MoD to put £200m into UK compound semi fab
The UK's MoD will put a further £200 million into Octric Semiconductors, the re-named GaAs fab in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham which the MoD bought in September 2024 for £27 million.
According to a report in Electronics Weekly, the investment will be used to produce GaAs and GaN chips for military systems, radars and power electronics. Octric aims to expand with further processes: it is looking for engineers with experience in a range of compound semiconductors including InP.
Most recently owned by US company Coherent, the UK fab was bought by the MoD as a crucial supply chain to UK defence. The site is said to be the only secure facility in the UK with the skills and capability to manufacture GaAs semiconductors, vital for a number of military platforms, including to boost fighter jet capabilities.
The MoD says it is open to offers to share ownership of the fab.
