Feature: Military
Defence radar antenna setup
Shifting demand for multi-layer ceramic capacitors creates a critical
supply shortfall for military needs By Stephen Armstrong, Technical Writer
M
ilitary applications that require high- quality, high- voltage multi- layer ceramic
capacitors (MLCCs) have been hit hard by a shift in focus by the world’s largest MLCC manufacturers, who are now producing smaller, lower-voltage and, some would say, lower-performance MLCCs to meet a growing demand for them. This demand has been fuelled by the growth of 5G networks and continued advancements in smartphones and mobile devices, which require a larger number of MLCCs. As the principal manufacturers pivot
away from the larger, high-voltage, high-Q (high-quality) MLCCs used by the military, OEMs are experiencing delivery delays of up to six months. T e extent of
24 October 2021
www.electronicsworld.co.uk
the supply shortage jeopardises product release schedules and potentially even military readiness. “It is a pretty massive carrot that is
hanging in front of the major MLCC manufacturers,” said Scott Horton, Vice President at Johanson Technology, a 40-year provider of high-voltage ceramic multi-layer capacitors based in Camarillo, California. “When you consider that a high-end smartphone today can require substantially more MLCCs in a single device than a similar phone only a few years ago, the current demand for smaller, lower-power MLCCs is like nothing the market has seen before.” As a result of a slowdown in
consumer demand in 2019, many OEMs and distributors were left with surplus inventory, leading to their hesitance of ordering more in 2020. Now, as the
market ramps up, so does the demand for MLCCs, despite very low capacitor inventory. This further exacerbates the shortage of larger, high-voltage, high-Q MLCCs, since some manufacturers have already shited production to smaller/ lower-voltage MLCCs during this time. Now both ends of the market are scrambling to re-stock, including the large electronics distributors. “There is a ripple effect to the military
market sector that is not really fully understood,” said Horton. “Although a shortage of electronic components used in consumer products like smartphones and automobiles would be national news, the lack of larger, higher-voltage MLCCs for military applications is typically under-reported. However, it will continue to squeeze business customers and eventually end users until it is resolved.”
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