IBM has secured a significant $576 million contract to shore up the US military’s supply of secure and trusted semiconductors, underscoring the escalating focus on technological sovereignty in the sensitive defense sector. According to the report in Military & Aerospace Electronics, the focus is on creating a trusted manufacturing environment within IBM’s commercial facilities, where advanced microelectronics can be produced with strict security measures. These safeguards will help prevent tampering, reverse engineering, and other threats to sensitive military technologies.
The Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA), tasked with managing the Department of Defense’s Trusted Foundry program, is spearheading this initiative. Their mission is to guarantee access to cutting-edge, trusted microelectronics while bolstering national security. The program safeguards sensitive components throughout their production lifecycle, ensuring that only certified individuals handle them, protecting the supply chain, and preventing unauthorized access or modification.
This move reinforces the US military’s urgent need for advanced technological capabilities obtained from reliable sources. Additionally, IBM’s expertise will be crucial in bolstering security in new semiconductor manufacturing facilities. This will further strengthen the supply chain for classified and trusted programs, giving the military unwavering confidence in the technology at the heart of its operations. The work involved will span several IBM sites across the US and Canada, further emphasizing the project’s scale, importance, and commitment to a geographically robust supply chain.
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