New Xilinx Virtex-5Q FPGA Family Delivers Higher Performance and Advanced Security Technologies for Defense Systems

Xilinx marks 20 years in Aerospace & Defense industry with largest offering of defense-grade reprogrammable devices and SCC platform for secure communications

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 11 /PRNewswire/ — Xilinx, Inc. (Nasdaq: XLNX) today introduced the Xilinx(R) Virtex(R)-5Q family of field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) for the Aerospace and Defense (A&D) industry. Virtex-5Q FPGAs provide the silicon foundation for a host of applications, including Xilinx’s single-chip cryptography (SCC) targeted design platform aimed at accelerating development of next-generation secure communications systems. The new Virtex-5Q family delivers the highest performance, largest capacity FPGAs with ruggedized packaging and advanced cryptographic capabilities, and is the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of defense-grade devices that are also available in bare die form for customized form factors.

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This newest addition to the Xilinx A&D device portfolio is a natural migration path from commercial-grade Virtex-5 FPGAs specifically addressing the elevated performance and security demands on modern A&D systems. The inherent re-programmability and SCC technology advances of Virtex-5Q FPGAs overcome the limitations of traditional ASIC and ASSP approaches, making them ideal for secure communications applications, as well as for electronic warfare, aircraft and transport vehicles; C4ISR systems (Command, Control, Communications, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance); radar; and missiles and munitions.

Xilinx A&D Leadership

Xilinx is the leading programmable logic provider to the A&D market with over twice the market share of its nearest competitor. Today’s announcement is a major milestone in the company’s A&D heritage that marks 20 years of continuous service and support with solutions that meet the rigorous and long-term demands of A&D applications.

“Xilinx has provided reconfigurable FPGAs to aerospace and defense for 20 years, resulting in the longest and broadest support in the industry,” said Amit Dhir, senior director, Xilinx Aerospace and Defense. “The Virtex-5Q FPGA family extends this heritage and reduces system power, cost and form factor, while increasing performance and capabilities. Also, the unique features of embedded processing and ruggedized packaging provides the highest level of integration for a range of applications, including secure communications, C4ISR, electronic warfare, aircraft, radar and missiles.”

High Performance Virtex-5Q FPGAs

The new Virtex-5Q FPGA family leverages the proven ASMBL(TM) architecture and underlying programmable technologies of Xilinx’s market-leading Virtex-5 FPGAs to deliver 30 percent higher speeds, 65 percent more capacity, and 35 percent lower dynamic power consumption on average over previous generations. The Virtex-5Q family is the first defense-grade FPGA family to be offered with ruggedized packaging across the board for redundant protection against ‘tin-whiskering’ and robust support for military assembly processes to ensure the highest quality possible for mission-critical applications.

The breadth of the Virtex-5Q family is unique in the A&D industry with four domain-specific FPGA families, offering an extensive selection of part and package options. The new family consists of defense-grade devices selected from the 65-nanometer Virtex-5 LX and LXT family for high performance logic with connectivity including multi-gigabit serial transceivers, Virtex-5 SXT family for digital signal processing (DSP), and Virtex-5 FXT family for embedded processing. These devices deliver a scalable mix of performance up to 500 MHz, densities up to 330,000 logic cells, and flexible embedded processing and high-speed connectivity capabilities.

In addition, Xilinx is working closely with packaging, board and bare die suppliers, including Endicott Interconnect Technologies, Inc. (EI), ISI/Nallatech, and Teledyne Microelectronics, to provide A&D developers with multiple form factor options. Developers also have the added flexibility of prototyping with commercial grade devices and moving between defense-grade FPGA families to select the optimal device(s) based on system requirements and product lifecycle mandates.

Secure Communications Targeted Design Platform

SCC combines the functionality of multiple FPGAs into a single device, enabling A&D product developers to reduce the size, weight, power and cost (SWAP-C) of systems through higher levels of integration.

Xilinx first pioneered programmable SCC technologies with previous generations of FPGAs and is now extending its leadership with development of a comprehensive targeted design platform for secure communications. At the heart of the innovations introduced with this platform are the Virtex-5Q devices with the embedded PowerPC(R) 440 processor, tamper-proofing capabilities and intellectual property (IP) block, and Xilinx’s isolation verification tool. Detailed information is available by sending email to crypto@xilinx.com.

Availability

A&D product developers can begin developing systems today with Virtex-5Q FPGAs and the Xilinx targeted design platform for secured communications applications. Select members of the Virtex-5Q device portfolio are now in production for the Virtex-5Q LX, LXT and SXT families. Shipments of Virtex-5Q FXT FPGAs will commence in the second quarter of 2009. All devices can be ordered in a variety of packaging options and in bare die form. Details on pricing and delivery lead times are available through Xilinx sales representatives.

About Xilinx Aerospace & Defense

Xilinx has provided uninterrupted support to the A&D industry since 1989 with comprehensive solutions that include: commercial grade to radiation-tolerant FPGAs; application-specific IP from image processing to waveform generation; and advanced technologies such as partial reconfiguration and single-chip crypto. These solutions feature long product lifecycles, high reliability, unique manufacturing flows, specialized design services, and advanced security solutions for high assurance applications. For more information, visit www.xilinx.com/esp/aerospace.htm.

About Xilinx

Xilinx is the worldwide leader in complete programmable logic solutions. For more information, visit www.xilinx.com.

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XILINX, the Xilinx Logo, Virtex, Spartan and other designated brands included herein are trademarks of Xilinx in the United States and other countries. PowerPC is a trademark of IBM and used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

    Editorial Contact:
    Silvia Gianelli
    Xilinx, Inc. Public Relations
    408-626-4328
    silvia.gianelli@xilinx.com

SOURCE Xilinx, Inc.