Canadian firm Edgewater Computer Systems said it would temporarily lay off a number of workers after the United States Air Force “unexpectedly” capped its financial commitment to Edgewater’s Extended 1553 data bus technology.

“The duration of the layoffs and the length of time we will need to reach resolution are currently unknown,” the company announced late Monday. “Edgewater will make every effort to keep its employees and other interested parties advised of the status of its discussions.”

Edgewater’s E1553 technology allows wideband data to be carried over existing aircraft 1553 wiring and bus components. Last July, the company said it successfully completed a flight test of the E1553 data bus in a USAF F-16 at the Air National Guard/Air Force Reserve Command Test Center in Tucson, Ariz. The purpose of the test was to demonstrate an increase in network capacity of roughly 100 times the legacy throughput, with no interference to the legacy 1553 system.

Edgewater, based in Kanata, Ontario, said it is working to reestablish the E1553 program with support from the Canadian government, and also is discussing the program with other potential partners, including NATO countries. The technology is close to initial product launch, Edgewater said.