Courtesy GlobalFoundries
As part of the nation’s effort to sustain the microelectronics manufacturing capability necessary for national and economic security, and in support of an executive order entitled America’s Supply Chains, the U.S. Department of Defense has awarded a $117 million agreement to GlobalFoundries.
GlobalFoundries, headquartered in Malta, will transfer its 45 nanometer (nm) silicon-on-insulator (SOI) semiconductor manufacturing process from its Fab 10 facility in East Fishkill, to its Fab 8 facility in Malta, the defense department announced in a press release.
The effort is a follow-on from an $8 million award issued last year through which GlobalFoundries conducted initial engineering baseline activities for the transfer.
Federal officials said the agreement will ensure access to 45nm SOI semiconductors critical to Department of Defense strategic systems.
The agreement is the latest collaboration in the longstanding partnership between the Department of Defense and GlobalFoundries to provide silicon-based semiconductors for defense aerospace applications.
“GlobalFoundries is proud to be a longtime supplier to the U.S. government, and we remain deeply committed to meeting the semiconductor technology needs of the Department of Defense, as well as the technologies so critical to our national security,” said company CEO Tom Caulfield. “The strong public-private partnership demonstrated with this new supply and tech transfer agreement is an excellent example of the impact federal collaboration and investment in semiconductor manufacturing can have on strengthening domestic supply chains. Our partnership boosts the national economy, while also securing a strategic and reliable supply of chips needed by the U.S. government for aerospace, defense, and other mission-critical applications.”
The Department of Defense said the agreement with GlobalFoundries “will strengthen the domestic microelectronics industrial base, as part of the nation’s effort to sustain its semiconductor manufacturing capability necessary for national and economic security. Our agreement will ensure access to 45nm SOI semiconductors critical to Department of Defense strategic systems, and is the latest collaboration in the longstanding partnership between the Department of Defense and GlobalFoundries to provide silicon-based semiconductors for defense aerospace applications.”
The first chips from the agreement are targeted to begin delivery in 2023.
GlobalFoundries employs nearly 3,000 people at Fab 8 and has invested more than $15 billion in the facility. Its Fab 8 is in compliance with both U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and highly restrictive Export Control Classification Numbers under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
GlobalFoundries is working with the U.S. government to secure classified status for Fab 8.