VITA 90 VNX+ establishes new benchmark for compact, conduction-cooled modules

February 19, 2026 — VITA, the trade association governing open standards computing architectures for critical and intelligent embedded system industries, proudly announces the ratification of the ANSI/VITA 90.x‑2026 (VNX+) family of standards by ANSI and VITA. This milestone formally introduces VNX+ as the next‑generation Enhanced Small Form Factor (eSFF) system architecture.

The VNX+ standards address the growing demand for improved Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) efficiency in rugged, low‑cost, high‑speed serial fabric–based Plug‑In Modules (PIMs). Building on the foundation of the VITA 74 VNX standard, VNX+ delivers significantly higher performance, expanded system versatility, and enhanced mechanical robustness while maintaining compatibility with the established VNX mechanical framework.

Optimized for compact, conduction‑cooled embedded systems, VNX+ introduces advanced high‑speed signaling capabilities and eliminates airflow paths over Plug‑In Modules, improving reliability in harsh environments. These enhancements position VNX+ as a key enabler for next‑generation high‑performance embedded computing.

The primary goal of VNX+ is to meet the demanding embedded computing requirements of the Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) applications, VNX+ supports a broad range of mission‑critical sectors including industrial automation, aviation, ground vehicles, naval systems, space exploration, and emerging wearable technologies.

“The ratification of VNX+ marks a pivotal moment in embedded systems technology and enhanced small form factor system design,” said David Givens, VITA 90 Working Group Chair and Industry Standards VP at Samtec. “The family of VNX+ standards empowers embedded developers to push the boundaries of what’s possible in rugged, high-performance environments, unlocking new frontiers in aerospace, defense, and beyond.”

The VNX+ family includes a series of “dot” standards that define additional interface profiles and practices which ensure interoperability across diverse applications. These standards layer specific slot & module profiles, coaxial and optical interconnect options, advanced power filtering and conversion, energy‑storage technologies, and advanced mounting and cooling practices. Additional ancillary standards are currently under development within the VITA 90 Working Group.

“The new VNX+ eSFF standards reflect a decade of closed‑loop, evidence‑driven refinement processes where electrical, mechanical, thermal, and ecosystem considerations evolve together” said Bill Ripley, VITA 90 Working Group Co-Chair and Technical Consultant-Evangelist at Trident Infosol. “The standard matures through generational cycles of prototype → test → evaluate → revise, with each generation incorporating lessons from modeling and simulation, hardware development, interoperability trials, and integrator feedback.”

The following VNX+ standards have been released:

• ANSI/VITA 90.0-2026: VNX+ Base Standard
• ANSI/VITA 90.1-2026: VNX+ Profile Tables
• VITA 90.2-2026-VDSTU: VNX+ Optical and RF Connector Modules - Type 2
• ANSI/VITA 90.3-2026: VNX+ Power Supply and Storage Modules
• ANSI/VITA 90.4-2026: VNX+ Cooling and Mounting Systems
• ANSI/VITA 90.7-2026: VNX+ Optical and RF Connector Modules - Type 7

The standards are available for purchase and download at the VITA Online Store (www.vita.com/Standards).

Product announcements from VNX+ community members are forthcoming. For the most current news and insights on the evolving VNX+ ecosystem, be sure to visit the VNX+ Community pages at (www.vita.com/VNX).

About VITA

Founded in 1984, VITA is an incorporated, non-profit organization of suppliers and users who share a common market interest in critical embedded systems. VITA champions open system architectures. Its activities are international in scope, technical, promotional, and user-centric. VITA aims to increase total market size for its members, expand market exposure for suppliers, and deliver timely technical information. VITA has American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accreditation to develop standards (VME, VXS, VPX, OpenVPX, VPX REDI, XMC, XMC+, FMC, FMC+, QMC, VNX, VNX+, Reliability Community, etc.) for embedded systems used in a myriad of critical applications and harsh environments. For more information, visit www.VITA.com.

VITA and the VITA, VMEbus Technology, VXS, VPX, OpenVPX, VPX REDI, XMC, XMC+, FMC, FMC+, QMC, VNX, VNX+, and Reliability Community logos are trademarks of VITA in the United States and other countries. Other names and brands may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Source: VITA