India is set to launch over 50 advanced surveillance satellites under Phase 3 of its Space-Based Surveillance programme, following gaps revealed during Operation Sindoor.
The new satellites, including Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems, will provide all-weather, night-time imaging, strengthen real-time battlefield intelligence, and enhance national security.
The initiative also includes inter-satellite data transfer, overseas ground stations, and protective “bodyguard satellites,” reflecting India’s push for modernised, resilient, and secure space-based military capabilities.
Key Details of the Launch Plan
The first batch of satellites is scheduled for launch as early as April 2026, with the full 52-satellite constellation targeted for completion by the end of 2029.
Technological Upgrades:
- Night and All-Weather Vision: Satellites are shifting from traditional electro-optical sensors to Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and infrared technology, allowing for imaging through darkness and cloud cover—capabilities found lacking during the 2025 standoff.
- Faster Revisit Rates: The constellation aims to reduce the time taken to sweep a particular area from several days to just a few hours, enabling near real-time monitoring of borders.
- Inter-Satellite Links: Enhanced data-sharing protocols will allow satellites to transfer information directly to one another, reducing reliance on ground stations.
Public-Private Partnership: ISRO will develop 21 of the satellites, while 31 will be built by private Indian firms, including Ananth Technologies, Centum Electronics, and Alpha Design Technologies.
Global Infrastructure: India is exploring the creation of overseas ground stations in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Scandinavia to speed up data relay.
Context: Operation Sindoor
The Conflict: Operation Sindoor was a tri-services response to a major terror attack in Pahalgam in April 2025. Between May 7 and May 10, 2025, India targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied regions.
