Xilinx unveils defense-grade Spartan-6Q, Virtex-6Q FPGAs

Xilinx Inc. has presented the Spartan-6Q and Virtex-6Q families, a new generation of FPGAs qualified for the aerospace and defense markets. The Spartan-6Q family delivers a secure FPGA solution for low-power applications while the Virtex-6Q family targets high-performance, computationally intensive designs

Spartan-6Q family
Xilinx’s Spartan-6Q family is meant for military communications customers who require a low power, low cost, secure communications platform, while offering missiles and munitions customers a small form factor in a low power secure platform for targeting and data processing in extended temperature ranges. Spartan-6Q FPGAs offer a low power, low cost Information Assurance (IA) and Anti Tamper (AT) platform providing increased secure SWaP-C, and high reliability.

These devices deliver:
•   Third generation IA (Single Chip Crypto Type-1)
•   Third generation AT capabilities (DoD 5000 series)
•   I and Q fully tested temperature range operation
•   Reduced power consumption for extended mission life  
•   Reduced form factor for lighter/smaller mobile devices
•   Long term support with mask set control

The Spartan-6Q FPGAs are fabricated on a low-power 45nm, dual-oxide process technology with full support in the Xilinx ISE Design Suite.

Spartan-6Q family target applications:
• Military Communications (MILCOM)
-- Type-1 Crypto hand held radios
-- Multi-waveform capable radios
• Missiles & Munitions (M&M)
-- Small Diameter Bomb (SDB)
-- Smart Munitions

Click here to access Spartan-6Q FPGA family product table.

Virtex-6Q family
Xilinx’s Virtex-6Q family offers secure SWaP-C benefits while providing AT in a ruggedized solution for applications that need high levels of performance and logic density up to the full military temperature range.

Virtex-6Q devices deliver:
•   High performance, DO-254 enabled solutions with high reliability and low power for avionics
•   High performance DSP solutions with high reliability and low power for Electronic Warfare (EW) and Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) applications
•   3rd generation AT capabilities (DoD 5000 Series)
•   I and M fully tested temperature range operation
•   Ruggedized packaging
•   Long term support with mask set control

Built using third-generation Xilinx ASMBL architecture, the Virtex-6 FPGA family delivers 50 percent lower power and 20 percent lower cost than the previous generation. The 40nm devices operate on a 1.0v core voltage with an available 0.9v low-power option and are supported by a new generation of development tools delivered by ISE Design Suite and a vast library of IP already available for the market leading 65nm Virtex 5 FPGA family to ensure productive development and design migration.

Virtex-6Q family target applications:
• Avionics
• Electronic Warfare (EW)
• Intelligence, Surveillance &
• Reconnaissance (ISR)
• Missiles & Munitions (M&M)

Click here to access the Virtex-6Q FPGA family product table.

Availability:
The Spartan-6Q Family and Virtex-6Q Family will be available in I-temperature (industrial-temp -40 to + 100°c) as well as Q and M-temperature devices (Q: -40-125C (Spartan-6Q only)), M:-55 TO + 125°C (Virtex-6Q only) in the second quarter 2011.