RISAT-2 schematic view of the Wide Coverage ScanSAR mode, the satellite is also capable of spotlight, stripmap, super stripmap & mosaic modes of operation

The launch will mark an important addition to India's all-weather Surveillance & Reconnaissance monitoring capabilities

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch its latest radar imaging satellite the RISAT-2BR1, most likely by the end of May 2019, if given weather conditions remain permissible. The update comes through an IANS report, which cites unnamed ISRO sources who revealed that the launch will reportedly take place on May 22 (as per the present schedule). The work-horse ISRO rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) will be used for the launch. The Spy satellite offers significant progress and sophistication in advanced technology in terms of all-weather surveillance and observation of our adversaries.

the RISAT-2 which was deployed in orbit on April 20, 2009, uses synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to provide the armed forces with an all-weather surveillance and observation capabilities, crucial to determine of potential threats/malicious activities along the nation's borders. The 2008 Mumbai terror attacks hastened the need to deploy a surveillance satellite to monitor India's borders as part of anti-infiltration and anti-terrorist operations. Since the indigenous SAR development was delayed then, as and an emergency measure India used Israeli X-band SAR technology built by Israel Aerospace Industries to equip the satellite. RISAT-2 was India's first satellite with a synthetic aperture radar. It possess day-night as well as all-weather monitoring capability.

Though ISRO sought to underplay the satellite's defence applications in its announcements, a substantial number of articles concerning RISAT-2 in the Indian media continue to refer to it as a "Spy Satellite". This is also supported by the fact that its Israeli sensor is clearly pronounced as a military grade sensor by its manufacture IAI.

The to-be-deployed RISAT-2BR1 satellite uses the same indigenous SAR band technology, and will further improve India's imaging & reconnaissance capabilities. ISRO also has multiple other launches in the pipeline such as the CARTOSAT-3 cartography satellite, among other, small defence satellites, which would be subsequently placed in orbit using ISRO's smaller rocket, the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (or SSLV) which has a payload capability between 300 to 500 kg depending on the orbit selected for launch. (With reporting by News18 & ANI)

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