In an era where cutting-edge technology defines defense capabilities, Altera has taken a pivotal step forward in electronic warfare. Last month, we proudly joined Lockheed Martin and leaders from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to celebrate a major achievement in the State-of-the-Art Heterogeneous Integrated Packaging (SHIP) program led by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD-R&E). This milestone event underscored the critical importance of developing sustainable, U.S.-made microelectronics, a cornerstone of modern defense.
Collaborating for Defense: Altera and Lockheed Martin
In partnership with Lockheed Martin, Altera integrated an Agilex®9 Direct RF FPGA into a multi-chip package to create an MCP-2 microchip in a successful UAV flight test. Equipped with Lockheed Martin's 12th Generation Electronic Warfare (Gen12) transceiver, this demonstration—coined the SHIP-enabled Wideband Transceiver Integrated Flight Test (SWIFT)—proved that platforms constrained by size, weight, and power (SWaP) can deliver robust electronic warfare capabilities. The successful SWIFT test showcases our MCP-2 chip’s ability to execute electronic warfare missions with precision, even in compact and power-limited environments.
MCP-2 in UAV Electronic Warfare
MCP-2 uses Altera’s Agilex™ 9 Direct RF FPGA, a U.S.-made, high-performance microchip built to withstand the rigors of advanced electronic warfare. Optimized to function in space-limited UAVs, the MCP-2 manages high-speed signal processing while remaining lightweight and power-efficient—ideal for mission-critical applications. This adaptability is crucial for maintaining high-impact electronic warfare operations on airborne platforms.
SWIFT Program: A New Era in Microelectronics
Conducted at the U.S. Army’s Yuma Proving Ground, the SWIFT demonstration marked the first use of the Altera Agilex™ FPGA in a government test environment. In this milestone test, the Gen12 transceiver demonstrated its ability to detect, identify, and locate enemy emitters in real time, validating the power of SWaP-optimized electronics to transform defense capabilities. As part of the SHIP program, this project highlights the ongoing need for high-performance, U.S.-sourced microelectronics to ensure secure and resilient defense systems.
Dr. Steven Walker, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Lockheed Martin, emphasized, “This demonstration signifies an important step forward for Lockheed Martin’s strategic partnership with OUSD-R&E and Altera on ensuring warfighter access to state-of-the-art, U.S.-made microelectronics. The SHIP program’s transformative influence on DoD capabilities bolsters confidence in these ongoing advancements and paves the way for their integration throughout the military in support of our customers’ most critical missions.”
Future-Ready with Altera’s SWaP-Centric MCP-2 Technology
Reflecting on the achievement, John Sotir, Senior Director at Altera, stated, “Leveraging decades of leadership in chiplet development and manufacturing has led to the rapid readiness and availability of production-quality, SWAP-centric MCP-2 products for future mission requirements.” This accomplishment underscores Altera’s commitment to providing resilient, high-performance microelectronics that meet the evolving demands of defense.
Watch the SWIFT Demonstration in Action
Read the full press release here: Successful SWIFT Demonstration Showcases Lockheed Martin and Altera Collaboration with OUSD-R&E, Highlighting the Future of Electronic Warfare and Microelectronics
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