Lockheed Martin and GlobalFoundries (GF) have announced a strategic collaboration to advance semiconductor manufacturing and innovation in the United States and to enhance the security, reliability, and resiliency of the domestic supply chains for national security systems.
The companies will utilize GF's differentiated technology and trusted manufacturing practices to increase resilience in microelectronics systems and supply chains. The collaboration will investigate critical needs in semiconductor innovation and secure manufacturing across a spectrum of advanced and next-generation chip technologies, such as 3D heterogeneous integration for optimized chip packaging that improves performance, silicon photonics for low-power and high-speed data transport, and gallium nitride on silicon to help chips operate at higher temperatures. The companies will also collaborate on the development of a chiplet ecosystem to expedite and reduce the cost of chip production.
The collaboration between Lockheed Martin and GF directly supports the US CHIPS and Science Act's objectives of increasing traceability, provenance, and onshore production of critical semiconductor technologies to strengthen national and economic security and domestic supply chains.
Both companies are committed to helping strengthen the supply chain for semiconductors used in critical defense systems. To further advance this shared goal, Lockheed Martin and GF will jointly pursue external funding opportunities, technology development, and collaboration with the US government.
"Lockheed Martin is focused on delivering cutting-edge 21st Century Security capabilities that advance deterrence and keep our customers ahead of emerging threats," said Jim Taiclet, chairman, president and CEO of Lockheed Martin, in a joint statement. "This begins with securely manufactured semiconductors. We look forward to working with GlobalFoundries to help increase access to domestically produced microelectronics - a true national security imperative."
Also in the same statement, GF president and CEO Thomas Caulfield noted "the GF team has been a trusted partner of the US government and the aerospace and defense industry for decades. We are proud to collaborate with Lockheed Martin to address the growing need for a reliable supply of trusted, feature-rich semiconductors for mission-critical security systems."
GF's manufacturing facilities in New York and Vermont have Trusted accreditation from the US government and are authorized to produce secure chips for use in the nation's most sensitive systems on land, air, sea, and in space.
