MANASSAS, Va., 17 July 2007. BAE Systems will produce and sell radiation-hardened field-programmable gate array (FPGA) semiconductors for space use, responding to a customer need for the devices.

Under a license agreement with Actel Corp., the company will manufacture FPGAs that were discontinued in 2006. The agreement solves a major obsolescence problem for many legacy satellite programs, enabling producers of satellite payloads and instruments to avoid time-consuming and costly redesigns.

"BAE Systems can now produce mature FPGA products to support older government and commercial satellite designs," said Tim Scott, national sales manager of space components for BAE Systems in Manassas, Virginia. BAE Systems was the original equipment manufacturer of the discontinued Actel RH1280, and is the only manufacturer of the RH1280B, the new part designation.

The RH1280B will be offered, as before, in the same 172-pin ceramic quad flat pack or in die form. The RH1280B offers a total dose radiation-hardness in excess of 300K rads (Si), the standard for a majority of applications, and guaranteed latch-up immunity.

The RH1280B will have the same Standard Microcircuit Drawing number (5962F92156) to Qualified Manufacturers Lists Q and V levels as the original. Flight units will be delivered in the second quarter of 2008.