5N Plus Inc., a Montreal-based producer of specialty semiconductors and performance materials, has been selected by the U.S. Department of War to receive a US$7.3 million award to establish domestic production of gallium arsenide components for U.S. defence applications. This follows the successful presentation of the Company’s proposal at the inaugural Defense Industrial Base Accelerator (DIBX) Pitch Competition, held in Philadelphia in August.
Gallium arsenide (GaAs) is a strategically important semiconductor material used in advanced sensing systems and other devices for defence applications. With no qualified domestic source of GaAs electro-optical components currently available, U.S. defence contractors currently rely on foreign suppliers. According to 5NPlus in a press release, the proposed award would help address this critical supply chain gap by establishing a qualified U.S. source at 5NPlus’ production facility in St. George, Utah, strengthening domestic supply security and supporting an immediate defence need.
Montreal-based 5N Plus is a leading global producer of specialty semiconductors and performance materials. We deploy proprietary and proven technologies to develop and manufacture advanced materials that are often core components of our customers’ products. Image Source: 5N Plus
“Our selection by the U.S. government recognizes 5NPlus as a trusted strategic partner to the U.S. defence industrial base, with the proven expertise and ability to support critical national security priorities,” said Richard Perron, President and Chief Executive Officer of 5NPlus. “This award will enable us to establish a secure domestic source for an immediate defence requirement, while also creating a scalable platform to pursue significant long-term market opportunities across a broader range of defence and space applications over time.”
5NPlus says it intends to expand its Utah operations by adding crystal-growth and GaAs compounding equipment, and implementing the necessary process controls and inspection capabilities. The Company reports that it will work with an initial customer, Lockheed Martin, to complete product qualification before advancing to controlled, low-rate production, with a potential path to a follow-on production agreement. The capabilities that will be developed at the Company’s Utah facility could also support future production of GaAs substrates and other advanced semiconductor materials for additional defence and space applications.