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In a major boost to India’s self-reliance in space technology, ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Chandigarh, have developed the country’s first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessors—Vikram 3201 and Kalpana 3201. These advanced processors are designed for launch vehicles, marking a significant step towards technological independence.
Vikram 3201, fabricated at SCL’s 180nm semiconductor fab, is an upgraded version of the Vikram 1601 processor, which has been a key component in ISRO’s avionics systems since 2009. Meanwhile, Kalpana 3201 is a SPARC V8 RISC-based processor compatible with open-source toolsets and in-house developed software, enabling seamless integration into future space missions.
The first production batch of these processors was recently handed over to ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, alongside four other jointly developed miniaturized avionics systems. This milestone strengthens India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision, ensuring high-reliability microprocessors for space exploration.