Space Based Surveillance project (India)

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The Space Based Surveillance project is undertaken by the Government of India to launch a constellation of satellites for earth observation roles. [1]

Contents

SBS Phase-I

The Phase-I project was approved by the PM Atal Bihari Vajpeyee in 2001. The ISRO satellites Cartosat-2A, Cartosat-2B, RISAT-1 and RISAT-2 — were funded launched from India. These four dual-use satellites were aimed at monitoring India's borders as well as adversarial military facilities, including supply depots, airbases, and cantonments. The one meter resolution imagery produced by the satellites was accurate enough to provide important information during the India-Pakistan military standoff in 2001-02. [2] [3]

SBS Phase-II

The Phase-II project was approved by the government on 2013 as a part of which 6 satellites — Cartosat-2C, Cartosat-2D, Cartosat-3A, Cartosat-3B, Microsat-TD,Microsat-R and RISAT-2A — were approved for development and launch. [2] [3] Microsat-R was the subject of India's ASAT Test in 2019. [4] Additionally, the Indian Armed Forces also operates communications satellites of the GSAT-7 series of which GSAT-7, GSAT-7A and GSAT-7R are active while GSAT-7B, GSAT-7C are planned for launch.

SBS Phase-III

On 12 October 2024, India's Cabinet Committee on Security approved a proposal for the development, construction and launch of a constellation of 52 spy satellites as a part of the Space Based Surveillance Phase-III project intended to enhance the country's surveillance capabilities from space in both land and sea domains. The project, worth ₹ 26,968 crore (US$3.2 billion), will be supervised by National Security Council Secretariat along with the Defence Space Agency under the Integrated Defence Staff. The constellation will also enhance the SATCOM capabilities of long range UAVs of the Armed Forces like the MQ-9B Predator drones that are on order. The SBS system will provide round-the-clock monitoring, irrespective of weather, time of day or atmospheric conditions and may have secondary civilian applications as well. All the satellites is to be launched within 5 years at Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit and Low Earth Orbit. The satellites will be equipped with artificial intelligence for inter-satellite communications. [5] [6] [7]

As part of the project, 21 satellites will be co-developed by ISRO and France (under an LOI agreement for “defence space cooperation”) while the rest of 31 satellites are to be developed by three private sector companies. The role of these satellites would be surveillance, reconnaissance, communication and other strategic purposes. The CCS has also, reportedly, approved two agencies to develop multiple types of defensive and offensive capabilities from space. Under the same project, few experiments would be conducted for an integrated LEO and MEO satellite-based communication system which is a requirement for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. The first batch of satellites will be launched in 2027–28. [1] [8]

Following the 2025 India Pakistan conflict, the project was expedited, according to reports dated 30 June 2025. The first batch of satellites is now anticipated to launch in April 2026, with the full fleet of satellites to be deployed by the end of 2029. While private companies have been instructed to increase the pace of satellite production, additional efforts are apparently being made "to launch the satellites faster" into space. The goal of SBS Phase-III is to cover far broader areas of China, Pakistan, and the Indian Ocean region with superior resolution and shorter "revisit times"—the period between two consecutive surveillance sweeps of the same area. India intends to shrink its OODA loop as well. [9] [10] [11] In order to scan and monitor hostile aircraft, drones, or missiles, as well as to cue weapon systems for interception, SBS Phase-III will be connected to air defense assets and radars under Mission Sudarshan Chakra. [12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Ray, Kalyan (12 February 2025). "Aero Show 2025: First batch of satellites under new space surveillance programme to be launched by 2027-28". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Exclusive: CCS clears launch of 52 surveillance satellites". Hindustan Times . 11 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  3. 1 2 "India's New Space-Based Spy Network". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  4. ↑ Pubby, Manu (28 March 2019). "India tests first anti-satellite missile system, codenamed Mission Shakti". The Economic Times. ISSN   0013-0389 . Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  5. ↑ Singh, Surendra (12 October 2024). "CCS 'approves launch of 52 spy satellites for Rs 27,000 crore to boost space surveillance". The Times of India. ISSN   0971-8257. Archived from the original on 23 August 2025. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  6. ↑ "Space spy squad: India greenlights 52 satellites for Rs 27,000 crore sky-high surveillance". The Economic Times. 12 October 2024. ISSN   0013-0389 . Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  7. ↑ "Modi government approves Rs 27,000 crore worth spy satellites for space surveillance: Report". Deccan Herald. 12 October 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  8. ↑ "Preparing for future warfare, Indian defence forces looking to expand space assets, manpower". The Economic Times. 17 December 2024. ISSN   0013-0389 . Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  9. ↑ Pandit, Rajat (30 June 2025). "Post Op Sindoor, India to fast-track launch of 52 defence surveillance satellites". The Times of India. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  10. ↑ Sharma, Shivani; Negi, Manjeet; Parashar, Shipra (30 June 2025). "India fast-tracks launch of 52 military satellites after Operation Sindoor". India Today. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  11. ↑ "India to fast-track 52 military satellites for better surveillance at borders". The Hindu. 30 June 2025. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  12. ↑ Dutta, Amrita Nayak (6 October 2025). "Exclusive: Over-the-horizon radars, energy weapons, satellites to be integrated into 'Sudarshan Chakra' air defence shield". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 6 October 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
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