What RF and microwave products does Cobham AES manufacture?

Cobham AES manufactures a broad range of RF and microwave components and subsystems. Their GaAs MMIC product line covers low-noise amplifiers (noise figure 0.5 to 2 dB from 1 to 100 GHz), power amplifiers (0.5 to 50 W from L-band through Ka-band), switches (SPDT through SP8T with 0.5 to 2 dB insertion loss), and mixers/frequency converters. GaN-on-SiC MMICs provide higher power density (5 to 10 W/mm gate periphery) for radar transmitters and jammer amplifiers in S-band through Ka-band. Their microelectronics division produces custom rad-hard ASICs (150 nm and 45 nm SOI processes rated for 300 krad total ionizing dose), FPGAs (Xilinx Virtex architecture with radiation-hardened cells), and analog-to-digital converters for satellite digital payloads. The company also provides hermetic packaging services, multi-chip module assembly, and complete RF subsystems including synthesizers, receivers, and transmit/receive modules.

What makes Cobham AES components suitable for space?

Space-grade qualification involves several layers beyond commercial testing. Radiation hardening ensures circuits survive total ionizing dose (TID) of 100 to 1,000 krad and single-event effects (SEE) from heavy ions with linear energy transfer up to 60 MeV*cm2/mg. Cobham achieves this through radiation-hardened-by-design (RHBD) techniques including enclosed-gate transistors, guard rings, triple-modular redundancy, and SOI (silicon-on-insulator) substrates that isolate charge collection. Temperature qualification covers -55 to +125 degrees C operating range with 1,000+ thermal cycles. Hermetic packaging in ceramic or metal packages with gold-tin or seam-welded lids provides moisture protection for the 15 to 20 year mission life of GEO satellites. Each component undergoes 100% screening including burn-in (168 hours at 125 degrees C), visual inspection per MIL-STD-883, and lot acceptance testing per MIL-PRF-38535 (Class V for space-level). These qualifications add 5 to 20x cost premium over commercial equivalents but are mandatory for satellite and launch vehicle applications.

How does Cobham AES fit in the defense RF supply chain?

Cobham AES operates at the component and subsystem level, supplying to prime defense contractors (Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris) who integrate them into larger systems. As a Trusted Foundry accredited supplier under the DoD Trusted Suppliers program, Cobham AES can manufacture classified ASIC designs with assured supply chain integrity, a critical requirement for sensitive defense and intelligence applications. The company maintains ITAR-controlled facilities in Colorado Springs, CO and Lansdale, PA. Key program presence includes rad-hard data converters and FPGAs in virtually every US military satellite constellation (GPS III, AEHF, SBIRS, WGS), GaAs and GaN MMICs in electronic warfare suites on fighter aircraft (F-35, F/A-18), and microwave assemblies in ground-based radar systems (SPY-6, LTAMDS). The 2020 Advent International acquisition raised concerns about foreign ownership of a Trusted Foundry supplier, leading to specific CFIUS-mandated security arrangements.

Industry Acronyms

Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions

/kob-um ad-vanst ee-lek-tron-ik suh-loo-shunz/

A major supplier of radiation-hardened ICs, GaAs/GaN MMICs, and space-qualified RF assemblies for defense and satellite markets. Products: rad-hard ASICs and FPGAs (150/45 nm SOI, 300 krad TID), GaAs LNAs (0.5 to 2 dB NF, DC to 100 GHz), GaN PAs (5 to 10 W/mm), and hermetic multichip modules. DoD Trusted Foundry accredited. Facilities in Colorado Springs and Lansdale, PA. Separated from Cobham plc after Advent International's 2020 acquisition.

Category: Industry Acronyms

Markets: Defense, Space, EW

Products: Rad-hard ICs, MMICs

Understanding Cobham AES

Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions occupies a critical position in the defense and space RF supply chain as one of a small number of companies that can design and manufacture radiation-hardened microelectronics, high-frequency MMICs, and hermetically sealed microwave assemblies under DoD Trusted Foundry accreditation. This combination of capabilities makes it an essential supplier for programs where both RF performance and environmental survivability (radiation, temperature, vibration) are mandatory requirements that commercial components cannot meet.

The company traces its heritage through multiple acquisitions: Aeroflex (microelectronics), M/A-COM (GaAs MMICs), and Peregrine Semiconductor (SOI technology), each contributing key technology that was consolidated under the Cobham AES banner. This technology portfolio spans the full RF signal chain from antenna to digital processor: LNAs with sub-1 dB noise figure for satellite receivers, frequency synthesizers for EW receivers, GaN power amplifiers for active electronically scanned arrays (AESA), and rad-hard ADCs/DACs that digitize and reconstruct wideband signals in digital payload architectures. The company's ability to deliver complete "antenna-to-bits" microwave subsystems in hermetic packages qualified to MIL-PRF-38534 (hybrid microcircuit) and MIL-PRF-38535 (monolithic IC) is a key differentiator.

Cobham AES Key Specifications

Rad-Hard IC Qualification:
TID ≥ 100 to 1,000 krad(Si) ; SEL LET_th ≥ 60 MeV·cm²/mg

GaAs MMIC Performance:
NF = 0.5 to 2 dB (LNA) ; P_sat = 0.5 to 50 W (PA)

Environmental Range:
-55°C to +125°C operating ; 1,000+ thermal cycles

SOI processes: 150 nm (legacy) and 45 nm (advanced). Packaging: MIL-PRF-38534 Class K (hermetic hybrid), MIL-PRF-38535 Class V (space IC). Hermetic seal: leak rate <5×10^-8 atm-cc/sec helium.

Cobham AES Product Portfolio

Product Line	Technology	Frequency	Key Spec	Application
Rad-hard ASICs	45 nm SOI CMOS	Digital	300 krad TID	Satellite payloads
Rad-hard FPGAs	SRAM-based (RHBD)	Digital	SEL immune	Space processors
GaAs LNAs	0.15 μm pHEMT	DC to 100 GHz	NF 0.5 to 2 dB	EW receivers, satcom
GaN PAs	0.25 μm GaN-on-SiC	S to Ka-band	5 to 50 W	Radar T/R modules
Hermetic MCMs	LTCC/AlN substrate	DC to 40 GHz	MIL-PRF-38534	Satellite transponders

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What RF products does Cobham AES make?

GaAs MMICs: LNAs (0.5 to 2 dB NF, DC to 100 GHz), PAs (0.5 to 50 W), switches, mixers. GaN PAs (5 to 10 W/mm) for radar. Rad-hard ASICs/FPGAs (45 nm SOI, 300 krad). ADCs/DACs for digital payloads. Hermetic MCMs and complete RF subsystems (synthesizers, receivers, T/R modules).

What makes their components space-grade?

RHBD techniques (enclosed gates, guard rings, TMR, SOI). TID: 100 to 1,000 krad. SEL immune to LET 60 MeV·cm²/mg. Qualified -55 to +125°C, 1,000+ thermal cycles. Hermetic packaging (ceramic/metal, AuSn seal). 100% screening: 168-hour burn-in, MIL-STD-883, MIL-PRF-38535 Class V. 5 to 20x cost premium over commercial.

Role in the defense supply chain?

Component/subsystem supplier to primes (Lockheed, Raytheon, Northrop, L3Harris). DoD Trusted Foundry for classified ASICs. Present in GPS III, AEHF, SBIRS satellites; F-35 and F/A-18 EW suites; SPY-6 and LTAMDS radars. ITAR-controlled facilities. CFIUS-mandated security arrangements after 2020 Advent acquisition.

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