High Performance Microchip Supply - Under Secretary of Defense ...

RECOMMENDATIONS ____________________________________________________________
operation in either the natural space radiation environment or one
enhanced by an exo-atmospheric nuclear weapon detonation. 41
Recommendations
Director Defense Research & Engineering (DDR&E)
should continue the oversight and coordination of
DOD radiation-hardened microelectronics efforts
through the Radiation Hardened Oversight Council
(RHOC). The RHOC should coordinate with the
Defense Trusted Integrated Circuit Strategy (DTICS)
Office to ensure that radiation-hardened production
capabilities are qualified as trusted sources of
trusted microelectronics.
DOD should continue to sponsor radiationhardened
technology development programs
covering the full spectrum of research from basic
mechanisms research into new materials and design
mitigation techniques to development of radiation-
41. In June 1999, the Director Defense Research & Engineering (DDR&E) formally
established and chaired the Radiation Hardened Oversight Council (RHOC) to provide
oversight to DOD management of radiation hardened microelectronic efforts and
coordinate a corporate approach to meet the needs of planned military systems. The
RHOC developed a multi-faceted strategy to ensure the long-term availability of
radiation hardened microelectronics. This strategy includes: (1) the development of the
Radiation Hardened Microelectronics Accelerated Technology Development (RHM
ATD) program, which will satisfy DOD's need for radiation hardened microelectronics
through 2015 ; (2) resources to investigate and develop alternative technologies and
processes to establish a base to support the radiation hardening of microelectronics and
photonics beyond the 2012 - 2015 era and (3) the development of an overarching longterm
strategy to ensure the availability of hardened microelectronics post 2020 to meet
DOD requirements. A key element of this strategy is to make maximum use of
commercial microelectronics and photonics technologies and trusted fabrication
facilities while ensuring that a viable domestic source of strategically hardened
components. The basic technical approach concerning the implementation of this
strategy includes the development and evaluation of material technologies with the
potential to provide radiation hardening though properties inherent in the new
materials; continued investigation of circuit design techniques that mitigate the
damage, functional upsets, and data loss caused by the radiation environment; and
long-term support of programs to maintain radiation effects core competencies.
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