Airframe-integrated optical midplane

An assembly, comprising:

• an airframe having a first side on which first modules are disposed in a first hemisphere and a second hemisphere and a second side on which second modules are disposed in the first hemisphere and the second hemisphere, the airframe to provide for optimized airflow through the first modules disposed on the first side with air flowing through shutters on an electrical midplane to which the airframe is coupled;
• a plurality of optical connectors, the second side of the airframe resting on the electrical midplane such that the optical connectors extend through the electrical midplane towards the second modules to connect:
• a first module disposed in the first hemisphere on the first side of the airframe to a second module disposed in the first hemisphere on the second side of the airframe;
• and
• the first module disposed in the first hemisphere on the first side of the airframe to another second module disposed in the second hemisphere on the second side of the airframe;
• and
• optical fibers to interconnect the optical connectors.

A system, comprising:

• an electrical midplane;
• an airframe having a first side on which first modules are disposed and a second side on which second modules are disposed, the airframe to provide for optimized airflow through the first modules disposed on the first with air flowing through shutters on an electrical midplane to which the airframe is coupled;
• and
• a plurality of optical connectors disposed at respective locations on the airframe, the second side of the airframe resting on the electrical midplane such that the optical connectors extend through the electrical midplane towards the second modules to provide optical connectivity between at least one of:
• any first module disposed on the first side of the airframe and any second module disposed on the second side of the airframe;
• any first modules disposed on the first side of the airframe;
• and
• any second modules disposed on the second side of the airframe.