Electronics obsolescence is the slow apocalypse that threatens just about every industry that uses embedded circuit boards in their equipment–but when it comes to aerospace and defense-related electronics, the impact is even greater. 

Ensuring Quality is Time-Consuming–and the Higher the Standards, the Longer it Takes

Many of the systems used in these aircraft often have to go through strict and long certification procedures before they can actually be used. For the defense equipment, getting the funding and certifications necessary can take five years or more. By the time an embedded electronics system is even put in the field, many of the components that make them up will be close to obsolete, or entirely discontinued altogether. 

The Traditional Routes

So how do you maintain those strict Aerospace quality standards when your systems start to break down and you need repair or replacements of those obsolete parts? Upgrades aren’t always form, fit, and functionally compatible with your existing systems, and are often very expensive. Because of the importance for some of these systems, going through a non-franchised distributor more often than not brings too much risk. Counterfeits, poor condition, even malicious components, are all part of the risk with these types of distributors. 

The Long-Term Value of Legacy Equipment Manufacturing

Legacy equipment manufacturers don’t just remake old electronics–they preserve and repair the entire supply chain for critical electronic systems. Some, like GDCA, even plan for the future, viewing obsolescence not as some inevitable problem on the horizon, but as a natural part of the product lifecycle–one that can be anticipated, planned for, and dealt with long before it becomes an actual problem. They provide the necessary, long-term support until you no longer need the system, looking ahead to ensure that you will have the replacements necessary to keep your equipment running for as long as you need it. 

A good legacy equipment manufacturer provides sustainability, filling the gaps in old supply chains, repairing the test capabilities as well as the circuit boards, and providing assurance that you receive components and systems that are form, fit, and functionally identical to your original products. With proper planning, obsolescence doesn’t have to be the slow apocalypse just waiting on the horizon–it can be natural of the product life cycle, and that means it can be something planned for and taken care of like any other part of the life cycle.