The city of Nashua, New Hampshire is gearing up to quadruple its chipmaking production capacity, paving the way for the creation of microprocessors for advanced spacecraft and fighter jets.
Located in Hillsborough County and nestled in the Merrimack River Valley, Nashua is home to many high tech businesses. This includes several semiconductor and electronics manufacturers. To better serve these industries, the city recently completed a $50 million plant expansion project that will allow for the manufacture of more chips for military and aerospace applications.
As part of the upgrade, Nashua’s Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) location will begin utilizing a new production line augmented by a new lithography system. This new manufacturing technology will reduce the time it takes to produce intricate semiconductor components. These components are needed in advanced military and aerospace applications.
The new lithography system, staffed with experienced engineers, will be used for manufacturing chip components for satellites and drones, as well as fighter jets such as the F-15 and F-16. In addition, the Nashua AMD location is also certified for radiation-hardened chip manufacturing. In the future, this could lead to chips for deep-space exploration and research satellites.
In an interview with the Nashua City Council, AMD’s Nashua plant manager Richard Harrison said that their long-term plans involve the manufacture of innovative chip components. He added that these components will be needed in order to develop advanced aerospace and military technology that will be used in years to come.
This development is exciting news for the Aerospace and Defense industry as the expanded chipmaking capacity could create more commercial aircraft and military systems. Similarly, the upgrade could create more jobs in the area as AMD’s Nashua plant is projected to create more positions due to the increase in chip production. All in all, the planned expansion is a boon for Nashua, and with it comes a glimpse of the future of chipmaking technology.
