Legacy chip supplier Phoenix Semiconductor and Avnet have signed a master distribution agreement.
As an Avnet supplier, Phoenix Semiconductor will give customers a dependable new source for legacy chips, addressing the growing challenges posed by component obsolescence.
Initially focused on a select number of high-demand, discontinued semiconductors, the partnership will expand over the coming months to provide Avnet’s customer base with solutions that help avoid costly redesigns and production delays caused by chip discontinuation.
“End-of-Life (EOL) challenges are a significant issue for many of our customers, and we are constantly searching for ways to mitigate supply chain risk—which is why partnering with the foremost provider of legacy chips is a win-win for Avnet and our customers,” said Carolyn O’Connor, Director, Defence and Aerospace at Avnet. “Avnet customers will be the first in the market to take advantage of Phoenix’s breakthrough approach to legacy chips.”
Key benefits for Avnet customers include:
- Form, fit, and function drop-in replacement – Phoenix chips replicate the size, packaging and functionality of original components
- Significant time & cost savings – avoid costly board redesigns and uncertainty associated with last-time-buys
- Reduced supply chain risk – reliable, perpetual access to legacy chips
- Greater program control – engineering teams can manage technology refresh cycles on their own timelines, with replacement chips available in months, not years
Industry analysts estimate that nearly 500,000 EOL notices for electronic components were issued in 2024 alone – a sharp increase that has created significant challenges for OEMs, particularly those producing platforms designed to operate for more than a decade.
“Component obsolescence has plagued OEMs for decades, and the problem is only accelerating, and until now, there hasn’t been a viable solution,” said Brian Hoerl, Chief Growth Officer, Phoenix Semiconductor. “Phoenix is unlocking an entirely new option that doesn’t require a fab, tape out or new silicon. By partnering with Avnet we’re bringing innovative solutions to the customers who need them most.”
Phoenix has developed a proprietary process for recreating discontinued chips without requiring new silicon, a fabrication facility, or original wafers. This innovation enables Phoenix to produce drop-in replacements that are seamless, fast to market, and ideally suited for long-life programs requiring a high mix of parts at lower volumes.
Already, Phoenix is producing replacement chips for prime defence contractors, supporting programs critical to national security and military readiness.
In June this year Phoenix Semiconductor successfully closed a $5.5 million seed funding round led by J2 Ventures and RTX Ventures, including follow-on investments from IronGate Capital Advisors and Lockheed Martin Ventures.
