38 PCB007 MAGAZINE I SEPTEMBER 2025
MIL/AERO007
Defense Speak Interpreted: If CHIPS
Cuts Back, What Happens to Electronics
Packaging Funds? ⊲
In Dennis Fritz's column, he examined the CHIPS
Act and its current status as a U.S. government
program. He found that CHIPS activities continue,
but some corporations have delayed or canceled
them because of budget cuts or corporation-spe-
cific problems.
Weaning the U.S. Military Off a Tablet
Supply Chain That Leads to China ⊲
Tablet computers are essential to how our military
fights, moves, and sustains, but these devices are
built on a fragile global supply chain with strong
ties to China. Building domestic manufacturing to
eliminate this vulnerability is feasible if we tap into
the information and capabilities that already exist
and create strong demand for tablets produced by
trusted and assured sources.
U.S. Army Begins Fielding BAE Systems'
Mission-critical Software-defined Radios
Across Rotary-wing Aviation Fleet ⊲
BAE Systems' AN/ARC-231A Multi-mode Aviation
Radio Set (MARS) has completed initial installa-
tion and is operationally ready for use today on
select U.S. Army rotary-wing aircraft. This fielding
marks a major step forward in equipping warfight-
ers with an advanced, secure, and fast-operating
communications solution to inform key decisions
in the field.
DARPA: Sensor-guided Robots Could
Boost Lifesaving Combat Casualty Care ⊲
One of the most significant challenges in treating
battlefield injuries is finding and stopping severe
bleeding in the torso, a condition known as non-
compressible torso hemorrhage.
Boeing, RAAF Prove MQ-28 Operational
Effectiveness ⊲
Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
have successfully completed demonstrations prov-
ing the operational viability of the MQ-28 Ghost
Bat Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).
Saab Receives Order for Giraffe 4A Radar
Systems from a Country in Latin America ⊲
Saab has received an order for Giraffe 4A radar
systems with associated services from a country
in Latin America. The order value is approximately
SEK 550 million.
DARPA, State of New Mexico Establish
Framework to Advance Quantum
Computing ⊲
One of the most significant challenges in treating
battlefield injuries is finding and stopping severe
bleeding in the torso, a condition known as non-
compressible torso hemorrhage.
U.S. Army Awards Lockheed Martin $9.8B
Contract to Bolster Missile Defense with
PAC-3 MSE ⊲
The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $9.8
billion contract for the production of 1,970 Patriot
Advanced Capability–3 Missile Segment Enhance-
ment (PAC-3 MSE) interceptors and associated
hardware.
Safran, PGZ Reinforce Defense Partnership
Through Innovation and Local Industrial
Cooperation ⊲
Safran Electronics & Defense, a leading European
high-technology company in aerospace and defense,
and Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa S.A. (PGZ), Poland's
primary defense industry leader, have signed two
Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) to further
expand their collaboration in support of European
security and industrial cooperation during the
International Defense Industry Exhibition (MSPO)
held in Kielce.
RTX's Raytheon Awarded $205 Million
Contract for Continued Production of
the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System ⊲
Raytheon, an RTX business, has been awarded a
$205 million contract from the U.S. Navy for con-
tinued production of the Phalanx Close-In Weapon
System (CIWS). As part of the contract, Raytheon
will provide upgrades, conversions, overhauls, and
related equipment.
