India Strengthens Space Based Surveillance Following Border Tensions
Over 50 new spy satellites and advanced night-imaging capabilities planned after gaps exposed in last year’s India-Pakistan border conflict.
India, Jan 21 : India is fast tracking its space based surveillance capabilities in response to security gaps exposed during last year’s border conflict with Pakistan. Officials familiar with the matter said New Delhi plans to launch more than 50 new spy satellites, with advanced imaging technology that can operate in low light and cloudy conditions, to bolster national security.
The Narendra Modi administration is also considering building overseas ground stations in regions like the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Scandinavia to relay satellite data more rapidly, subject to local approvals. Upgrades are underway to enable data transfer directly between satellites, reducing reliance on ground stations.
The first 52 satellites under the Space-Based Surveillance-3 program are expected to be launched as early as April to provide more frequent monitoring of strategic areas than current capabilities allow. India plans a total deployment of up to 150 new satellites, at an estimated cost of ₹26,000 crore ($2.8 billion), according to reports citing ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan.
These measures follow lessons learned from the May border standoff, India’s most severe military confrontation with Pakistan in decades. During the four-day crisis, satellite blind spots forced India to rely on US-based data for operational planning, as its existing satellites could not capture imagery at night or in cloudy conditions capabilities that Chinese satellites supplied to Pakistan.
Officials said the additional satellites could reduce the gap in surveillance from days to just a few hours, enhancing rapid decision-making for border security. India’s Ministry of Defence, ISRO, and Chairman Narayanan did not respond to requests for comment.
The program also aims to develop “bodyguard” satellites to protect Indian spacecraft from potential threats in orbit. ISRO will deploy its existing rockets for the launches, alongside private sector partners like Skyroot Aerospace, in a broader push to strengthen India’s space based monitoring network. While recent launches have seen mixed results, successes such as the December 2025 placement of the BlueBird Block-2 satellite for AST SpaceMobile demonstrate progress amid challenges.
This ambitious satellite initiative marks a significant step in India’s efforts to achieve continuous, all weather surveillance and secure its borders against evolving threats.
