Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions

Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions (CAES) is a Lowell, Massachusetts-based manufacturer of radiation-hardened electronics, RF/microwave components, and high-reliability power conversion systems for space and defense, formed in 2020 when Advent International acquired Cobham plc's electronic systems businesses and combined them with Aeroflex — another specialist in space-grade and defense electronics.

Rad-hard semiconductors are CAES's cornerstone: FPGAs, microprocessors, memory (SRAM, Flash), ASICs, and analog components qualified to MIL-PRF-38535 Class Q and V standards with total ionizing dose (TID) tolerance of 100 krad to 1 Mrad(Si) and single-event latch-up (SEL) immunity for operation in trapped radiation belts and deep space. These components process commands, control attitude, and manage power aboard satellites where commercial-grade silicon would rapidly fail from cumulative radiation damage.

Power conversion products include radiation-hardened DC-DC converters and point-of-load power modules for satellite bus distribution (typically 28V or 100V bus to instrument-level 3.3/5/12V rails), EMI filters, and solid-state power controllers. The RF/microwave product line spans GaAs and GaN monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) for satellite uplink/downlink transponders: low-noise amplifiers (LNAs), power amplifiers (PAs), mixers, limiters, and switches covering L through Ka-band frequencies. Military satellite programs using CAES components include the GPS III satellite navigation constellation, Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) military communications satellites, and Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) protected communications satellites.

CAES also offers custom ASIC design services: rad-hard ASIC development for classified national security space programs where commercial catalog devices are insufficient. Facilities include Lowell MA, Colorado Springs CO, and several legacy Aeroflex sites. The company is ITAR-controlled and primarily serves U.S. government programs and allied nations. Competitors include Microchip Technology Microsemi (Scottsdale AZ), BAE Systems Microelectronics (Manassas VA), Renesas (formerly Intersil), and Wolfspeed/MACOM for specific RF product lines.