U.S. Government Urged to Address FPGA Supply Chain Risks Amid Growing Chinese Influence

What's Happening?

Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are crucial components in various sectors, including military systems, automobiles, and cloud computing. However, the U.S. supply chain for these chips faces significant risks related to cost, availability, and security. The report highlights that U.S. firms prioritize cost over security and availability, which could lead to vulnerabilities, especially with China's increasing semiconductor manufacturing capacity. The report recommends U.S. government intervention to secure the FPGA supply chain, protect national security, and support technological leadership through policy measures such as data-sharing hubs, security investments, and stockpiling critical FPGAs.

Why It's Important?

FPGAs are integral to U.S. national security and economic sectors, including defense systems and telecommunications. The growing involvement of China in semiconductor manufacturing poses risks to the availability and security of these chips, potentially impacting U.S. military readiness and economic stability. Addressing these risks is crucial to maintaining U.S. technological leadership and safeguarding critical industries. The report suggests that without government intervention, the U.S. may face increased costs and security vulnerabilities, affecting both commercial and military applications.

What's Next?

The report recommends several policy interventions, including establishing a data-sharing hub for FPGA supply chains, investing in security measures, building a national stockpile of critical FPGAs, and preparing for potential supply chain disruptions. These initiatives aim to mitigate risks and ensure the resilience of the U.S. FPGA supply chain. The Department of Commerce or Defense is suggested to coordinate these efforts, focusing on performance measurement and management to improve policy implementation.

Beyond the Headlines

The report highlights the need for tailored approaches to address FPGA-specific risks, given their unique flexibility and long product lifecycles. It also emphasizes the importance of international cooperation, particularly with trusted nations, to balance cost, availability, and security risks. The U.S. government is encouraged to avoid policies that could lead to economic costs or geopolitical tensions, such as separating U.S. FPGA supply chains from China.