Microsemi Participates in European Funded Program to Further Electrify Next-generation Aircraft

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Feb. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC), a leading provider of semiconductor solutions differentiated by power, security, reliability and performance, today announced its participation in a multi-disciplinary consortium funded by the European Union (Seventh Framework Programme, FP7) tasked with developing standardized Electro Mechanical Actuators (EMA) for aerospace applications to eliminate hydraulic circuits, pumps and reservoirs. This improves the overall actuator lifecycle cost including higher reliability, lower cost and reduced aircraft weight. The integrated project spans three years and comprises more than 50 partners representing the European stakeholders of the actuation and airframe industry from 12 countries.

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The project, referred to as Actuation 2015, aims to develop and validate a common set of standardized, modular and scalable EMA resources for all actuators (flight control, high lift, main landing gear, door and thrust reverser) in all types of aircraft (business/regional/commercial airplanes and helicopters) and relies on advances made in the European Union and national projects to integrate the required technologies (power electronics, operation in harsh conditions and jam-tolerant EMA) to overcome the current barriers of existing technologies.

Microsemi's contribution to the program includes participating in the development of a specification and subsequent design, manufacture and test of a standardized power module which comprehends important trade-offs associated with the choice of semiconductors, materials, component configurations, circuit topologies and mass production manufacturing technologies. Microsemi has been providing solutions for aerospace applications for more than 40 years. The work for this project will be performed in Microsemi's facility near Bordeaux, France, which has been designing and manufacturing power modules for the aerospace industry for more than 15 years.

The all-electric aircraft (AEA) is a major target for next-generation aircraft to reduce consumption of non-propulsive power and thus fuel burn. EMAs are mandatory, but technical improvements are necessary to meet the requirements established by ACARE (Advisory Council of Aeronautics Research in Europe) and airframers.

About Microsemi
Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC) offers a comprehensive portfolio of semiconductor solutions for: aerospace, defense and security; enterprise and communications; and medical, alternative energy and industrial markets. Products include high-performance, high-reliability analog and RF devices, mixed-signal and RF ICs, ultra low-power radios, customizable SoCs, FPGAs and complete subsystems. Microsemi is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, Calif., and has approximately 3,000 employees globally. Learn more at www.microsemi.com.

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Note: The subject matter here-in reflects only the author's view and the EU is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained here-in.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Any statements set forth in this news release that are not entirely historical and factual in nature, including without limitation statements related its participation in a multi-disciplinary consortium funded by the European Union (Seventh Framework Programme, FP7) tasked with developing standardized Electro Mechanical Actuators (EMA) for aerospace applications to eliminate hydraulic circuits, pumps and reservoirs, and its potential effects on future business, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such factors as rapidly changing technology and product obsolescence, potential cost increases, variations in customer order preferences, weakness or competitive pricing environment of the marketplace, uncertain demand for and acceptance of the company's products, adverse circumstances in any of our end markets, results of in-process or planned development or marketing and promotional campaigns, difficulties foreseeing future demand, potential non-realization of expected orders or non-realization of backlog, product returns, product liability, and other potential unexpected business and economic conditions or adverse changes in current or expected industry conditions, difficulties and costs of protecting patents and other proprietary rights, inventory obsolescence and difficulties regarding customer qualification of products. In addition to these factors and any other factors mentioned elsewhere in this news release, the reader should refer as well to the factors, uncertainties or risks identified in the company's most recent Form 10-K and all subsequent Form 10-Q reports filed by Microsemi with the SEC. Additional risk factors may be identified from time to time in Microsemi's future filings. The forward-looking statements included in this release speak only as of the date hereof, and Microsemi does not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

SOURCE Microsemi Corporation