Xilinx has announced the Spartan-6Q and Virtex-6Q families of FPGAs. These FPGAs are suitable for meeting rigorous requirements of the aerospace and defence market. They include the defence-grade FPGA based on the low-cost, low-power Spartan series, and deliver secure SWaP-C (size, weight, power and cost) benefits to applications requiring high levels of security and reliability. The devices are pin-compatible to operate in extreme temperatures. They are made of ruggedised plastic packaging using lead content that protects against caustic processes. According to the company, the low-power Spartan-6Q series is suitable for use in military communications. Additionally, its small form is suitable for targeting and data processing in extended temperature ranges for use in military ammunitions. These platforms include IP blocks, design environments and reference designs, along with third-party synthesis, simulation and signal-integrity tools, reference designs, and IP. The FPGAs offer low power consumption for extended mission life.
