). This process involves designing and manufacturing the electronic components to be resistant to damage or malfunctions caused by high-energy particles and electromagnetic radiation.

### Preceded By
The RAD5500 follows the **RAD750** in the product timeline. The RAD750, which debuted in 2001, established the standard for radiation-hardened computing in the early 21st century. The introduction of the RAD5500 represents the subsequent generation of this computing technology.