India Fast-Tracks Space-Based Military Surveillance

In a major boost to national security, India has accelerated the deployment of 52 next-generation military surveillance satellites under the SBS-III (Space-Based Surveillance-III) programme following lessons from Operation Sindoor (May 2025), where space-based intelligence proved decisive and adversary cooperation between China and Pakistan was reported.

Key Highlights

• Total Satellites Planned: 52
• Programme Name: SBS-III (Space-Based Surveillance-III)
• Budget Approved: USD 3.2 billion (~₹26,500 crore) in October 2024.
• Deployment Timeline: 2026–2029
• First Launch: Scheduled for 2026
• Implementation Agencies:
  • ISRO: Will manufacture & launch first 21 satellites.
  • Private Space Sector: Will build & launch remaining 31 satellites.
  • Defence Space Agency (DSA): Will operate the satellite constellation.

Background – Operation Sindoor

• Date: May 2025.
• Objective: Defence readiness amid escalating tensions.
• Role of Satellites: Provided real-time intelligence on drone & missile movements, enabling swift military responses and damage prevention.
• Challenge: Intelligence reports suggested China provided live satellite feeds to Pakistan.
• Impact: Triggered urgent enhancement of indigenous surveillance capability to reduce reliance on foreign providers.

Current Satellite Capability & Limitations

• Existing Assets: Cartosat & RISAT series.
• Cartosat-3: Designed for 30 cm resolution, but practically delivers ~50 cm resolution. Operates alone, limiting revisit frequency during critical situations.
• Limitation: Limited coverage refresh rates & weather dependency.

Next-Gen SBS-III Satellite Features

• All-weather, Day-Night Imaging – Radar imaging systems.
• High Resolution: Comparable or superior to top commercial satellites (~30 cm resolution).
• Artificial Intelligence Integration:
  1. Automated threat detection.
  2. Faster & more accurate data processing.
  3. Predictive intelligence using machine learning.
• Coverage Focus Areas:
  1. India–China border (Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh).
  2. India–Pakistan border (infiltration routes, missile deployments).
  3. Indian Ocean Region (IOR) (naval movements, maritime threats).

Global Partnerships

• India in talks with global earth observation players like Maxar Technologies for high-resolution imagery (~30 cm) to supplement indigenous capabilities during the transition phase.

Strategic Significance

• Enhances 24×7 border & maritime monitoring.
• Reduces dependency on foreign satellite intelligence.
• Strengthens space-based defence infrastructure for rapid conflict response.
• Opens public–private space defence collaboration in India.

Space & Defence Institutions

• ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation):
  • Established: 1969
  • HQ: Bengaluru, Karnataka
  • Current Chairman (Aug 2025): S. Somanath
• Defence Space Agency (DSA):
  • Established: 2019 (HQ: Bengaluru)
  • Role: Integrates space-based defence operations across Army, Navy, Air Force.
• DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation):
  • Established: 1958
  • HQ: New Delhi
  • Role: Supports satellite payload & defence integration technologies.

India’s Key Military Satellites (Past & Present)

• Cartosat series: High-resolution optical imaging.
• RISAT series: Radar imaging, all-weather surveillance.
• GSAT-7A: Communication support for IAF.
• EMISAT: Electronic intelligence gathering.

Global Context

• Maxar Technologies: US-based, operates WorldView & GeoEye satellites.
• 30 cm resolution: Can distinguish individual vehicles, artillery, and infrastructure.
• China’s Yaogan satellites: Key element of its military reconnaissance network, suspected of assisting Pakistan.

India’s Defence Space Programmes

• SBS-I & SBS-II: Earlier surveillance programmes focused on limited coverage & tech validation.
• SBS-III: First to deploy large-scale, AI-enabled, high-frequency revisit satellites for defence.