About GEM

About GEM

Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), DLA Land and Maritime, and SRI International (Princeton), through the Generalized Emulation of Microcircuits (GEM) program offer a flexible technology that can be utilized during any phase of a weapon system life cycle. The program delivers a permanent solution to mitigate microcircuit obsolescence at the component level while reducing total ownership cost and maintaining readiness levels. In the late 1980s, DLA recognized that microcircuit obsolescence threatened the readiness of many American defense systems. Numerous systems in the armed forces were designed and developed in the 1960s and 1970s. For example, the U.S. Air Force began flying the F-15 Eagle tactical fighter in 1972, and the U.S. Navy first tested the Aegis phased-array radar at sea in 1973. Because of continued advancements in semiconductor technology, the original suppliers stopped manufacturing the microelectronic components used in these and other systems.

The GEM Program produces on-demand, Class Q microcircuits matching the Form- Fit- Function- Interface (F3I) criteria of the required microcircuit. DLA is developing the next generation of F3I microcircuit Emulation capability through the AME Program to further alleviate growing IC obsolescence issues caused by the continued rapid advancements in technology. The semiconductor foundry is accredited as a Department of Defense (DoD) Trusted Foundry supplier, and the manufacturing processes are qualified to MIL-PRF-38535. GEMs foundry provides a stable manufacturing source for over 30,000 part numbers. GEM microcircuits currently support more than 560 unique weapon systems including the F-15, F-22, Aegis, Phalanx, and Bradley Fighting Vehicle.