Aerospace and defense applications call for unique component solutions, and Xilinx has responded by introducing its Spartan®-6Q and Virtex®-6Q families of field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) for the most demanding environments. In addition to providing size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) benefits for military systems requiring high levels of security and reliability, the new FPGAs are pin compatible to commercial equivalents for ease of circuit development and prototyping. They are ideal for applications in tactical radios, munitions, and electronic-warfare (EW) systems.

An FPGA provides a great deal of digital signal processing (DSP) without the power consumption of a dedicated DSP device. The Spartan-6Q and Virtex-6Q devices combine thousands of logic cells, random-access memory (RAM), on-board communications capabilities, and DSP slices to deliver tremendous signal-processing capabilities in small packages.

The Virtex-6Q FPGAs (Fig. 1), for example, are available in industrial (-40 to +100°C) and military (-55 to +125°C) temperature grades for applications in surveillance, EW, reconnaissance missiles, and munitions systems. Depending on the particular model, the Virtex-6Q devices can be supplied with from 1.7 to 7.6 MB distributed RAM operating at 600-MHz clock speeds and from 128,000 to 476,000 logic cells. These FPGAs feature 600-MHz DSP slices, PCI Express (PCIe) blocks, Ethernet media access controller (MAC) blocks, and a built-in system monitor and analog to digital converter (ADC).

The Virtex-6Q FPGAs are based on a 40-nm silicon device architecture. The devices operate on a 1-V core voltage with an available 0.9-V low-power option and are supported by a new generation of development tools delivered by ISE® Design Suite, along with a vast library of intellectual property (IP) available for the earlier 65-nm Virtex 5 family of FPGAs. The Virtex-6Q FPGAs achieve 50 percent lower power consumption that earlier generation Virtex FPGAs and are 20 percent lower in cost than earlier Virtex FPGAs. They include a third-generation anti-tamper (AT) feature for security. The devices are housed in a ruggedized plastic package using standard lead content to eliminate tin-whiskering concerns.

The Spartan-6Q FPGAs (Fig. 2) are available in grades for operating temperatures of -40 to +100°C (I grade) and (-40 to +125°C (Q grade). They consume 65 percent less power than earlier Spartan-3A FPGAs. With their third-generation information assurance (IA) and anti-tamper (AT) features, they are ideal for Type 1 Crypto handheld radios, tactical radios that use multiple waveforms, and smart munitions applications.

Spartan-6Q devices are supplied in small form factor (SFF) packaging. They boast advanced power management and an integrated memory controller. The Spartan devices are fabricated with a low-power 45-nm dual-oxide silicon process technology with full support in the Xilinx ISE® Design Suite. By merit of mask set control, military and aerospace users have the assurance of secure, continuous support with both the Spartan and Virtex devices.

“The introduction of the first defense-grade Spartan family into the Xilinx Aerospace and Defense product portfolio builds on the Virtex series’ long success supporting systems that drive mission-critical defense and aerospace electronics,” explains Harvey Steele, Vice President, Segment Marketing at Xilinx. “The secure, low-power Spartan-6Q devices, as well as our recently-announced rad-hard Virtex-5QV device, further demonstrate Xilinx’s commitment and capabilities toward meeting the stringent requirements of aerospace and defense applications.”

The defense-grade FPGAs are fully pin compatible to their commercial equivalents to simplify prototyping and the migration from early design stage to production. They are fully tested and qualified to operate in extreme temperatures.

Xilinx, Inc., 2100 Logic Drive, San Jose, CA 95124; (408) 559-7778, FAX: (408) 559-7114, Internet: www.xilinx.com/esp/aerospace.htm.