Russia is creating a replacement for American CAD for microchips: this could be a breakthrough in import substitution of microelectronics

A group of Russian companies, with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, is developing a domestic computer-aided design (CAD) system for ultra-high-frequency hybrid and monolithic integrated circuits. The new CAD is designed to replace the foreign products Keysight ADS and AWR Microwave Office that have left the market, CNews was told by representatives of the Astra Group.

Specialists from the companies National Computer Corporation, Rubius, Integral Solutions and scientists from TUSUR are working on the project. The development is supervised by NPO Critical Information Systems. The first version of the system is expected at the end of 2026, and testing in production will begin in 2027. By 2030, the developers plan to surpass foreign counterparts in functionality.

The new CAD is being created to work on domestic operating systems, primarily on the protected Astra Linux version 1.8.2 and higher. Support for Windows, macOS and mobile platforms is not planned in the near future.

The creation of such a system ensures the technological independence of the country in the serial production of microelectronics. The project is ambitious and knowledge-intensive: we want not only to repeat the functionality of foreign Keysight ADS or AWR Microwave Office, but also to surpass them. This requires close cooperation between scientists, engineers and developers.

Elena Ivanova, Software Development Director at Critical Information Systems

A prototype of the CAD is already ready - basic design routes for key components of microwave circuits have been implemented. The system will be available to all categories of users, but is aimed at professional developers. It will be first tested by engineers at NPP Istok named after Shokin, where more than half of Russian microwave electronics are produced. In the future, design kits from the Svetlana-Rost factory will be integrated into the system. Pricing issues are within the competence of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.