The first entirely domestically produced, space-qualified 32-bit microprocessor in India is the VIKRAM3201. The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) created the design, and the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) in Chandigarh used 180 nm CMOS technology to build it.
The first batch of indigenous high-speed microprocessors for space missions is delivered to ISRO.
Compared to its predecessor, the 16-bit VIKRAM1601, which has been a key component of ISRO’s launch vehicles since 2009, this microprocessor is a significant improvement. Following the maturation of domestic fabrication capabilities, a fully “Make-in-India” version of VIKRAM1601 was released in 2016.
The VIKRAM3201 has native support for the Ada programming language, floating-point calculation capabilities, and a unique instruction set design. In order to broaden its applications, ISRO has also created auxiliary software tools, such as an Ada compiler, simulator, and integrated development environment (IDE). A C compiler is now being developed.
The IEEE 1754 Instruction Set Architecture serves as the foundation for the 32-bit SPARC V8 RISC CPU known as the KALPANA3201. It is made to function with both ISRO’s proprietary simulator and IDE as well as open-source software tools. The KALPANA3201 has been tested using flight software and is anticipated to be a key component of avionics systems in the future.
In a ceremony attended by S Krishnan, Secretary of MeitY, SCL formally turned over the first production batches of these processors to Dr. V. Narayanan, Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of ISRO, on March 5, 2025. To help with the miniaturisation of launch vehicle avionics systems, four more devices that were co-developed with SCL were transferred together with these microprocessors.
These include a Relay Driver Integrated Circuit and a Multi-Channel Low Drop-out Regulator Integrated Circuit for high-reliability applications, as well as two variants of a Reconfigurable Data Acquisition System (RDAS) that integrates several locally designed 24-bit Sigma Delta ADCs on a single chip.
This accomplishment solidifies India’s standing as a major player in space-grade electronics globally and highlights its expanding proficiency in semiconductor technology.
