BAE Systems and GlobalFoundries partner on semiconductors
The companies will work together on areas including silicon photonics as part of a collaboration to strengthen the semiconductor supply for national security programmes
BAE Systems and GlobalFoundries have announced a new collaboration aimed at strengthening the supply of critical semiconductors for national security programmes. Under the strategic agreement, the companies plan to align technology roadmaps and collaborate on long-term strategies for increasing US semiconductor innovation and manufacturing, with the joint goal of advancing the ecosystem for domestic fabrication and packaging of secure chips and solutions for use in aerospace and defence systems.
Together, BAE Systems and GlobalFoundries (GF) intend to engage in long-term planning for emerging technologies and collaborate on research and development in a range of areas, including advanced semiconductor packaging and integration, gallium nitride on silicon chips, silicon photonics and advanced technology process development.
The companies say this new non-exclusive collaboration builds upon their existing relationship, and further brings together BAE Systems’ expertise in microelectronics for critical defence systems with GF’s expertise as a leading high-volume semiconductor manufacturer and advanced supplier of secure, essential chips to the US Department of Defense (DoD). Both companies were recently named as recipients of planned direct funding from the US government as part of the CHIPS and Science Act.
“Our leadership in microelectronics for critical defence systems is predicated on a reliable and secure supply chain and the availability of trusted, uncompromised semiconductors,” said Terry Crimmins, president of BAE Systems’ Electronic Systems sector. “This new collaboration with GlobalFoundries, with its expertise in secure chip manufacturing, is imperative for BAE Systems to advance the overmatch thresholds of technologies, stay ahead of the increasingly complex defence environment, and enable creative solutions to mitigate the growing challenges to both the integrity of microelectronics and their associated supply chains.”
Thomas Caulfield, president and CEO of GF, said: “GF is committed to strengthening the semiconductor supply chain for national security and innovating to meet the future needs of the aerospace and defence sector. We are proud to deepen our strategic relationship with BAE Systems, and further strengthen supply chain resiliency. Together, we will accelerate the research and development of a new generation of essential technologies and securely manufacture essential chips for a diverse range of critical defence applications.”
