The Indian Army’s first dedicated communications satellite is expected to be launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) around mid-2028, reinforcing the force’s communications backbone and its operational capabilities, top officials aware of the matter said on Monday.
It released the Joint Military Space Doctrine last September during the Combined Commanders’ Conference in Kolkata, a significant step towards institutionalising space as a key domain of national security and integrating it into the country’s defence strategy. To be sure, China is rapidly expanding its space capabilities and could potentially disable or knock out satellites. It is known to have the capability to disrupt satellite signals using jammers and other anti-satellite technologies. The Indian military’s focus on space has been steadily growing. The country is also formulating a National Military Space Policy to safeguard its space-based assets, strengthen military capabilities and address emerging security challenges in the space domain.
Space-based communications will be critical during conflict, providing resilient communication links when terrestrial networks are disrupted or damaged by enemy action, the officials said.
India plans to launch 52 dedicated military satellites over the next three years under Phase III of its Space Based Surveillance (SBS) mission, approved by the Prime Minister-led Cabinet Committee on Security in October 2024. Spearheaded by the Defence Space Agency under the HQ Integrated Defence Staff, the ₹ 26,968-crore project involves ISRO constructing and launching 21 satellites, with private companies handling the remaining 31.
