MANASSAS, Va., 4 Feb. 2008. BAE Systems has signed an agreement with Actel Corp. to produce a radiation-hardened field-programmable gate array (FPGA) semiconductor for space use. Development of the new semiconductor will address major obsolescence problems for a variety of legacy satellite programs.

The FPGA will enable producers of satellite payloads and instruments to avoid time-consuming and costly redesigns and allow satellite programs to remain on schedule.

"Obsolescence is a fundamental problem in many civil, commercial, and military satellite programs," says Tim Scott, national sales manager of space components for BAE Systems. "By producing these form-fit-function replacement FPGAs, BAE Systems already has saved the government millions of dollars that would have been needed to redesign and requalify alternative parts."

BAE Systems will develop, manufacture, and sell the RH1020B FPGA under a license agreement with Actel Corp. The agreement marks the second time in less than a year that BAE Systems has introduced a product to replace discontinued FPGA components.

Flight units will be delivered in the first quarter of 2009. Work on the new components will take place at BAE Systems' Manassas facility.