BAE Systems and GlobalFoundries have announced a collaborative research partnership to strengthen the supply of critical semiconductors for US national security programs.
As part of the strategic agreement, the companies will align technology roadmaps and collaborate on long-term strategies to increase semiconductor innovation and manufacturing in the U.S., with the joint goal of advancing the ecosystem for domestic manufacturing and packaging. of safe chips and solutions for use in the aerospace sector. and defense systems.
Terry Crimmins, president of BAE Systems’ electronic systems sector, said: “Our leadership in microelectronics for critical defense systems is based on a reliable and secure supply chain and the availability of reliable, uncompromised semiconductors.”
Additionally, the companies will engage in long-term planning of emerging technologies and collaborate on research and development in a variety of areas, including advanced semiconductor packaging and integration, gallium nitride on silicon chips, silicon photonics and process development. of advanced technology.
“This new collaboration with GlobalFoundries, with its expertise in secure chip manufacturing, is imperative for BAE Systems to advance the thresholds of advancing technologies, stay at the forefront of the increasingly complex defense environment and enable creative solutions. to mitigate growing challenges to both the integrity of microelectronics and its associated supply chains,” Crimmins said.
These comments were expanded on by Dr. Thomas Caulfield, President and CEO of GlobalFoundries, who said: “GF is committed to strengthening the national security semiconductor supply chain and innovating to meet the future needs of the aerospace and defense sector.” “.
The new non-exclusive collaboration builds on the long-standing relationship between BAE Systems and GF and brings together BAE Systems’ expertise in microelectronics for critical defense systems with GF’s expertise as one of the world’s leading high-volume semiconductor manufacturers. and the most advanced security provider. , essential chips for the US Department of Defense (DOD).
“We are proud to deepen our strategic relationship with BAE Systems and further strengthen supply chain resilience. “Together, we will accelerate research and development of a new generation of essential technologies and securely manufacture essential chips for a wide range of critical defense applications,” said Dr Caulfield.
This announcement follows the Biden administration’s recent announcement that both BAE Systems and GF were recently named recipients of planned direct funding from the US government as part of the CHIPS Act and Science.
As a recent example of successful collaboration between the two companies, BAE Systems leveraged GF’s 12LP and 12S0 technology platforms for customized radiation-resistant semiconductor solutions for sensitive space applications.
These highly differentiated, US-made chips enable electronic systems to withstand the harsh environment of space while delivering power efficiency, area benefits, and a robust design ecosystem to enable rapid, cost-effective prototyping.
These chips offer the performance, reliability and performance of GF’s high-volume commercial sector offerings, tailored to the needs of the aerospace and defense industry by BAE Systems, and manufactured by GF with the appropriate level of security, up to DOD’s highest security level. , Trusted Supplier Category 1A.
GF’s US manufacturing facilities are Trusted Foundry accredited by the US government to securely manufacture chips in partnership with DOD’s Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA) for use in some of the country’s sensitive critical infrastructure and national security systems on land, air, sea and space. .
In 2023, DOD awarded GF a new 10-year contract worth US$3.1 billion (A$4.65 billion) to supply U.S.-made and safely manufactured semiconductors for use in a wide range of critical aerospace and defense applications.
The new contract was the third sequential 10-year contract of its kind between DOD and Trusted Foundry’s commercial team at GF.
