Made-in-India Radar Tech Takes Off As Tata Joins FermionIC to Launch Breakthrough Chip

FermionIC Design, a Bangalore-based fabless RFIC innovator, has teamed up with Tata Electronics to deliver the country’s first 4-Channel X-Band Beamformer IC, model FD3R4411, tailored for TDD Phased Array Radar systems, reported Business Standard. 

The 4-Channel X-Band Beamformer chip is a powerhouse of precision engineering, especially for radar and satellite systems. A Beamformer IC is a specialized chip used in phased array antennas, which are critical for radar, satellite communication, and surveillance systems. It can control four independent antenna elements.

What Does It Actually Do?

• Beam Steering: Adjusts signal direction by changing phase across channels.
• Transmit & Receive Control: Switches between sending and receiving signals in TDD (Time Division Duplex) mode.
• Compact Integration: Combines multiple functions—phase shifting, gain control, power detection—into one chip.
• Precision: Offers up to 360° phase control and >31 dB gain adjustment, with fine resolution.

Why It Matters

• Enables smaller, smarter radar systems.
• Reduces size, weight, and power (SWaP)—ideal for drones, satellites, and mobile platforms.
• Supports real-time beam shaping for advanced surveillance and imaging.

Key Highlights of the Partnership:

• Indigenous Innovation: The FD3R4411 is fully designed and owned in India, marking a major leap in domestic radar electronics capability.
• Advanced Applications: It supports compact, high-performance phased array systems used in:
• Ranging radars
• Imaging radars
• Surveillance platforms
• Manufacturing Synergy: Tata Electronics acts as the OSAT (Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test) partner, handling:
• Flip-chip ball grid array (FcBGA) assembly
• Wafer-level testing
• Post-silicon validation

Strategic Impact:

• Volume Production: Scheduled to begin in Q4 2025, with nearly the entire manufacturing value chain remaining within India.
• Defense & Surveillance Boost: Already adopted by multiple public and private organizations, the IC accelerates India’s push for indigenous radar solutions.
• Tech Sovereignty: This collaboration signals a scalable pathway for high-frequency radar electronics, strengthening India’s strategic independence.

About FermionIC Design

Founded in 2020, by Abhra Bagchi, Shabaaz Syed, Prasun Bhattacharyya and Gautam Singh, FermionIC Design Pvt. Ltd. is emerging as a key player in India’s push toward indigenous semiconductor innovation—especially in the high-frequency radar domain.

Based in Bangalore, the company operates as a fabless RFIC (Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit) design house, meaning it focuses on chip design while outsourcing manufacturing.

Company Snapshot: FermionIC Design

Attribute	Details
Founded	2020
Location	Bengaluru, India
Founders	Abhra Bagchi, Shabaaz Syed, Prasun Bhattacharyya, Gautam Singh
Funding Raised	$6 million across 2 rounds
Key Investors	RBA Finance Investment, Ashish Kacholia, Qualcomm, Lucky Investment Managers
Valuation (2025)	₹275 Crore
Stage	Seed
Employee Count	33 (as of May 2025)

Strategic Focus

• FermionIC specializes in RF and mixed-signal chipsets for radar, satellite communications, and 5G phased array systems.
• Their flagship product—the FD3R4411 X-Band Beamformer IC—is India’s first of its kind, designed for high-performance radar applications.
• They were also among the first cohort of India’s Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) program, reinforcing their role in building indigenous semiconductor capabilities.