Kelly Statement on First Semiconductor Grant Announced from the 2022 Chips Act

Arizona Senator and lead negotiator of the Chips and Science Act of 2022 Mark Kelly released the following statement on the Department of Commerce’s announcement of the first preliminary memorandum of terms for a CHIPS Act investment with BAE Systems to increase production of chips used for critical national defense programs: 

“Today’s announcement is the perfect example of what we envisioned with the Chips and Science Act: boosting microchip manufacturing in America to strengthen our national security,” said Kelly. “Quadrupling the production of chips for F-15 and F-35 fighter jets right here in America will reduce costs and make the supply chain for our most advanced weapons systems more resilient. I look forward to celebrating the many more job-creating investments coming soon from our historic legislation.” 

Background:  

BAE Systems, Inc., is a producer of monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) chips necessary for critical defense programs, including the $1.7 trillion F-35 fighter jet program. This proposed investment of $35 million would support the modernization of the company’s Microelectronics Center, a mature-node facility in Nashua, New Hampshire. 

Kelly was a lead negotiator of the Chips and Science Act of 2022.