Mercury Announces Early Access Program for New Direct RF Multi-Chip Module Powered by AMD Versal Adaptive SoCs

Rhea-AI Summary

Mercury Systems, Inc. announces the early access program for its RFS1140 direct RF System-in-Package, combining AMD Versal AI Core series adaptive SoC, Jariet Technologies data converters, and Micron LPDDR4 NOR flash memory for advanced applications at the edge. The program offers product documentation, support, and priority delivery for evaluation hardware. The SiP aims to bring AI-enabled decision-making to electronic warfare and spectrum processing applications.

Market Research Analyst

The introduction of the RFS1140 direct RF System-in-Package (SiP) by Mercury Systems represents a significant advancement in edge processing technology. The integration of AMD's Versal® AI Core series adaptive SoC with high-speed data converters and flash memory into a rugged, SWaP-optimized package addresses the growing demand for sophisticated electronic warfare and radar applications. As these technologies are important for defense and aerospace sectors, the product's performance and SWaP optimization are likely to be closely monitored by companies within these industries.

From a market perspective, the collaboration with AMD and Jariet Technologies could position Mercury Systems favorably in the competitive landscape. The emphasis on a North American design and manufacturing process may also appeal to stakeholders concerned with supply chain security, especially given the current geopolitical climate. The MIL-STD qualification and operating temperature range suggest a product designed for extreme conditions, which could open up additional market segments.

Defense Industry Analyst

Mercury Systems' RFS1140 SiP could be a game-changer for defense contractors and military operations. The ability to process RF signals directly with low latency and high sampling rates is critical for modern electronic warfare, where speed and accuracy can determine mission success. The inclusion of AI capabilities via the AMD Versal AI Core series adaptive SoC could enhance real-time decision-making in the field, potentially leading to a shift in tactics and strategies employed in electronic warfare and spectrum processing.

Given the product's alignment with current defense priorities, such as modernizing the electronic warfare capabilities and ensuring secure communication channels, the RFS1140 SiP could see significant interest from defense departments and contractors. Furthermore, being qualified to MIL standards and designed in DMEA-accredited facilities, the product meets stringent requirements, which could lead to increased trust and adoption within the defense sector.

Technology Industry Analyst

The technical specifications of the RFS1140 SiP, such as the high-speed data converters capable of up to 36 GHz analog bandwidth and the integration of AI Engines, indicate a substantial leap in processing capabilities for applications at the edge. The ability to run powerful algorithms and handle massive DSP and AI compute tasks in a small form factor is particularly noteworthy. This could catalyze innovation in the design of electronic warfare and radar systems, potentially influencing future technological developments within the sector.

Mercury Systems' focus on creating a chip-scale solution that reduces back-end processing and enhances edge capabilities aligns with broader industry trends towards decentralized computing architectures. This shift is driven by the need for rapid, on-site data processing in military and aerospace applications, where split-second decisions are often required. The RFS1140 SiP's early access program will likely draw attention from industry players looking to integrate cutting-edge processing power into their systems.

ANDOVER, Mass., March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mercury Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com), a technology company that delivers mission-critical processing power to the edge, today announced the early access program for its RFS1140 direct RF System-in-Package (SiP).

Electronic warfare, communications, test and measurement, and radar applications at the edge are becoming more sophisticated, requiring secure, direct digitization of RF signals with high sampling rates and low latency. The RFS1140 is the first multi-chip module to combine the processing power of the AMD Versal^® AI Core series adaptive SoC along with Jariet Technologies high-speed data converters and Micron LPDDR4 NOR flash memory. By integrating the latest commercial processing chips into a SWaP-optimized, rugged package, Mercury’s SiP offers maximum performance for next-generation applications.

The early access program for the RFS1140 includes product documentation and support as well as priority delivery for evaluation hardware as it becomes available this year.

“The RFS1140 builds on more than six years of direct RF technology from the Mercury Processing Platform, which enables rapid design cycles for high-reliability microelectronics that move digital signal processing closer to the edge,” said Tom Smelker, VP and GM of Mercury’s Microsystems business unit. “With the ability to detect, digitize, and analyze signals in nanoseconds, our new multi-chip module brings AI-enabled decision-making to electronic warfare and spectrum processing applications and allows customers to create derivatives and custom solutions to meet the unique size, weight, power, and cost aspects of their programs.”

“AMD has collaborated with Mercury and Jariet to expand its Versal adaptive SoC portfolio to enable ultra-wide band direct RF front end processing,” said Minal Sawant, senior director, Aerospace and Defense Vertical Market at AMD. “The Versal AI Core series adaptive SoC coupled with discrete data converters in a single package enables direct RF signal processing capacity with massive DSP and AI compute in a small form factor. This SWaP-optimized SiP—designed, packaged, and manufactured in North America—will deliver leadership performance-per-watt for signal processing in communications, EW, and radar applications.”

A trusted, edge-ready direct RF chip-scale solution that reduces back-end processing

• AMD Versal AI Core series adaptive SoC with AI Engines ​to run powerful algorithms
• High-speed (64 GSPs) Jariet Electra-MA data converters with up to 36 GHz analog bandwidth
• 4 GB Micron LPDDR4
• 4 Gb Micron NOR flash
• Qualified to MIL standards with operating temperatures of -40°C to +85°C
• Designed, manufactured, and tested in DMEA-accredited facilities to mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities

For more information on the RFS1140 SiP early access program, visit mrcy.com/rfs1140 or contact info@mrcy.com. Speak with the Mercury team at the GOMACTech conference, March 18-20, 2024, in Booth 606.

Mercury Systems – Innovation that matters^®
Mercury Systems is a technology company that delivers mission-critical processing power to the edge, making advanced technologies profoundly more accessible for today’s most challenging aerospace and defense missions. The Mercury Processing Platform allows customers to tap into innovative capabilities from silicon to system scale, turning data into decisions on timelines that matter. Mercury’s products and solutions are deployed in more than 300 programs and across 35 countries, enabling a broad range of applications in mission computing, sensor processing, command and control, and communications. Mercury is headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts, and has 24 locations worldwide. To learn more, visit mrcy.com. (Nasdaq: MRCY)

Forward-Looking Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including those relating to the Company's focus on enhanced execution of the Company's strategic plan under a refreshed Board and leadership team. You can identify these statements by the words “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “continue,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “likely,” “forecast,” “probable,” “potential,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, continued funding of defense programs, the timing and amounts of such funding, general economic and business conditions, including unforeseen weakness in the Company’s markets, effects of any U.S. federal government shutdown or extended continuing resolution, effects of geopolitical unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, delays in or cost increases related to completing development, engineering and manufacturing programs, changes in customer order patterns, changes in product mix, continued success in technological advances and delivering technological innovations, changes in, or in the U.S. government’s interpretation of, federal export control or procurement rules and regulations, changes in, or in the interpretation or enforcement of, environmental rules and regulations, market acceptance of the Company's products, shortages in or delays in receiving components, supply chain delays or volatility for critical components such as semiconductors, production delays or unanticipated expenses including due to quality issues or manufacturing execution issues, capacity underutilization, increases in scrap or inventory write-offs, failure to achieve or maintain manufacturing quality certifications, such as AS9100, the impact of supply chain disruption, inflation and labor shortages, among other things, on program execution and the resulting effect on customer satisfaction, inability to fully realize the expected benefits from acquisitions, restructurings, and operational efficiency initiatives or delays in realizing such benefits, challenges in integrating acquired businesses and achieving anticipated synergies, effects of shareholder activism, increases in interest rates, changes to industrial security and cyber-security regulations and requirements and impacts from any cyber or insider threat events, changes in tax rates or tax regulations, such as the deductibility of internal research and development, changes to interest rate swaps or other cash flow hedging arrangements, changes to generally accepted accounting principles, difficulties in retaining key employees and customers, litigation, including the dispute arising with the former CEO over his resignation, unanticipated costs under fixed-price service and system integration engagements, and various other factors beyond our control. These risks and uncertainties also include such additional risk factors as are discussed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made.

INVESTOR CONTACT
Nelson Erickson
Senior Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development
Nelson.Erickson@mrcy.com

MEDIA CONTACT
Turner Brinton
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
Turner.Brinton@mrcy.com

What is the name of the technology company mentioned in the press release?

Mercury Systems, Inc.

What is the ticker symbol for Mercury Systems, Inc.?

MRCY

What is the product mentioned in the press release?

RFS1140 direct RF System-in-Package

What are the key components of the RFS1140 SiP?

AMD Versal AI Core series adaptive SoC, Jariet Technologies data converters, and Micron LPDDR4 NOR flash memory

What applications are highlighted for the RFS1140 SiP?

Electronic warfare, communications, test and measurement, and radar applications at the edge