Jazz Semiconductor Inc. the US unit of specialty foundry Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (Nasdaq: TSEM; TASE: TSEM) (which markets as TowerJazz) has been accredited as a Category 1A Trusted Supplier by the US Department of Defense. With Trusted Foundry status, Jazz will provide trusted semiconductors in critical defense applications, joining the small list of companies accredited by the department's Trusted Foundry Program, which was established to ensure the integrity of the people and processes used to deliver national security critical microelectronic components. The Department of Defense's Defense Microelectronics Activity manages the program.
Jazz's accreditation will help broaden its current business relationships with major defense contractors such as Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), BAE Systems plc (LSE: BA), DRS Technologies Inc., Alcatel-Lucent SA (NYSE: Euronext: ALU), and L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. (NYSE: LLL).
""In the US, there was no "pure play" trusted foundry capability available," says Tower CEO Russell Ellwanger. "Our aerospace and defense customers asked that we would go this route to enable them greater freedom to serve their great country's needs; a country that stands as a banner for democratic process throughout the world. Primarily for this purpose, we went beyond our initial commitment to the US State Department to continue support of our ITAR customers and engaged in rounds of discussion with the US Department of Defense toward participation in the Trusted Foundry program in our Newport Beach facility. And, as in all activities where one serves purposes of great principle, it is also good business."
“Specific recent activities to further support our customers include a long-term lease extension and implementation of new technology focused on the aerospace and defense market, including CMOS image sensors and Readout Integrated Circuits (ROICs) for IR sensors,” said Tower Aerospace and Defense Business Unit director Mike Scott.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 28, 2013
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