The Flight Data Recorder Processor (FDRP) receives key vehicle, subsystem, and environmental parameters from up to six MIL-STD-1553 buses, and stores formatted records in an external memory unit such as L-3/EDI's Crash Survivable Memory Unit. The FDRP formats records for incident and mishap investigation, including 15-minute and 12-hour periodic and 12-hour aperiodic circular buffers plus a 44-event circular buffer. The FDRP was developed for the B-2 bomber but can be easily adapted to other vehicles.

Cleared by DoD/OFOISR for public release under reference number 00-S-1235 dated April 17, 2000.

The FDRP is a standard ARINC size 6 unit suitable for mounting in an avionics rack. It contains a 16-bit microprocessor, dual-redundant Remote Terminal interface, Bus Monitor interfaces for five MIL-STD-1553 buses and a power supply. This highly reliable unit has no analog signals and moving parts or adjustments.

The bus monitoring function receives and edits bus traffic on all buses simultaneously, saving user-specified messages at prescribed rates while also detecting complex exceedance events.

Unit built-in test is performed on power-up, on command and continuously. Downloading of flight data can be performed at any time over the MIL-STD-1553 bus or a dedicated RS-422 channel. The modular design of the FDRP permits fast, easy fault detection, isolation and repair in the field. Air ducts are provided for forced-air cooling, although the unit does not require forced air and will cool itself by convection.

L-3 Communications, Electrodynamics, a leader in solid-state recorder technology, has also produced recorders for the B-1, F-4, F-22, and T-45 aircraft.