Complex military and aerospace equipment designed for long-term use is engineered in accordance with strictly defined requirements, from precise tolerances and detailed certifications to meticulous safety and testing specifications. When a semiconductor manufacturer signals that they will no longer produce a component intrinsic to the design, a critical question ensues – find an alternative source of authentic inventory or initiate a redesign.
End of life (EOL) status can affect equipment in production or in the field. While a redesign may solve the manufacturing problem, it can cause expenses to balloon and delay schedules well beyond initial timelines. Redesign also does nothing to address the need for parts when repairs or replacements are necessary for flight-qualified hardware or mission-critical systems, not uncommon in equipment such as aircraft, radar, and space systems meant to last decades. However, it is rarely as simple as substituting one manufacturer’s component for another’s. Subsystems may require requalification under various aerospace and defence standards and take months for software validation, safety assessments, environmental testing, and EMI/EMC assurance.
Fortunately, many components remain accessible even when they are declared EOL or obsolete. Semiconductor manufacturers often work with specialty authorised distributors to ensure that a steady supply of critical components is available to their customers for a period of time. This gives mil/aero equipment manufacturers breathing room, enabling them to postpone design changes without compromising safety, performance, or delivery timelines.
Authorised component distributors help engineers reconcile last-time-buy windows with extended programme requirements, providing a reliable procurement option for those seeking traceable, factory-authorised inventory ranging from everyday parts to military-grade components. Sourcing from authorised distributors reduces risk by guaranteeing authenticity, ensuring compliance with storage requirements such as JESD31 or MIL-STD-883, and providing unassailable documentation across the entire chain of custody.
When authorised components remain accessible regardless of an EOL/obsolete designation, defence programmes can proceed without interruption using hardware that’s already qualified. The benefits include:
- Reducing the risks associated with grey market procurement
- Predictable lifecycle planning and inventory management
- Eliminating the need for recertifications or documentation revisions
- Focusing engineering expertise on innovation, not redesign
- Less downtime for maintenance, repairs and replacement
Proactive EOL planning with an authorised distributor of obsolete components can help defence programme managers and mil/aero engineers avoid headaches down the road. In addition to inventory availability and management, authorised distributors can offer long-term die banking, secure storage, lifecycle forecasting expertise, and qualified alternate sourcing for parts requiring military specifications with a clear goal in mind: reprioritise costly redesign without compromising mission readiness.
About the author:
Bill Bradford
Bill Bradford has over 30 years of experience in the electronic components industry, having led the global sales organisations for Freescale, ON Semiconductor, and Entropic Communications. He also served as President and CEO of Minco Technology Labs, a Hi-Rel die processing, assembly, test, and distribution company. Over the past two years, he has led the Electronic Component Industry Association (ECIA) as President and CEO. He began his career in sales with Texas Instruments, followed by Cypress Semiconductor. Bill has a BSEE from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, an MS in Management from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and an Executive Doctorate in Business from Georgia State University, having conducted research in leadership and sales analytics. He is an ICF-certified executive coach and has been a mentor and catalyst for startups at Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology and Design Centre.
