Image Credit: Integrated Defence Staff
India to Launch 52 Surveillance Satellites: Chief of Defence Staff
India is set to significantly boost its space-based defense capabilities with plans to launch 52 surveillance satellites. These satellites will be dedicated to intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, and monitoring activities, forming a crucial part of India’s strategy to strengthen its national security through space assets. The initiative will be executed through collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and various private sector players.
India Surveillance Satellites for Strategic Edge
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, revealed that these satellites would be deployed over time to support the armed forces with real-time data and situational awareness. The project marks a shift in India’s defense posture, where space is no longer just a scientific domain but a critical frontier in military strategy. By ensuring persistent coverage and monitoring, these satellites are expected to act as force multipliers in tactical planning and national defense readiness.
Military Space Doctrine in the Works
Parallel to the satellite deployment, India is also drafting its first-ever military space doctrine. The doctrine is likely to be finalized in the next two to three months and will provide a strategic framework for using space assets across low and medium earth orbits. The move signifies the growing importance of space in India’s defense thinking, with a clear recognition of space as a vital operational domain for future warfare scenarios.
Training and Industry Involvement in Defense Space Program
To prepare the armed forces for this evolving domain, the establishment of a tri-services space warfare school is also under consideration. This proposed institution would train personnel in space combat operations, satellite management, and other key space-centric defense disciplines. At the same time, the increased role of private industry in satellite development and deployment reflects the government’s confidence in homegrown innovation and the growing capabilities of India’s private aerospace sector.
India’s rapid advancement in military space technology reflects a strategic commitment to maintaining an edge in surveillance and security operations. With these 52 satellites and an emerging military space doctrine, the country is poised to transform its defense framework by fully integrating space as a core element of national security planning.
