Intel has announced that its Foundry has been selected for Phase Three of the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD) Rapid Assured Microelectronics Prototypes—Commercial (RAMP-C) program. The DoD disclosed the award through the National Security Technology Accelerator’s consortium-based Strategic and Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems Other Transaction Authority (S2MARTS OTA) program.
According to an Intel press release, the objective of the RAMP-C program is to reestablish U.S. leadership in leading-edge semiconductors by promoting the development of a national commercial foundry system. The third phase of RAMP-C includes advancing the tape-out and testing of early defense industrial base (DIB) product prototypes. Intel indicated that this represents a "critical milestone," as it demonstrates the readiness of Intel 18A process technology, intellectual property (IP), and ecosystem solutions for high-volume manufacturing.
Kapil Wadhera, Intel's vice president for Foundry Services and general manager of the Government Engagements and Business Operations Group, expressed enthusiasm over this achievement. He stated in the press release that for the first time in decades, federal government, DIB customers, and commercial customers will simultaneously have access to its process technologies.
"This milestone reinforces our commitment to making our capabilities, including leading-edge technologies like Intel 18A, available to a wider range of partners, furthering America’s leadership in process technology R&D, advanced manufacturing and microelectronics systems," Wadhera said in the press release.
The press release also noted that RAMP-C customers can begin manufacturing commercial and DIB product prototypes using Intel 18A process technology.
"RAMP-C is an important project for Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Microelectronics as it provides access to leading-edge Intel 18A technology onshore, which is critical for the security of U.S. military systems and platforms," Dev Shenoy, secretary of defense for Research and Engineering, principal director for Microelectronics, was quoted as saying in the press release. "RAMP-C intends to demonstrate prototype production of Intel 18A chips in 2025 to deliver unprecedented processing performance for the DoD."