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The Hindu
30-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
India to fast-track 52 military satellites for better surveillance at borders
After defence forces realised the need for more precision surveillance during Operation Sindoor, the Union government has ordered the fast-tracking of the launch of 52 dedicated surveillance satellites, enhancing round-the-clock monitoring of coastline and land borders. In October last year, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee approved $3.2 billion for the SBS-III programme to develop next-generation satellites over the next decade. Under the programme, ISRO will manufacture and launch the first 21 satellites, while private companies will handle the remaining 31. The Defence Space Agency (DSA) will oversee the operation of the newly launched satellite system. 'We have asked the private companies and ISRO for early launch of satellites. These new satellites will add a next-generation radar imaging capability that will help in all-weather and day-night surveillance. We are expecting first set of satellites to be launched by 2026,' said a senior official. The official added that the new satellites will be using artificial intelligence (AI) to make smarter decisions and improve overall performance and efficiency in space. During Operation Sindoor, satellite-based surveillance helped Indian defence forces to act swiftly by offering accurate intelligence, including the trajectory and movement of drones and missiles. After the successful implementation of SBS-III, India will become more self-reliant and reduce its dependence on other countries. It will help focus more clearly and accurately on the Pakistan and China border and the Indian Ocean Region. During the Operation Sindoor, it was claimed that China provided satellite support to Pakistan. India's satellites, like the Cartosat and RISAT, helped defence forces to track enemy mobilisation, confirm strike impact, and maintain real-time situational awareness, which prevented any major damage to the country's military assets.
The Diplomat
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Diplomat
Eyes in Orbit: Rethinking India's Strategic Blind Spot in Low Earth Space
In an era where the geometry of power is tilting skyward, the nations with eyes in orbit will be the ones that define what comes next. In modern conflict, power is no longer just projected from aircraft carriers or missile silos – it now comes from constellations in orbit. What was once the preserve of scientific prestige has quietly become one of the most contested spaces in global security. Low Earth Orbit (LEO), long regarded as a domain for civilian exploration or telecommunications, is now at the center of how states perceive, understand, and influence the world around them. Space-enabled intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) is increasingly the difference between decisive action and delayed reaction. And yet, as this shift accelerates, India still finds itself looking up, without the persistent orbital visibility that modern strategic competition demands. The message was hard to miss during Operation Sindoor. The operation – marked by the use of long-range munitions and drone strikes – was a signal of how far Indian kinetic capabilities have come. But it also revealed something missing: an integrated, space-based ISR backbone to support precision over time, not just in isolated moments. Without a persistent layer of real-time orbital awareness, tactical excellence risks being episodic rather than systemic. In environments where minutes matter, gaps in space-based vision can quietly shape outcomes on the ground. To be clear, India isn't starting from zero. Satellite platforms like RISAT, Cartosat, and GSAT-7A have brought valuable capabilities, from radar imaging to military communications. But they aren't built for today's tempo. Their orbits, data latency, and limited revisit rates mean they're not well suited for real-time tracking of fast-moving threats. They're excellent tools for a different era of conflict. This matters because the race is already well underway. As of 2025, more than 10,000 active satellites orbit Earth, more than half launched in just the last five years. Since the Cold War's earliest satellite launches, orbital intelligence has been a marker of power. That hasn't changed. What has changed is the speed, the players, and the stakes. Ukraine has demonstrated how even modest access to commercial LEO imagery can help level the playing field. China's Yaogan constellation now provides a sweeping view of both land and sea in the Indo-Pacific. For India, the absence of a comparable real-time ISR constellation leaves its planners at a disadvantage. Consider Ukraine again. Without the Starlink satellite network, much of Ukraine's drone-based ISR and long-range precision targeting would not have functioned. Over time, Starlink became the backbone of Ukraine's 21st-century military enterprise. It restored the internet and enabled persistent surveillance and communications in a contested battlespace. Without Starlink, there would have been no real-time battlefield awareness, no guided drone strikes, and no resilience in the face of high-tech disruption. Revisit time – the time it takes to receive new satellite imagery of the same location – dropped from hours to minutes. Individual soldiers were empowered to conduct precision strikes using lightweight drones. Space made this possible – not in a decade, but in months. India cannot afford to miss this lesson. Part of the challenge is structural. India's space program has been a source of national pride, with a focus, rightly, on scientific progress and developmental impact. But that tradition, while admirable, has also kept space at arm's length from national security thinking. The civil-military divide in this domain is real, and the pace of institutional change has been incremental. Compared to peers who have embraced the dual-use logic of space, India still approaches orbital capabilities with caution. And yet, the potential to close this gap is within reach. The country's growing space tech sector – startups like Pixxel, Skyroot, and Agnikul – is building what looks very much like a future-ready ecosystem: small satellites, modular launch systems, and high-resolution payloads. In other places, those ingredients have been enough to transform ISR access almost overnight. The West has moved on, with the private sector leading the launch of innovation and the deployment of military-grade ISR systems. This evolution has accelerated the concept of civil-military fusion. The space domain, particularly LEO, is emerging as the new high ground in deterrence and warfighting. Just as hilltops once provided better visibility and intelligence in ground warfare, space provides that advantage on a planetary scale. Satellites in LEO enable persistent surveillance, hyperspectral imaging, jamming-resilient communications, and real-time data for AI-powered targeting. The strategic rewards are not only military; they reshape how nations exert influence, maintain credibility, and resist coercion. The case for orbital ISR extends beyond borders. As India deepens its engagement across the Indo-Pacific – through maritime security efforts, regional partnerships, and crisis management frameworks – persistent visibility will matter. And in a world where a handful of major powers increasingly govern LEO, the ability to see independently is also the ability to act independently. The power to share what you see, when you choose to, can reinforce deterrence, build trust, or correct misinformation – all on your terms. Of course, the domain is getting crowded. Anti-satellite weapons are real, cyber threats to space assets are growing, and orbital congestion is no longer theoretical. But these challenges only make one thing clearer: in future conflicts, deterrence will rest as much on what a country can see as on what it can strike. Attribution, early warning, and the control of escalation – all of it flows through space. India's 2047 ambition to be a developed, technologically sovereign, and globally influential power will hinge in part on its ability to command the invisible domain. Because in an era where the geometry of power is tilting skyward, the nations with eyes in orbit will be the ones that define what comes next.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Space-tech companies get an opening as India seeks more eyes in the sky
After Operation Sindoor , there is a growing push to enhance India's satellite-based Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. Lt Gen AK Bhatt (Retd), Director General of the Indian Space Association (ISpA), told ET that while India currently operates around 10–11 defence satellites , mostly from the Cartosat and RISAT series which are one of the bests—"revisit times are long," and there is an urgent need for more satellites to ensure persistent coverage. "The Space Based Surveillance (SBS-III) program is critical, but with a 4–5 year timeline, there's pressure to fast-track it and reduce dependence on foreign or commercial satellite data after the escalations between the two countries," Bhatt said who was also former director general of military operation (DGMO), who oversaw the Doklam crisis. He added that the upcoming 52 satellites under SBS-III will be owned and operated by India, offering real-time access to imagery from both low Earth and geostationary orbits. The private sector will play a big role in the surveillance program as 31 satellites will be made by three firms. The remaining 21 will come from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Experts said accurate satellite imagery plays a critical role in identifying enemy locations, planning operations, and confirming if the target has hit the intended spot. It serves as a reliable layer of intelligence even during active conflicts, complementing drones and ground-based radars, they explained.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Space-tech companies get an opening as India seeks more eyes in the sky
After Operation Sindoor , there is a growing push to enhance India's satellite-based Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. Lt Gen AK Bhatt (Retd), Director General of the Indian Space Association (ISpA), told ET that while India currently operates around 10–11 defence satellites , mostly from the Cartosat and RISAT series which are one of the bests—"revisit times are long," and there is an urgent need for more satellites to ensure persistent coverage. "The Space Based Surveillance (SBS-III) program is critical, but with a 4–5 year timeline, there's pressure to fast-track it and reduce dependence on foreign or commercial satellite data after the escalations between the two countries," Bhatt said who was also former director general of military operation (DGMO), who oversaw the Doklam crisis. He added that the upcoming 52 satellites under SBS-III will be owned and operated by India, offering real-time access to imagery from both low Earth and geostationary orbits. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Air conditioners without external unit. (click to see prices) Air Condition | Search Ads Search Now Undo ETtech The private sector will play a big role in the surveillance program as 31 satellites will be made by three firms. The remaining 21 will come from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Live Events Experts said accurate satellite imagery plays a critical role in identifying enemy locations, planning operations, and confirming if the target has hit the intended spot. It serves as a reliable layer of intelligence even during active conflicts, complementing drones and ground-based radars, they explained. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories
News18
20-05-2025
- Science
- News18
Eyes In the Sky: How India's Satellite Fleet Is Leading The Charge In National Defence
Last Updated: India has built one of the largest remote-sensing satellite networks ramping up with the launch of its first radar imaging satellite RISAT-1 in 2009 post the 2008 Mumbai attacks. With the Army on the ground, the Navy at sea, and pilots in the air, India boasts of one of the largest and formidable defence forces in the world. Now it's the country's rapidly-advancing satellite coverage that bolsters its border surveillance, day and night, under all weather conditions, becoming a backbone for strategic defence. 'At least 10 satellites are continuously working round-the-clock for the strategic purpose to ensure the safety and security of the citizens of the country. We have to monitor our 7,000 km seashore areas and the entire Northern part continuously. Without satellite and drone technology, we can't achieve that," said Dr V Narayanan, ISRO chairman last week in Imphal. With the IRS series, Cartosat, Oceansat, Resourcesat, and RISAT (Radar Imaging Satellites), India has built one of the largest constellations of remote sensing satellites in operation providing images with different spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions to meet different users. The recent tensions with neighbouring Pakistan highlighted significant capabilities of this network. 'Our existing capabilities are very good, and have become more robust with the launch of radar imaging satellites (RISAT series). If we look at the pictures from Operation Sindoor, the pictures showing clear damage to air fields – whether taken by satellites or UAVs – were very clear. We need to keep strengthening our constellation further to ensure continuous, 24X7 surveillance round the clock," said Ajay Lele, Deputy Director General, MP-IDSA, New Delhi. ADVANCED RADAR IMAGING SATELLITES ISRO's launch of the first radar imaging satellite in 2009 post the 2008 Mumbai attacks provided a shot in the arm, delivering 24-hour imagery under all-weather data, day and night enhancing border surveillance for 13 years, until its re-entry in 2022. Since then, it has launched RISAT-1A in 2012, and RISAT-2BR1 in 2019 each carrying a mission life of five years. The latest launch of EOS-09, which could not be accomplished, would have further strengthened these capabilities, injecting one more Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT-1B) into space. Since most of these satellites are in polar, sun-synchronous orbits, they provide consistent coverage by revisiting the same location, at the same local time each day. EYE ON THE BORDERS, DAY AND NIGHT SURVEILLANCE The Synthetic Aperture Radar on these satellites plays a crucial role in strategic defence as it provides high-resolution data, day and night under all-weather conditions. In spotlight mode, the radar signal can be focussed on a specific area to capture high-resolution images especially critical for military installations and infrastructure. The longer the time that radar spends over a target, the better the resolution. Multiple radar pulses create a more detailed image. Since most of these satellites have dual purpose, they serve critical strategic needs, and at the same time, provide useful data for various other sectors. While the high-resolution imagery is only shared with government and military users, the images for mapping agriculture, urban planning, water resources, landslides, glaciers, ground water potential, disaster management, forest biomass estimation continue to be used for multiple other applications. India's capabilities will get a major boost with the much-anticipated launch of NISAR-NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar in June-July this year – which will offer unprecedented view of the Earth, mapping the entire globe with precision every 12 days, and capture places that have otherwise been obscured. The satellite will be able to detect changes as small as 10 m, piercing through dense cloud dover, day and night. First Published:
