What Is QML-Q+? The Highest Standard for Space-Grade MCUs

Executive Summary

Space is unforgiving. If a satellite’s flight computer fails, there’s no second chance to get it right. A failed part can shorten a mission, compromise data, or create debris that can pose a threat to other spacecraft. And as launch cadence accelerates, a single component failure can ripple across schedules, delaying constellations and driving up costs for every downstream stakeholder.

That’s why space and defense programs rely on the Defense Logistics Agency’s (DLA) Qualified Manufacturers List (QML): To ensure components can withstand the stresses they’ll face in orbit. QML certification provides engineers with actionable information — verified performance data, documented process control, and confidence that every production lot will behave consistently throughout the program's lifespan.

Why QML Certification Matters for Space and Defense

The QML program qualifies manufacturers and their components for high-reliability applications in space and defense. Being “QML listed” means that both the product and the manufacturer’s processes have undergone a rigorous third-party review.

Within the QML system, there are multiple classes tailored to different reliability levels:

• QML-V is space-grade, requiring the most stringent quality, radiation tolerance, and lifetime testing.

• QML-Q covers military-grade devices but is designed for terrestrial defense environments.

• QML-Q+ builds on class QML-Q with additional tests and controls, certifying parts for high-reliability applications across both space and defense.

Certification is particularly critical for:

• Satellites and spacecraft, where parts must survive high radiation levels and thermal cycling.

• Defense systems, where mission failure is unacceptable and traceable reliability is mandatory.

• Industrial or long-life systems where components can’t easily be serviced or replaced.

By specifying qualified components, engineers reduce risk and improve the predictability of system performance.

QML-Q+ Explained: What Makes It Different

QML-Q+ certification adds more stringent screening and life testing than standard QML-Q.

At its core, QML-Q+ is a combination of part qualification and process qualification. To earn the designation, a manufacturer must:

• Pass Radiation Hardness Assurance (RHA) testing to prove devices can withstand total ionizing dose levels representative of orbit.

• Complete extended life testing and burn-in, validating long-term reliability before flight.

• Undergo process audits and ongoing surveillance so every production lot meets the same reliability baseline.

The result is a verified chain of trust, from silicon wafer to flight hardware, that procurement teams can document in design reviews and risk assessments.

Inside the VA41630: A QML-Q+ Space-Grade MCU

One of the few space-grade MCUs to achieve QML-Q+ certification is VORAGO’s VA41630, an Arm Cortex-M4 microcontroller.

The VA41630 is a radiation-hardened MCU designed for space and defense systems requiring deterministic, real-time processing in extreme thermal and radiation environments. It’s used for satellite flight computers, power and thermal management, and payload control — applications where continuous uptime and predictable behavior are mission requirements.

Because of its role, the VA41630 was subjected to the DLA’s full QML-Q+ process before being added to the Qualified Parts List (part number 5962-R24203). This independent verification provides engineers with confidence that every production lot will perform consistently, thereby reducing risk for both procurement and design teams.

Why QML-Q+ Matters in 2025

Satellite launches are on pace to exceed 3,000 this year. Megaconstellations are expanding, the Pentagon is advancing real-time tactical space networks, and European defense leaders are warning about increased satellite interference. Ultimately, space is becoming a contested domain, and the cost of component failure is rising.

In this environment, unqualified components introduce unacceptable risks. QML-Q+ provides a trust anchor in the form of documented assurance of repeatable performance from both the device and the manufacturing process behind it.

Key Takeaways for Engineers

Selecting electronics for spacecraft or defense systems is a commitment that carries risk, cost, and schedule implications for the entire program. QML-Q+ certification is one of the most reliable tools engineers have to de-risk those choices before hardware ever leaves the ground.

When evaluating electronics for spacecraft or defense systems:

• Look for QML-Q+ listing. It’s the clearest sign a part has been rigorously screened.

• Request traceability documentation. It’s not just about the part you hold, but about knowing every lot meets the same spec.

• Factor in long-term support. QML-qualified parts are continuously monitored to ensure compliance throughout their lifecycle.

QML-Q+ certification gives engineers the assurance that systems will perform as designed, not just in the lab, but through years of mission-critical operations.