NEXT Semiconductor and BAE Systems Collaborate to Develop Space-Qualified Chips for Advanced Satellite Communication Systems!

NEXT Semiconductor Technologies, a leading fabless semiconductor company, has entered into a strategic partnership with BAE Systems to develop and integrate its latest ultra-wideband antenna processor units (APUs) into radiation-hardened electronic subsystems for space applications. This collaboration aims to advance satellite communication systems and expand the available processing capabilities for space-based systems, paving the way for more efficient and powerful satellite sensors and transmitters in the future.

At the heart of this collaboration is NEXT’s NX450 antenna processor, an advanced piece of hardware that operates at an impressive 200 giga-samples per second (GS/s), with 100 GHz of instantaneous RF bandwidth. This cutting-edge processor is designed to support complex, wideband radio frequency (RF) signal processing that is essential for modern satellite systems. The NX450 features four independent receive and transmit channels, which combine signal acquisition and digital processing in a compact and highly efficient design.

The NX450’s advanced features not only provide powerful performance but also simplify the architecture of satellite sensors. By enabling signal digitization and processing closer to the sensing point, the system can potentially improve the performance of electronic warfare systems while also reducing the size, weight, and power consumption (SWaP) of the overall system. This is particularly important in space applications, where size and weight constraints are crucial to maximizing payload capacity and ensuring the system operates efficiently in challenging environments.

Manufactured using GlobalFoundries’ state-of-the-art 12LP (12nm) FinFET process, the NX450 chip includes embedded processor redundancy, which enhances the reliability and resilience of the system. Additionally, the chip has undergone extensive radiation testing to ensure its suitability for space environments, making it an ideal candidate for use in satellite communication and electronic warfare systems operating in space.

The collaboration between NEXT Semiconductor and BAE Systems also addresses the growing demand for secure wideband satellite communication (SATCOM) in proliferated low-Earth orbit (LEO) missions. As satellite networking technology continues to evolve, there is an increasing need for both larger data payloads and the ability to process data on orbit. The NX450 is the first device of its kind to meet these emerging demands by providing a secure, high-bandwidth solution that will be essential for future space communication systems.

BAE Systems, with its expertise in defense electronics and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) technology, will play a vital role in integrating the NX450 APU into future satellite communication systems. The collaboration may also involve the incorporation of BAE’s own ASIC technology to enhance the capabilities of next-generation system-on-chip (SoC) solutions, further pushing the boundaries of performance and efficiency in space applications.

The collaboration between NEXT Semiconductor and BAE Systems is a significant milestone in the development of next-generation space-based communication technologies. As more countries and organizations invest in space infrastructure and satellite networks, the need for robust, high-performance communication systems will continue to grow. By leveraging innovative solutions like the NX450 APU, both companies aim to provide the space industry with reliable, cost-effective, and high-performance technology for secure satellite communication and electronic warfare systems.

With the rapid pace of advancements in satellite technology, the NX450 APU and the continued collaboration between NEXT Semiconductor and BAE Systems are poised to be key enablers of the next era of space communication.