NEW DELHI — India is preparing to launch a new line of surveillance satellites to monitor foreign spacecraft that may be collecting intelligence on the country’s defense operations. The project, developed by the Ministry of Defence in partnership with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is now approaching its final phase.
The initiative is part of India’s long-term plan to protect its national security assets in space. According to ISRO officials, the satellites will detect, track, and map the movement of foreign satellites in Earth’s orbit. The system will function in real-time and help identify any threats posed by surveillance activities from other nations.
“India will expand its presence in space. These satellites are part of a broader strategy to improve our security and control in orbit,” an ISRO source said in a statement.
The satellites will be launched under ISRO’s NETRA program a tracking network that currently observes space debris and nearby objects that could endanger Indian assets. The new deployment shifts the focus to intentional surveillance threats. Officials confirmed that the satellites will be built entirely within India.
A Bengaluru-based space startup, Digantara, has been selected to assist in deploying the satellites. The first launch is expected within the next 12 months.
India is not alone in this race. The United States, Russia, and China have all developed or tested similar surveillance satellites. These satellites are often maneuverable, equipped with optical and electronic systems designed to shadow and analyze foreign spacecraft. Some have demonstrated the ability to intercept data or interfere with inter-satellite and ground communications.
In 2020, the U.S. Space Command reported an incident involving a Russian satellite, Kosmos 2543, which released an unidentified object in proximity to another satellite raising alarm over the possible testing of space weapons.
“Space is becoming a theater for strategic competition. We can no longer treat orbit as a neutral zone,” the ISRO official added. “Preparedness in this domain is critical.”
India’s wider plan includes the upcoming Space-Based Surveillance-3 (SBS-3) program. The project aims to launch 52 surveillance satellites by 2027 at a projected cost of ₹27,000 crore. The network will enhance India’s ability to detect orbital threats, monitor activities in low and geostationary orbits, and support intelligence efforts.
The SBS-3 satellites are being developed with help from private contractors including Ananth Technologies, Centum Electronics, and Alpha Design Technologies. According to government records, the collaboration will create secure systems to protect critical space infrastructure and support military operations.
India’s growing space defense posture reflects rising global tensions beyond Earth’s surface. As more countries shift their strategic operations into orbit, India is staking its claim in this evolving frontier.
This push for space sovereignty comes at a time when national security is no longer limited to land, sea, or air. Orbit is now part of the battlefield.
