QuickLogic Expands DoD FPGA Program to $88M with Global Foundries

QuickLogic announced an expanded scope for its prime U.S. government contract focused on developing Strategic Radiation Hardened, high-reliability FPGA technology for current and future Department of Defense strategic and space systems. As part of the update, the program’s total ceiling value rises to about $88 million, with new support for GlobalFoundries’ 12LP fabrication process.

The company also confirmed it has completed development and taped out an FPGA test chip, which will be fabricated at GlobalFoundries using the 12LP process. This marks a transition from design milestones toward silicon validation, a key step in advancing the program.

QuickLogic noted that the work is being conducted under the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)), sponsored by the DoD’s Trusted and Assured Microelectronics (T&AM) Program, with NSWC Crane serving as the government’s technical lead.

Why GlobalFoundries 12LP matters

Radiation-hardened and high-reliability components are essential for space and strategic defense environments, where standard electronics are vulnerable to degradation or failure. FPGAs play a critical role in these systems because they can be tailored to specific missions and updated over time, reducing the need for costly hardware redesigns in long-lifecycle programs.

The addition of GlobalFoundries’ 12LP process signals a push toward greater manufacturing flexibility and roadmap resilience, both critical priorities for defense and space programs, where supply assurance and trusted production are as important as performance.

GlobalFoundries positions its 12nm FinFET platform for high-performance, power-efficient SoCs in demanding applications. While QuickLogic has not detailed how SRH requirements map onto 12LP, the move suggests the program is broadening its qualified process options as it progresses.

Early decisions around process selection, qualification pathways, and supply continuity can shape program outcomes years in advance. As the Defense FPGA ecosystem evolves, IBS Electronics can support teams in evaluating sourcing strategies, lifecycle risk, and long-term procurement planning for mission-critical systems.