RFID Global Delivers Supply Chain Innovation For DARPA's SHIELD Program

Northrop Grumman-led team is taking aim at counterfeit electronics in the supply chain

Reston, VA (PRWEB) - RFID Global Solution, Inc., a leading provider of asset management and supply chain solutions, will demonstrate a potential supply chain authentication solution developed to safeguard the U.S. defense electronics supply chain from substandard and counterfeit electronics at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Demo Day at the Pentagon in May 2016.

DARPA awarded a $12.3 million contract to Northrop Grumman Corporation and its partners for the agency’s SHIELD (Supply Chain Hardware Integrity for Electronics Defense) program in 2015. SHIELD aims to stop counterfeit electronic parts from entering the supply chain by implementing an authentication solution consisting of a miniaturized chip called a dielet, under development by Northrop Grumman, and software to validate the authenticity of electronic parts, being developed by RFID Global Solution.

DARPA Demo Day offers U.S. military and Defense Department (DoD) personnel the opportunity to see demonstrations of DARPA’s latest research into breakthrough technologies for national security.

RFID Global Solution, under contract from Northrop Grumman, has led the development of an enterprise-class electronics parts authentication application. If successful, the technology would help provide a secure, scalable authentication solution suitable for global roll-out to commercial and defense electronics manufacturers and their customers. The SHIELD program aims to eliminate counterfeit parts at a fraction of the cost of today’s manual processes, and will transition to commercial release in 2019.

A 2012 Senate Armed Services Committee report on counterfeit electronic parts in the DoD supply chain found counterfeit parts to be a widespread problem in the defense supply chain. Faulty or fake components present a critical risk in military systems, electronics systems and sensors, where a malfunction of a single part could endanger missions and lives.

With the SHIELD program, DARPA wants to develop dependable, yet inexpensive technology which will provide unprecedented levels of assurance against recycled components that are sold as new; substandard components sold as high-quality; parts marked with falsely elevated reliability or newer dates of manufacture; low-quality clones and copies that may include hidden functionality; components that are covertly repackaged for unauthorized applications, and unlicensed overproduction of authorized components, DARPA officials say.

SHIELD uses the latest advances in 14 nanometer integrated circuit technologies for producing the world’s smallest and least expensive anti-tamper/counterfeit detection technology.

“Our Visi-Trac application for DARPA SHIELD enables real-time authentication of components on a world-wide scale,” said Diana Hage, Chief Executive Officer of RFID Global Solution, Inc. “We are excited to be on the ground floor of such a monumental and important initiative.”

About RFID Global Solution
RFID Global is a leading provider of real-time asset management solutions for enterprise and supply chain applications. Visi-Trac, the firm’s software offering, automates and streamlines tracking and managing IT assets and electronic components, enabling users to authenticate parts in multiple facilities across a global supply chain. Learn how RFID Global can help you improve the integrity of your supply chain at http://www.rfidgs.com.

About Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com for more information.