Microelectronics Technology Development and Support (DMEA)
Abstract
The Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA) provides a vital service as the joint Department of Defense (DoD) Center for microelectronics acquisition, adaptive operations and support - advancing future microelectronics research, development, technologies and applications to achieve the Department’s strategic and national security objectives. An important part of the DMEA mission is to research current and emerging microelectronics issues with a focus on warfighters’ needs. To this end, DMEA is integrally involved in the development of capabilities and resultant products based on technologies whose feasibility has been demonstrated but which have yet to be applied to real-world and military applications. DMEA resolves microelectronics technology issues in weapon systems by quickly developing and executing appropriate solutions to not only keep a system operational but elevate it to the next level of sophistication or to meet new threats. DMEA provides critical microelectronics design and fabrication skills to ensure that the DoD is provided with systems capable of ensuring technological superiority over potential adversaries. DMEA provides critical, quick turn solutions for DoD, intelligence, special operations, cyber and combat missions as well as microelectronic components that are unobtainable in the commercial market. DMEA’s knowledge of varying military requirements across a broad and diverse range of combatant environments and missions—along with its unique technical perspective—allows it to develop, manage and implement novel microelectronic solutions to enhance mission capability. DMEA can then use these cutting-edge technology capabilities and products in the solutions it develops for its military clientele. After many years of performing analogous efforts, the technical experience, mission knowledge, and practical judgment that are gained from preceding efforts are often incorporated into subsequent technology maturation projects. Microelectronics technology is a vital and essential technology for all operations within the DoD. DMEA operates the DoD’s only microelectronic foundry—a “flexible foundry”—with a unique business model that incorporates industry partnership to serve the DoD where industry, alone, has not. A microelectronic foundry is the factory that takes raw silicon and produces an integrated circuit or “chip.” The fabrication of an integrated circuit consists of multiple processing steps to form and connect many transistors and other circuit components to form the desired function. Each type of chip requires a different “recipe” (process) in the foundry. Semiconductor companies spend great amounts of time and resources developing proprietary recipes. They abandon these and develop new recipes as new generations of smaller and more powerful microelectronic components are needed. The DMEA mission focuses on providing DoD systems with microelectronics components that are no longer provided by industry—called “legacy” components. Most domestic semiconductor foundries will discontinue low-volume, high-mix integrated circuits in as little as two years because, by then, there is little or no profit margin left; but the DoD requires an assured supply chain for its systems for 20 years or more. Working alongside industry, DMEA has created a model partnership that provides this capability for the DoD. DMEA’s unique flexible foundry supports the DoD with a wide variety of integrated circuits using various processes that were developed by commercial manufacturers and which are now assured to remain in one location for as long as they are needed. To obtain these processes, DMEA works closely with U.S. semiconductor industry partners to acquire process licenses. These Government-held licenses allow for the transfer to DMEA of industry-developed intellectual property (IP) and the related processes for DoD needs. These licenses ensure no commercial conflicts by including industry’s first right of refusal. DMEA always looks to industry first to see if it can provide the required components. If not, only then does DMEA provide the necessary prototypes and low volume production. A critical element required to make this business model work effectively is protection of the industry partners’ valuable IP and processes. DMEA is Government owned and operated, providing the structure and confidence that an industry partner’s IP is protected from potential competitors. This strategic and cooperative industry partnership approach allows DMEA to use industry-developed IP and processes by acquiring, installing, and applying them toward meeting the immediate and long-term needs of the DoD. This unique capability is essential to all major weapon systems, combat operations, and support needs. As such, DMEA serves the DoD, other US Agencies, industry and Allied nations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2013
- Source ID
- 0603720S_3_0400_PB_2013
- Change Summary Explanation
- FY 2013 Enhancements 90nm Next Generation Foundry Program: $20.000M The increase to the FY 2013-2017 Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) budget for PE0603720S is due to a newly-approved Program issue, the 90nm Next Generation Foundry Program, which is fully funded with offsets from ASD(R&E) programs. FY2012 FFRDC(f) Reduction: -$0.162 million FY2012 SBIR/STTR Transfer (Reduction): -$1.075 million FY2013 Departmental Fiscal Guidance: $0.583 million FY2013 ASD (R&E) S&T Directed Reduction (Taken from 90nm Next Generation Foundry Program): -$10.000 million
- Service Agency Name
- Defense Logistics Agency
Entities
Organizations
- Defense Logistics Agency
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