Actel Opens RadHard FPGA Availability to Smaller Military and Aerospace Subcontractors; RadHard FPGA Product Line Now Available Through Distributor Channels.

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 4, 1998--Small subcontractors for communications satellite and military/aerospace projects will have an easier time incorporating radiation hardened programmable logic into their designs with today's announcement that Actel Corporation's (NASDAQ:ACTL) will make its RadHard Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) available through its North American distribution network.

Beginning immediately, all branch offices of Arrow/Zeus, Pioneer Electronics, and Wyle Electronics will begin selling Actel RadHard devices. Prior to the announcement, all sales were made direct from the factory.

"This announcement represents a major boost to smaller military and aerospace subcontractors and major OEMs who require only a small quantity of RadHard parts," said Vinnie Vellucci, President, Arrow/Zeus. "Actel has recognized the growing demand for radiation hardened FPGA and has made it easier these subcontractors to complete their designs on schedule and on budget."

Actel's RadHard FPGAs provide the radiation survivability and cost-effectiveness sought by the growing commercial satellite market, which support such widely used telecommunications applications as cellular phones, pagers, and Global Positioning Systems (GPS). The company currently offers two radiation hardened FPGAs; the 2,000 gate RH1020 and the 8,000 gate RH1280.

Other RadHard FPGAs applications include satellites for military use, deep space probes and planetary missions, and ground-based military applications where radiation survivability is required.

Based on Actel's antifuse architecture, these FPGAs will survive exposure to a maximum total dose of 300KRAD (Si), with guaranteed latch-up immunity and low single-event upset (SEU) susceptibility.

Actel RadHard FPGAs are manufactured by Lockheed Martin Federal Systems (LMFS) at its Qualified Manufacturers Listing (QML) facility in Manassas, V.A.

Committed to supporting all aspects of the high reliability market, Actel provides HiRel devices for three of its current product families: ACT 1, ACT 2, and ACT 3. Devices are offered pre-tested to either the Commercial or Military temperature ranges, as well as to full MIL-STD-883 compliance. Additionally, Actel will be introducing new military grade devices in the 1200XL and 3200DX families early this year.

About Actel

Actel is dedicated to providing logic designers with the capability and confidence to successfully move up to higher complexity designs. The company is the world's leading supplier of antifuse-based field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and associated software development tools. FPGAs are used by designers of communications, computer, medical, military/aerospace, industrial control, and other electronic systems to differentiate their products and get them to market faster. Actel is traded on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol ACTL and is located at 955 East Arques Avenue, Sunnyvale, Calif. 94086-4533. Telephone: [phone]. Internet: http://www.actel.com. -0-

Note to Editors: The Actel name and logo are registered trademarks of the Actel Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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