Scott Nicholas
Lockheed Martin has chosen Microsemi to supply master reference oscillators for integration into the next two Space Based Infrared System satellites for the U.S. Air Force.
Microsemi said Wednesday it will start to deliver production models of the company’s master reference oscillators that include discrete devices and radiation-tolerant field programmable gate arrays to Lockheed, the SBIRS’ prime contractor, in late 2016.
SBIRS is designed to replace the 1970s Defense Support Program constellation and will work to deliver missile warning and infrared surveillance data to the U.S. president, defense secretary and intelligence and military leaders.
“We are proud to extend our relationship with Lockheed Martin and continue our support of the company and the [Air Force] on the fifth and sixth SBIRS satellites,” said Peter Cash, director of space, defense and advanced technology at Microsemi’s frequency and time division.
Microsemi has provided FPGAs, custom power supplies, radiation-tolerant space-grade diodes, transistors and metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors to the satellite program.
