For sustainment of existing designs, the only sourcing path is through independent distributors who carry new-old-stock or surplus inventory. Any BOM line using this part should be flagged for a last-time-buy review or a form-fit-function replacement evaluation.
250 kbps data rate — is it enough?
The 250 kbps data rate is the standard maximum for RS-232 transceivers of this generation. It comfortably handles legacy serial protocols like RS-232 at 115.2 kbps and below, with margin for higher-speed custom baud rates. If your application requires faster throughput — for example, 1 Mbps or more — this part will not meet that requirement, and a newer transceiver family (such as the MAX3232E series) should be considered.