In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, the Indian government plans to fast-track its ambitious plan to launch 52 defense surveillance satellites by 2029. With a budget of Rs 26,968 crore, the mission is designed to expand India’s space-based monitoring, especially along its borders with China and Pakistan and across the Indian Ocean Region.
In October last year, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee approved this funding under the Space-Based Surveillance Programme Phase 3 (SBS-III), aiming to develop and deploy next-generation satellites over the next decade.
The SBS-III project is led by the Defence Space Agency under the Integrated Defence Staff of the Ministry of Defence. In parallel, the Indian Air Force is acquiring high-altitude pseudo satellites (HAPS) to enhance its intelligence and surveillance capabilities even further.
As part of Phase 3 of the SBS program, ISRO will be responsible for launching 21 satellites. The remaining 31 will be built and deployed by three private companies. The satellites will operate in both low Earth orbit and geostationary orbit, which will enable faster revisit times and higher resolution tracking. The first launch is scheduled for April 2026, and full deployment is expected by the end of 2029.
This new satellite constellation will provide real-time imagery to India’s Army, Navy, and Air Force, giving them the ability to detect troop movements, monitor airfields, and track staging zones well before threats approach the border.
Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, emphasized the importance of early detection, saying, “We must detect, identify, and track potential threats when they are still in their staging areas, airfields, and bases, deep within an adversary’s territory.”
A standout feature of this mission is the involvement of private industry. For the first time, ISRO will transfer its small satellite launch vehicle (SSLV) technology to private firms, enabling rapid launches during emergency situations.
The initiative is a direct response to China’s expanding military presence in space, which now includes anti-satellite missiles, electronic warfare tools, and directed energy weapons. India, meanwhile, is refining its own space strategy to meet these emerging challenges, and the satellite network is a key part of that effort.
Operation Sindoor highlighted the critical role of space-based intelligence. In May 2025, India relied on Cartosat, RISAT, and commercial satellites to track enemy movements. While useful, the operation revealed coverage gaps and slower revisit times. The new satellite constellation under SBS-III is meant to close those gaps and improve situational awareness across all fronts.
This mission is not just about adding more satellites. It is a step toward building a protective shield in space that can neutralize evolving threats from adversaries. It gives India an edge by enabling faster decisions and preemptive actions.
Launching the first satellite in April 2026 is an aggressive target, but necessary. In a future where timing can define outcomes, launching before a conflict begins could be the difference between a strong defense and a late response.
