Sister Industries: How Aerospace Intersects Semiconductor

Aerospace components are important in advancing new space technologies, and as the demands of space missions and satellite functions evolve, the need for semiconductors will continue to rise.

The aerospace industry continues to seek high-performance components essential for automation, communication, and navigation. As this demand intensifies, IoT integration is further elevating the need for semiconductors capable of real-time data processing. In addition, to meet strict aerospace requirements, manufacturers are developing smaller, lighter, and more power-efficient chips in response to the industry’s focus on lightweight and fuel-efficient designs. The application of machine learning in autonomous decision-making and predictive maintenance is fueling the need for aerospace components that can handle increasingly complex computations.

• Semiconductors enable aerospace: Semiconductor chips are critical for modern aerospace functions, including navigation, communication, power management, and flight control systems.
• Aerospace drives semiconductor innovation: The strict standards for reliability, radiation tolerance, and performance in the aerospace industry push semiconductor manufacturers to develop more robust and advanced chips.
• Mutual reliance: Many companies operate in both sectors or have divisions dedicated to both, such as Honeywell Aerospace and BAE Systems.
• Technology-driven synergy: Aerospace technology relies on microprocessors, memory, and other integrated circuits produced by the semiconductor industry to power everything from satellite communication to avionics.
• Demanding environments: extreme conditions including high temperatures, highly corrosive chemicals, intense plasma, and ultra-high vacuum.
  • High Temperature: Processes can expose parts to temperatures up to 1200°C for short periods, while other areas may operate around 250°C.
  • High Vacuum/Low Pressure: Many critical steps, particularly in deposition and ion implantation, occur in high vacuum chambers.
  • Intense Plasma: Plasma etching and deposition chambers are physically aggressive environments. Ions in the plasma gas can physically bombard and erode surfaces, so metals like pure Molybdenum, Tungsten, and Tantalum are commonly used.
  • Corrosive Chemicals: A vast array of aggressive chemicals, including strong acids (e.g., hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrofluoric acid), bases, and solvents, are used for cleaning, etching, and other processes requiring parts that are chemically inert to prevent corrosion.
  • Materials: Refractory metals are resistant to heat and corrosion, appreciate low expansion and high creep resistance, and superior fatigue resistance, all of which makes them most suitable for the demanding environments of both industries.