Cobham Sensor Systems, a gallium-arsenide (GaAs) monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) supplier, has completed the requalification of its new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Blacksburg, VA. The relocation of its manufacturing and design facilities from Roanoke to Blacksburg began in February and culminated in October with the successful completion of key reliability and qualification tests on the MMIC processes and products. The qualification results verify that the company has successfully replicated its proprietary MMIC technology at the Blacksburg site and is prepared to restart volume production of GaAs MMICs for key aerospace and defense programs.

“Completing rigorous qualification verifies that the GaAs MMIC products fabricated in the new Blacksburg facility match products produced in Roanoke, showing the same reliability and performance,” said Andy Humen, Vice President of Cobham Sensor Systems. “This is great news for the company, and is further evidence of the robustness and producibility of the well-established GaAs MMIC processes originally developed in Roanoke.”

The successful qualification completes the relocation of the operation into its new 50,000 square-foot engineering and manufacturing facility. As a result, the move enhances Cobham’s current and future manufacturing capacity and capability, while also providing additional space for establishing new MMIC processes that will address the future technology requirements of advanced radar, electronic warfare, and space programs.