To support programs where supply chain trust is critical, AxIO16 is designed in the USA and manufactured onshore in a Trusted DMEA (Category 1A) foundry. This provides an added layer of confidence for Defense and Space customers aligning to DoD trusted supplier expectations.

This flight grade release builds on Apogee’s evaluation grade version of the APIO16 and advances system fault containment: placing resilient, intelligent interface devices at the edge to provide detection and fault containment at domain boundaries, preventing propagation across power and logic domains.  APIO16/AFIO16 complements Apogee’s RelBridge™ portfolio, enabling system level resilience without over hardening every node.

“With flight grade options now available for APIO16/AFIO16, engineering teams can standardize on one I/O expander architecture and choose the screening flow and grade that fits their mission profile and cost objectives,” said Mark Hamlyn, General Manager of Apogee Semiconductor.

Key capabilities

• Dual protocol interface: I²C/SMBus (up to 1 MHz) and SPI (up to 25 MHz)
• Built-in level translation
• System resilience: triple redundant architecture, cold sparable I/Os, power-on reset, and open drain INTB for change of state alerts
• Scale: 4 address pins (up to 16 I²C addresses) and up to 256 control channels per I²C bus

Radiation performance

• TID variants: APIO16 (LEO) ~30 krad (Si) and AFIO16 (GEO) ~300 krad (Si)
• SEE robustness: immune up to ~75 MeV·cm²/mg LET (heavy ion tested)
• Package & temp: 28‑pin TSSOP, −55 °C to +125 °C

Ordering & availability

APIO16/AFIO16 is offered in Flight Grade A (with burn-in), B, and C and Evaluation Grade (E). APIO16/AFIO16 Product Page :

Contact Apogee for flight grade orders and current lead-time confirmation: orders@apogeesemi.com | +1 9725594660.

Resources

• Product page & docs (datasheet, ordering table, radiation reports): APIO16/AFIO16 family
• Original APIO16 announcement (Evaluation Grade): May 27, 2025
• Fault containment: RelBridge™ overview & product pages

About Apogee Semiconductor

Apogee Semiconductor is a leading provider of radiation-hardened semiconductor solutions for space, aerospace, and defense applications. The company develops high-performance microelectronics designed to withstand extreme environments, enabling mission-critical systems in the most challenging conditions.

Plano, Texas – Apogee Semiconductor, a leading provider of advanced technologies for space and extreme environments, today announced its partnership with ALTER Technology, a global provider and added value reseller of electronic components and services. The collaboration will significantly expand the distribution network for Apogee’s high-reliability integrated circuits (ICs) and radiation-tolerant solutions, bringing their innovative technologies to a broader market across aerospace and defense.

The Apogee-ALTER partnership aims to drive growth and scalability within the space and defense sectors, offering unparalleled product availability and performance assurance for space and defense related applications. With ALTER’s trusted distribution channels, customers will benefit from fast delivery and technical support to meet their unique mission-critical needs.

The integration of these solutions into doEEEt.com further solidifies ALTER’s dedication to delivering advanced tools ensuring component quality and reliability across diverse applications, including New Space ventures

“Apogee’s rad-hard ICs, including the RelBridge™ family, enable designers to improve system-level reliability by implementing fault containment at critical interface boundaries. This approach allows COTS integration without sacrificing mission assurance, providing flexible, cost-effective options without sacrificing reliability. As a result, Apogee is driving a new era in space economics by enabling scalable, resilient systems tailored to meet the challenges of the most extreme environments” said David Briggs, CEO of Apogee Semiconductor.

“The inclusion of Apogee’s advanced solutions within doEEEt.com reinforces our ongoing mission to offer cutting-edge technologies to the Space and New Space sectors. At ALTER, we are proud to partner with companies like Apogee sharing a common vision for innovation and reliability in space electronics,” says Mr. Luis Gómez, CEO of ALTER.

Mr. David Nuñez, Hi-Rel Semiconductors Division Director at ALTER, adds:

“This collaboration is another step forward in delivering value to our customers. Apogee’s unique capabilities align perfectly with ALTER’s extensive experience in engineering and support for space-grade components. Together, we aim to facilitate more robust, efficient, and scalable solutions for the challenges of modern space missions.”

About Apogee Semiconductor

Apogee Semiconductor is a leading provider of radiation-hardened semiconductor solutions for space, aerospace, and defense applications. The company develops high-performance microelectronics designed to withstand extreme environments, enabling mission-critical systems in the most challenging conditions.

About ALTER

ALTER Technology is a leading provider of high-reliability electronic components, engineering services, and testing solutions for the aerospace, defense, and New Space industries. Through its unique platform doEEEt.com, ALTER offers the only fully integrated digital channel for selecting, comparing, and sourcing space-qualified components, with access to over 22 million parts and expert technical support. This combination of technical excellence and digital innovation makes ALTER a trusted partner for critical missions worldwide.

Media Contact:
Ihsane Wadjinny, Apogee Semiconductor
sales@apogeesemi.com

Apogee Semiconductor Launches Industry-First Rad-Hard 16-bit I/O Expander for Extreme Environments

Apogee Semiconductor proudly announces APIO16, the industry’s first radiation-hardened 16-bit I/O expander, engineered to streamline digital expansion in spaceborne and high-reliability terrestrial systems. Offering seamless compatibility with both I²C/SMBus and SPI interfaces, the APIO16 features integrated level translation and radiation resilience, delivering flexible and robust I/O expansion where failure is not an option.

Designed for Mission-Critical Success and Built for Reliability
Purpose-built with Apogee’s proprietary Radiation-Hardening by Design (RHBD) techniques, the APIO16 enables stable, long-duration operation across Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Geostationary (GEO), and Defense harsh environments. It empowers designers to expand GPIOs up to 256 signals while offloading their functions from FPGAs and microcontrollers—conserving critical resources in today’s dense embedded architectures.

Empowering COTS Adoption
APIO16 exemplifies Apogee’s commitment to enabling the use of COTS components in space and defense systems through robust fault containment and system-level fault management, redefining what’s possible in high-risk, high-reliability environments. The APIO16 further enables the use of commercial-grade FPGAs and microcontrollers with I/O banks that are sensitive to Single-Event Latch-up (SEL), allowing designers to drop or isolate I/O supplies, through built in translation, when needed to protect against latch-up without compromising system functionality.

Key radiation-tolerant features include:

• Internally Triple Redundant
• TID resilience 30 krad (Si)and 300 krad (Si)
• SEL/SEU/SEFI immune to LET of 75 MeV-cm²/mg
• 48-bits of internal radiation hardened storage registers

Full Feature Set for Next-Gen Control Architectures
With its 16-bit general-purpose I/Os and versatile bus support, the APIO16 seamlessly integrates into scalable GPIO driven systems.

Key Functional Highlights:

• Dual Protocol Support:
  • MODE pin selectable: SPI or I²C/SMBus operation
• Address Flexibility:
  • I²C mode: Up to 16 devices via pin-configurable addresses
  • SPI mode: 3 chip-select lines with built-in address decoding
• High-Speed Communication:
  • 1 MHz Fast Mode Plus (I²C)
  • 25 MHz SPI
• Voltage Range:
  • 1.4 V to 5.5 V operation for both interface and I/O supplies
• Built-in Level Shifting:
  • Separate VCC pins allow operation across different logic levels
• Cold Sparable I/Os
• Power-On Reset (POR)

________________________________________

Robust Packaging and Performance

• Package: 28-pin TSSOP
• Operating Temperature: -55 °C to +125 °C

________________________________________

Availability
The APIO16 is now available for ordering online at apogeesemi.com/products/APIO16/

Connect with our applications team at apogeesemi.com for support and design guidance.

Plano, Texas – Apogee Semiconductor, a leading provider of advanced technologies for space and extreme environments, today announced its collaboration with Arrow Electronics, a global distributor of electronic components and services. The collaboration will significantly expand the distribution network for Apogee’s high-reliability integrated circuits (ICs) and radiation-tolerant solutions, bringing their innovative technologies to a broader market across aerospace and defense. 

The Apogee-Arrow agreement aims to drive growth and scalability within the aerospace sector, offering unparalleled product availability and performance assurance for satellite and space-related applications. With Arrow’s trusted distribution channels, customers will benefit from fast delivery and technical support to meet their unique mission-critical needs. 

“Apogee’s rad-hard ICs, including the RelBridge™ family, enable designers to improve system-level reliability by implementing fault containment at critical interface boundaries. This approach allows COTS integration without sacrificing mission assurance, providing flexible, cost-effective options without sacrificing reliability. As a result, Apogee is driving a new era in space economics by enabling scalable, resilient systems tailored to meet the challenges of the most extreme environments” said David Briggs, CEO of Apogee Semiconductor.

About Apogee Semiconductor

Apogee Semiconductor is a leading provider of radiation-hardened semiconductor solutions for space, aerospace, and defense applications. The company develops high-performance microelectronics designed to withstand extreme environments, enabling mission-critical systems in the most challenging conditions.

Media Contact:
Hannah Martinez, Apogee Semiconductor
972-559-4660, sales@apogeesemi.com

Plano, TX – February 5, 2025 – Apogee Semiconductor, a leader in radiation-hardened semiconductor solutions for commercial space applications, is proud to announce the appointment of Rachel Lovejoy and Dr. Marco Villa to its Board of Directors. These distinguished executives bring decades of experience in intellectual property, global technology strategy, and aerospace innovation, positioning Apogee for continued growth and leadership in the industry.

Rachel Lovejoy, a seasoned legal and intellectual property expert, has built an impressive career advising technology companies from early-stage startups to global enterprises. Ms. Lovejoy is currently Senior Counsel and Chief IP Counsel at SpaceX where she has led intellectual property strategy, global portfolio management, and complex technology transactions, including satellite communications and microchip development. With prior leadership roles at IBM and top law firms, Ms. Lovejoy brings expertise in regulatory compliance, government contracts, and space commercialization, making her an invaluable addition to Apogee Semiconductor’s strategic leadership.

Dr. Marco Villa, a veteran aerospace executive and investor, brings over 25 years of experience in engineering, operations, and commercial space ventures to Apogee Semiconductor. Most recently serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer at Terran Orbital, he played a pivotal role in securing multibillion-dollar satellite contracts and global expansion initiatives. Dr. Villa was previously Director of Mission Operations at SpaceX, where he led mission planning and execution for Dragon spacecraft missions to the International Space Station. His deep expertise in satellite systems, business strategy, and investment will support Apogee Semiconductor’s growth in the commercial and government aerospace markets.

“We are proud to welcome Rachel and Marco to our Board of Directors,” said David Briggs, CEO of Apogee Semiconductor. “Their combined expertise in space technology, legal strategy, and international market expansion will be instrumental as we continue developing cutting-edge semiconductor solutions for the most demanding environments.”

With these new appointments, Apogee Semiconductor reinforces its commitment to innovation, reliability, and leadership in the aerospace semiconductor industry.

For more information about Apogee Semiconductor and its mission-critical technology solutions, visit www.apogeesemi.com.

About Apogee Semiconductor

Apogee Semiconductor is a leading provider of radiation-hardened semiconductor solutions for space, aerospace, and defense applications. The company develops high-performance microelectronics designed to withstand extreme environments, enabling mission-critical systems in the most challenging conditions.