July, 2022
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disaster should disrupt production at the plant? Without solder columns, an FPGA can- not be effectively used. No FPGA, no warfight- er in the air. It’s really that simple. Manufacturers of defense-grade FPGAs
are well-established companies. Likewise, makers of ASICs are also major companies. In fact, approximately ten domestic compa- nies make defense- and space-grade FPGA and ASIC devices with solder columns. These manufacturers are well known companies including Xilinx, Microchip, Honeywell, Texas Instruments, and others. Monopoly suppliers, though rare in the
semiconductor industry, can drive up costs if left unchecked. Today, 90% of semiconductor
companies that make defense- grade FPGA devices are at the mercy of just a tiny, privately- held subcontractor located in Silicon Valley, California. Its
Without solder columns, an FPGA cannot be effec- tively used. No FPGA, no warfighter in the air.
owners may be nearing the age when most business owners are contemplating selling the busi- ness or retiring. Something should be done
about this to protect the integrity of the supply chain. Perhaps; but the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is responsible for delays in the certification of FPGA column attach subcontractors. Not just anyone can perform column attachment; it is a complex process.
Time is Running Out America is racing the clock
to certify alternative subcontrac- tors to attach solder columns to defense grade FPGA devices. As a consequence, the U.S. aero- space and defense industry can- not be assured of a continuing supply of ruggedized FPGA com- ponents to keep warfighters fly- ing and rockets launching five years from now. A sudden short- age of mission critical FPGA devices is not in the defense industry’s best interests. Semiconductor device mak-
ers have not taken action to qual- ify additional subcontractors to
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perform column attachment services, a criti- cal process in defense grade FPGA fabrica- tion. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) provides guidelines that help identify and mitigate dependency on services provided by single-source subcontractors. Document SD-22 titled, “Diminishing
Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS), a Guidebook of Best Practices for Implementing a Robust DMSMS Management Program” provides resources to aid FPGA makers who may be striving to broaden their supplier base for components that are critical to the welfare of National Security. Semiconductor device makers, including Microchip and Xilinx, have not taken action to qualify additional subcontractors to perform column attach-
Page 49
National Security at Risk: Dangers of a Sole Source Monopoly Continued from previous page
ment services, which are critical to National Security.
What Follows A disruption in the supply of solder
columns can seriously impact the defense and aerospace industries. Responsibility for providing timely delivery of FPGA devices for use in defense applications is entrusted to a small number of civilians in the industrial base. Simply stated, the defense establish- ment is making a high-stakes gamble that a single subcontractor will be in business five, let alone 30 years from now. Contact: TopLine Corp., 95 Highway 22
W, Milledgeville, GA 31061 % 800-776-9888 E-mail:
sales@topline.tv Web:
www.topline.tv r
Printed Circuit Board Protection CELEBRATING OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY
Services Provided
Conformal Coating Parylene
Potting/Encapsulation Staking Underfill
PCB Cleaning Ionic Testing Plasma Cleaning Coating Removal Soldering
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