India Approves Phase III of Space-Based Surveillance Mission

Agencies

Islamabad: The Indian government has given the green light to Phase III of its Space-Based Surveillance (SBS) mission, under which 52 satellites will be launched into low Earth orbit to monitor infrastructure developments by adversaries along India’s land and maritime borders.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the project aimed at enhancing land and maritime domain awareness for both civilian and military purposes.

The mission is being managed by the National Security Council Secretariat in collaboration with the Defence Space Agency under the Ministry of Defence.

Although the Modi government has not publicly commented on the approval, sources indicate that the CCS-approved plan involves the launch of at least 52 satellites into low Earth and geostationary orbits for surveillance.

The project, with an estimated cost of ₹26,968 crore, will see the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) building and launching 21 satellites, while the remaining 31 will be developed by private companies.

The SBS program, initiated in 2001 during the Vajpayee government, began with the launch of four surveillance satellites: Cartosat 2A, Cartosat 2B, Eros B, and Risat 2. The second phase, launched in 2013, included six more satellites: Cartosat 2C, Cartosat 2D, Cartosat 3A, Cartosat 3B, Microsat 1, and Risat 2A.

With Phase III now approved, India plans to launch 52 satellites over the next decade, with each branch of the armed forces—land, sea, and air—receiving dedicated satellites for their missions. Additionally, a letter of intent was signed with France in January for the joint construction and launch of military satellites.

India’s focus is on developing capabilities to detect enemy submarines in the Indo-Pacific and track infrastructure activities by adversaries along its borders.

The SBS 3 mission will also benefit from India’s acquisition of 31 Predator drones from US-based General Atomics, known for their advanced surveillance and weapons capabilities.

In 2019, India demonstrated its anti-satellite technology by successfully destroying a live satellite in orbit through a missile test. – Hindustan Times