Chiplytics and CALCE/UMD: Quantifiable Assurance for Mission-Critical Microelectronics

The F-35 Lightning II, developed by Lockheed Martin, is one of the most advanced and widely used fifth-generation fighter jets globally. The aircraft's intricate supply chain involves an extensive network of over 1,700 suppliers providing approximately 300,000 components. This complexity has highlighted vulnerabilities, as seen in the recent discovery of a tiny magnet sourced from China, prompting concerns about the integrity of the entire supply chain. As a result, the DoD halted the entire $6.5 billion shipment, emphasizing the critical  importance of Air Force Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) units. These units play a pivotal role in monitoring and safeguarding the supply chains of essential weapons systems. Also, An Air Force investigation of a fatal fighter jet crash in 2020 quietly discovered that key electronic components of the pilot’s ejection seat may have been counterfeit. First Lt. David Schmitz, an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot at South Carolina’s Shaw Air Force Base, died June 30, 2020, when his ejection seat malfunctioned as he tried to escape from a failed nighttime landing. In the case of the F-35, the incident with the Chinese-origin magnet raises questions about whether it was a deliberate act of manipulation or the result of negligence by a subcontractor. Counterfeit semiconductors represent a staggering $200 billion annual threat to the worldwide electronics supply chain. These fake chips not only have the potential to halt or impede multi-billion dollar projects but also carry the risk of premature failure. A Senate Armed Services Committee investigation uncovered over a million suspected counterfeit electronic parts within the U.S. defense supply chain, highlighting the severity of the issue. The most counterfeited product in the global microelectronics market is not always a fake, often it is a true OEM original but has been altered and is not suitable for the full requirements of system performance. Moreover, counterfeit electronic components pose grave dangers, including the interception of classified data and the sabotage of critical weapons systems, ultimately endangering the safety of military personnel. Chiplytics Power Spectrum Analysis, a fast, non-invasive electrical testing technique licensed from Sandia National Laboratories captures a unique multi-pin frequency response to reveal subtle differences between components. Because the current state-of-the-art for this kind of component testing takes minutes, the Air Force can only test a small fraction of units through sample testing. Chiplytics' technology reduces this time to seconds, allowing 100% testing of all critical components. Chiplytics has four successful external pilots totaling more than 100 hours of external testing and includes validation from Sandia National Lab. Chiplytics has more than 2000 hours of internal testing.