Enabling Technology Development With the AME Program
The Advanced Microcircuit Emulation (AME) program develops and proves manufacturing capability for form, fit, and function equivalent microcircuits for DLA, the Services, and the broader Defense community when DoD microcircuit needs cannot be met. New capability demonstration is proven through technology development, certified device level testing, and system insertion of demonstration devices into Weapon Systems. Once proven, technology is transferred to the GEM production program, providing an economical, permanent solution to increase War-fighter support.
The AME R&D Emulation technologies target modern manufacturing equipment, processes, and materials in order to yield same performance as original legacy microcircuits and build parts that are interchangeable with the original item of supply. The technology development is a multi-year effort involving careful attention to several aspects of performance, density and target microcircuit packages. A critical technology evaluation step serves to validate achievement of metrics prior to submission of technology samples into the MIL-PRF-38535 QML flow and transition the capability to the GEM production program. These Emulation technology lines are supported under the Emulation model, in existence for over 30 years, to guarantee on-demand low-volume supply.
Due to the time needed for development, one of the biggest challenges is to proactively anticipate customer needs ensuring the correct Microcircuit Emulation technology is available to meet the Weapon system needs and DLA’s needs for the supply chain / National Stock System. The key is to analyze the component content of systems, national stock quantities, and historic demand. With the help of DLA at-risks analysis, customer feedback, and BOM list reviews, we can make the right choice for technology development priorities. Microcircuit complexity spans a wide variety of functions and implementations, both in the digital and analog domain for which no single technology solution can satisfy the requirements, so AME has multiple, parallel developments for successive technology transfers. Enabling this technology development is a priority of our customer outreach so the AME program is prepared to maintain the required system readiness levels.