Pushing the F-35 into New Frontiers
In 2023, ForwardEdge ASIC (FEASIC) was founded by Lockheed Martin to accelerate the development of essential commercial and dual-use microelectronics technologies. As an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) design center of excellence, we deliver best-in-class affordable microelectronics solutions for our commercial, defense and security partners.
How ForwardEdge ASIC Made the Brain of the F-35 Smarter
There are systems onboard the F-35 that allow data from sensors onboard the aircraft to be collected and analyzed. Microchips are needed to build these products, but are not the consumer ‘off-the-shelf’ microchips that are mass produced and used to create everyday devices such as cell phones and laptops. A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a special type of microchip essential to this process. FPGAs differ from regular microchips because they can be programmed and reprogrammed after manufacturing, similar to your iPhone getting an iOS update.
We were asked to provide technical expertise to a supplier who was facing challenges with both hardware and software development. We quickly jumped in and provided a successful program design for the FPGAs, as well as established FPGA best practices, which brought quality, robustness, and reliability to the effort.
Santi Bulnes, Aeronautics Engineering & Technology vice president at Lockheed Martin, said our FEASIC team was instrumental in turning around the firmware development effort.
“They employed the right management and technical skillsets to quickly establish working relationships with the Lockheed Martin Program team and partnered well with a supplier on a challenging development effort. FEASIC brought additional resources in when needed, and developed firmware updates that were critical to resolving issues,” said Bulnes.
FEASIC will continue to provide support for TR-3 flight tests for the next key upgrade by supplying additional FPGA program updates.
What Sets FEASIC Apart?
The aerospace and defense industry accounts for less than 1% of the total microelectronics demand in the U.S. and therefore isn’t as prioritized in the microelectronic and semiconductor supply chain as compared to consumer-facing technology. Due to recent tensions with U.S. adversaries, there’s been a substantial push for the U.S. to create a secure and resilient domestic microelectronics and semiconductor design supply chain, with the help of the CHIPS Act.
FEASIC directly responds to this national need with a commercial mindset. Our experienced, world-class workforce, already over 100 employees strong, serves as a centralized hub of microelectronic and ASIC experts that are optimally positioned to support a wide array of customers and missions, as well as bolster the domestic Defense Industrial Base (DIB) microelectronics capabilities and their enabling supply chains.
The benefits to working with us that our customers most appreciate stem from our team’s 25-year heritage working together prior to launching FEASIC. Our cohesive team leverages vertically integrated ASIC expertise, spanning from requirements to implementation, established methodologies improved over decades, and the ability to provide our customers with 100% domestic traceability. In short, we stand ready to apply our tested experience to enable our partners’ success.
Join us on the Leading Edge!
Are you interested in working with ForwardEdge for your program’s microelectronics and ASIC needs? We’ve successfully delivered on the world’s most premiere air platform – partner with us whether you need commercial services, defense program or security support, and we’ll take you to the leading edge! Reach out to get started:
- Chief Executive Officer: Brian Sutterfield
- Chief Revenue Officer: Francine Panza
- Chief of Staff: Derek Franklin
- Chief Technology Officer: Paul Voit