Microelectronics availability for the Army's missiles

Our modern Army is critically dependent on high technology and in particular sophisticated electronics. Microcircuit technology is the "brain-trust" of our advanced weapon systems. Because of the central role that microelectronics plays in the total acquisition, and maintenance of the Army's weapon systems, it is extremely important that the Army have ready access to this technology. However, the semiconductor industry is not motivated toward serving this need and therefore potential supply problems exist in this area. The Army's requirements cannot be satisfied with off-the-shelf standard products produced by the large semiconductor manufacturers. Rather, they are typically low volume, high reliability, military standard components -- some of which have the added requirement of radiation hardening. In this report the many facets and ramifications which impact the cause/effect relationships among the various factors of this very timely problem will be discussed.