In Short
- India to launch 52 military satellites by 2029 amid China threat
- Rs 26,968 crore project to boost real-time, high-res surveillance
- SSLV tech to speed up launches as part of SBS Phase 3
India is fast-tracking the launch of 52 defence surveillance satellites to enhance its space-based surveillance capabilities, particularly along its borders with China and Pakistan, and in the Indian Ocean Region.
The Rs 26,968 crore project aims to provide real-time monitoring and improve border security. The initiative is a response to China’s growing military space capabilities.
Under Phase 3 of the Space-Based Surveillance (SBS) initiative, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch 21 satellites, while three private firms will develop and deploy the remaining 31.
The first satellite in this constellation is scheduled to launch in April 2026, with full deployment targeted by the end of 2029.
The constellation will provide high-resolution imagery and faster revisit times to assist India’s Army, Navy and Air Force in tracking enemy movements deep within adversary territory.
Notably, the project marks a significant role for private industry, as ISRO plans to transfer Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) technology to enable rapid launches during emergencies.
Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, recently talked about the strategic imperative of detecting threats at their source and said, “We must detect, identify and track potential threats not when they approach our borders, but when they are still in their staging areas, airfields and bases, deep within an adversary’s territory.”
The Integrated Defence Staff is overseeing the project which will focus on both low Earth and geostationary orbits. The satellite network also serves as a deterrent and counter to China’s evolving anti-satellite capabilities, including kinetic weapons and electronic warfare systems.
India’s recent Operation Sindoor highlighted the value of indigenous and commercial satellite-based tracking.
