The RAMP-C programme was established to enable the use of a commercial semiconductor foundry ecosystem based in the US to fabricate customised and integrated circuits and commercial products needed for highly important systems of the Department of Defense
Intel wins an US government contract for providing commercial foundry services. (Credit: Intel Corporation)
Intel has won a contract from the US Department of Defense to provide commercial foundry services in phase one of the latter’s Rapid Assured Microelectronics Prototypes – Commercial (RAMP-C) programme.
The contract was awarded by the department through the NSTXL consortium-based S2MARTS OTA.
The RAMP-C programme was established to enable the use of a commercial semiconductor foundry ecosystem based in the US to fabricate customised and integrated circuits and commercial products needed for highly important systems of the Department of Defense. The programme will be developed through multiple phases.
It is part of a larger initiative to bolster the supply chain security of the US government and expedite US leadership in the design, manufacturing and packaging of integrated circuits.
Intel said that its Intel Foundry Services unit, which was launched in March 2021, will lead the work in the first phase.
Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger said: “When we launched Intel Foundry Services earlier this year, we were excited to have the opportunity to make our capabilities available to a wider range of partners, including in the U.S. government, and it is great to see that potential being fulfilled through programs like RAMP-C.”
As part of the programme, Intel Foundry Services will work together with IBM, Synopsys, Cadence, and others. The companies will support the requirements of the US government to design and manufacture assured integrated circuits by creating and demonstrating a semiconductor IP ecosystem.
The ecosystem will be used for developing and fabricating test chips on Intel 18A, an advanced process technology of Intel.
Intel Foundry Services president Randhir Thakur said: “The RAMP-C programme will enable both commercial foundry customers and the Department of Defense to take advantage of Intel’s significant investments in leading-edge process technologies,” said,
“Along with our customers and ecosystem partners, including IBM, Cadence, Synopsys and others, we will help bolster the domestic semiconductor supply chain and ensure the United States maintains leadership in both R&D and advanced manufacturing.”
Earlier this year, Intel had also announced an investment of nearly $20bn to construct two semiconductor factories in Arizona.