Xilinx Enhances Security Leadership with Mass Production of NSA-Approved Defense-Grade
Spartan-6Q FPGA for Top-Tier Cryptographic Capability

Third-Generation Security Architecture with Extensive Verification Process and Information Assurance Methodology and Tamper-Detection IP that Expands Xilinx Leadership in Secure A&D Applications

Xilinx Korea (General Manager Ahn Heung-sik) September 6, 2011 – Xilinx announced the mass production of a low-cost, low-power defense-grade programmable solution for highly reliable applications. This solution has received approval for use in NSA Type 1 cryptographic systems. Through the approval of the Spartan®-6Q device along with Xilinx's Isolation Design Flow and Security Monitor IP, Xilinx, as an FPGA leader, has established the foundation for a secure communications design platform and enabled the continuous expansion of the relationship between NSA and Xilinx.

Having achieved successful results in NSA's extensive testing of this third-generation secure communications, Xilinx can now provide developers who must meet the demanding requirements of advanced cryptographic processing applications, including requirements specified in the Department of Defense (DoD) Cryptographic Modernization Initiative, with the most cost-effective, lowest power consumption, and most flexible solution.

This approval includes key elements of the Spartan-6Q device secure communications solution that provide single-chip cryptography (SCC) capability and Security Monitor 2.0 IP core for physical design security. Because SCC combines the functionality of multiple FPGAs into a single device, highly integrated aerospace and defense developers can reduce system size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) through advanced integration.

The core of NSA approval is the Spartan-6Q device's ability to isolate user functions within a single device while maintaining tamper-detection capability. NSA conducted fail-safe analysis on the Spartan-6Q product family and confirmed that individual regions of the FPGA are isolated from each other in case of error. The verified Isolation Design Flow and verification process, initially developed by Xilinx in cooperation with NSA, provide a higher level of integration and system reliability. Although designed to meet NSA requirements, the Isolation Design Flow solution provides useful functionality for other highly reliable applications such as commercial avionics governed by FAA DO-254 and commercial cryptographic systems governed by NIST FIPS-140.

Harvey Steele Jr., Vice President of Xilinx's Segment Marketing and Corporate Operations, stated, "Mass production of the Spartan-6Q product family will be another milestone in Xilinx's track record of meeting the rigorous requirements of the A&D industry for 20 years." He added, "Xilinx's ability to provide uniquely best-in-class FPGA technology that far surpasses competitors in meeting the current high-level security requirements related to defense is due to close cooperation with customers and government agencies."

In addition to security features, defense-grade Spartan-6Q devices offer mask set control and ruggedized environmental operation, and provide longer product life compared to equivalent pin-compatible commercial products. Xilinx is the only leading FPGA vendor providing a differentiated defense-grade product family that fully supports government approval of security features.

Introduction to the Spartan-6Q Product Family
The Spartan-6Q product family is manufactured using a proven low-power 45-nanometer, dual-oxide process technology and is the first low-power, low-cost defense-grade product fully supported by Xilinx ISE® Design Suite. In particular, the Spartan-6Q FPGA solution addresses the requirements of the latest portable wireless A&D systems that typically operate on battery power while maintaining absolute security. The complete solution includes a DDR3 memory controller, tamper-detection capability, and Xilinx's IVT (Isolation Verification Tool). The Spartan-6Q FPGA's inherent reprogrammability enables SDR (Software Defined Radio) to overcome the limitations of conventional long lead-time ASIC and ASSP approaches, making it an ideal product for avionics, electronic warfare, ISR (Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance) systems, missiles and guided munitions, as well as MILCOM applications. The Spartan-6Q product family is available in I temperature (-40 to +100°C) and Q temperature (-40 to +125°C) grades. Following this device, mass production of the Virtex®-6Q product family is scheduled to commence later this year. (For more detailed information, see www.xilinx.com/applications/aerospace-and-defense/index.htm)