Spirit Electronics Announces Managed Access to U.S.-Based Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing for Aerospace and Defense Programs - SpaceNews

Spirit Electronics has launched a new managed-access offering to provide secure and reliable pathways to U.S.-based advanced semiconductor manufacturing for aerospace and defense customers. The servic... Read original →

Spirit Electronics’ entry into secure 28nm CMOS ASIC production isn’t just about filling capacity—it’s rewiring the foundational logic of U.S. defense electronics sourcing. While 28nm isn’t cutting-edge, it remains the workhorse for radar, comms, and navigation systems; its onshoring forces EDA and IP vendors to accelerate compliance integration and compels OEMs to overhaul component selection. AS9100 and CMMC Level 2 certifications erect de facto barriers, pricing out smaller foundries and structurally inflating operational costs. Offshore mature-node suppliers—especially from Taiwan, China—are seeing their defense market access rapidly constrict. Within 18 months, this ‘managed-access’ model will likely expand to RF and power management ICs, potentially catalyzing a government-backed ‘trusted foundry consortium,’ deepening the fragmentation of the global semiconductor ecosystem.