In this paper, we extensively investigate, by two-dimensional simulations, the output characteristics accuracy and breakdown voltage performance for very-thin film (80 nm) SOI lateral double-diffused MOS (LDMOS) transistor as a function of the drift doping, drift length and field plate length. Trade-offs are discussed to optimize the off-state breakdown voltage versus the occurrence of kink effect and quasi-saturation in on-state. The conclusions are supported by experimental results. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.