Intel joined with IBM, Cadence, Synopsis and others to support domestic chip design and manufacturing under a U.S. Defense Department award known as RAMP-C (Rapid Assured Microelectronics Prototypes—Commercial).
DoD created RAMP-C last October to assure leading-edge chips and related products for DoD systems. Intel Foundry Services, created this year, will lead the work, Intel said in a statement on Monday.
“When we launched IFS earlier this year, we were excited to have the opportunity to make our capabilities available to a wider range of partners, including the U.S. government,” CEO Pat Gelsinger said.
IFS will work with partners to support DoD with an IP ecosystem to develop and fabricate test chips on Intel 18A, Intel’s most advanced process technology.
Intel has plans to build two new fabs in Arizona, saying earlier it will invest about about $20 billion. The Biden administration has been pushing for domestic chip production and its defense budget for 2022 includes a recommendation for $2.3 billion for microelectronics work.
Intel stock rose 1.5% early Monday to reach $52.82, which is above its $40.67 price on Jan. 1, but behind its high of $68.26 on April 9.
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