India's Military Space Program: Private Sector Integration In Space-Based Surveillance

India is embarking on a transformative journey in military space capabilities
with the third phase of its Space-Based Surveillance (SBS-III) program, which
represents the nation's largest expansion of space-based intelligence assets
to date. This ambitious initiative, valued at approximately ₹27,000 crore,
will deploy 52 military satellites by 2027-28 through an unprecedented
public-private partnership.
For the first time, India's private sector will play a significant role in
developing satellites for strategic defence purposes, with three South Indian
companies tasked with building 31 of the 52 satellites. This shift comes as
India develops its first military space doctrine, expected within months,
positioning the country to counter China's growing space capabilities while
establishing itself as a significant space power with comprehensive
surveillance, communication, and deterrence capabilities across terrestrial
and maritime domains.
The Evolution And Scope of India's Space-Based Surveillance Program
The SBS-III program marks a significant advancement from its predecessors,
with approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security in October 2024. Unlike
the first two phases (SBS-1 and SBS-2), which relied exclusively on the Indian
Space Research Organisation (ISRO), this iteration represents a paradigm shift
by integrating private sector capabilities. The ₹27,000 crore initiative will
deploy a constellation of 52 military satellites, with the first batch
expected to be launched between 2027 and 2028. This expansive network is
designed to provide comprehensive coverage of India's areas of interest,
offering continuous monitoring capabilities from multiple orbital platforms.
The scale of this project is unprecedented in India's space history, with
satellites strategically positioned across Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth
Orbit (MEO), and Geostationary Orbit (GEO) to create a multi-layered
surveillance network. This approach ensures redundancy and resilience,
reducing vulnerability to potential disruptions or attacks. The distribution
across various orbits also enables different operational capabilities, from
high-resolution imaging in lower orbits to persistent wide-area coverage from
geostationary positions, creating a comprehensive space-based intelligence
architecture.
The initiative has been carefully structured to balance technological ambition
with practical implementation, establishing a phased deployment schedule that
will see the first satellites in orbit by 2027-28. This timeline reflects both
the complexity of the project and the strategic urgency of enhancing India's
space-based surveillance capabilities in response to evolving regional
security dynamics, particularly with respect to China's rapidly advancing
space program.
SBS-I (approved in 2001) | SBS-II (approved in 2013) | SBS-III |
---|---|---|
Focused on basic surveillance capabilities. | Focused on enhanced surveillance capabilities, particularly for maritime domain awareness. | Proposes to utilise both LEO and GEO satellites for comprehensive coverage. |
Involved launch of 4 surveillance satellites - Cartosat-2A, Cartosat-2B, RISAT-2, and Eros-B | Involved the launch of 6 additional surveillance satellites - Cartosat-2C, Cartosat-2D, Microsat-1, RISAT-2A etc. | Three services will have dedicated satellites for their land, sea, and air based missions. |
Private Sector Integration In Military Space Capabilities
In a ground breaking development for India's defence-space ecosystem, the
SBS-III program marks the first time private companies have been entrusted
with building satellites for strategic military applications. Three private
firms based in South Indian states have been shortlisted to collectively
produce 31 satellites, while ISRO will develop the remaining 21. The
distribution of responsibility is significant—one company will build 15
satellites, with the other two sharing the remainder—representing a major vote
of confidence in India's private space industry.
This public-private partnership signals a fundamental shift in India's
approach to space development, aligning with the 2020 space sector reforms
that aimed to unlock private innovation and reduce dependence on state-run
entities. The identities of these three companies remain classified due to the
sensitive nature of the program, underscoring the strategic importance of
these assets to national security. These firms are expected to deliver their
satellites within four years of contract signing, demonstrating the
accelerated timeline for enhancing India's space capabilities.
The involvement of private industry extends beyond satellite manufacturing to
include broader space services, with military officials noting openness to
utilising imagery and analytical products from private entities. This approach
creates a more diverse and resilient ecosystem for space-based intelligence
gathering, leveraging the growing capabilities of India's commercial space
sector. The integration of private enterprise into such sensitive national
security infrastructure represents a maturing of India's defence-industrial
complex and a recognition of the innovation potential within the private
sector.
Technological Capabilities And Strategic Applications
The SBS-III satellites will incorporate cutting-edge technologies to provide
unprecedented surveillance capabilities for India's military and intelligence
communities. These platforms will be equipped with artificial
intelligence-driven analytics, synthetic aperture radar, high-resolution
electro-optical sensors, and all-weather imaging systems capable of monitoring
adversarial activities in real-time. This technological suite will enable the
tracking of enemy troop movements, missile deployments, and mobile launchers,
significantly enhancing India's situational awareness along contested borders.
These advanced capabilities will make it increasingly difficult for rival
nations to conceal critical military assets, providing India with a strategic
advantage in intelligence gathering and threat assessment. The all-weather
imaging capabilities are particularly significant, allowing continuous
monitoring regardless of cloud cover or lighting conditions—a crucial
advancement for reliable surveillance in the varied terrain and weather
conditions along India's northern borders with China and Pakistan.
The satellite constellation will play a pivotal role in strengthening India's
deterrence posture by providing persistent situational awareness along its
borders and throughout the Indian Ocean Region—a vital trade and security
corridor. Beyond pure surveillance, these satellites will support secure
communications, real-time command and control, and enhanced navigation for
precision strike capabilities, integrating space-based assets into India's
broader military operational framework. This multi-functional approach
transforms the satellites from mere observation platforms into critical
enablers of joint military operations across domains.
Emerging Military Space Doctrine And Strategic Response
Complementing the hardware investments, India is developing a comprehensive
military space doctrine to institutionalise the use of space for national
defence. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan announced at the third
Indian DefSpace Symposium that this doctrine is expected to be released within
"two to three months". This strategic framework will establish India's
approach to defending its assets in space, deterring adversaries, and
preparing for what Gen. Chauhan described as "the next frontier of warfare".
The doctrine's development comes as Gen. Chauhan has explicitly highlighted
the growing space capabilities of adversaries, particularly China, which has
"created a special aerospace force" and "demonstrated in-orbit manoeuvres".
His comments reflect India's acute awareness of the rapidly evolving threats
in the space domain, including potential "dog fights in space" and other
counter-space operations that could threaten India's assets. This recognition
has accelerated India's efforts to define military space, develop appropriate
space culture, and identify vulnerabilities requiring protection.
Gen. Chauhan has emphasised that space is emerging as a new domain that will
dominate warfare, with all three primary elements of warfare (land, sea, air)
becoming increasingly dependent on space-based capabilities. The forthcoming
doctrine is expected to address space situational awareness, asset protection,
and counter-space operations, positioning India alongside established space
powers like the US, China, and Russia. This comprehensive approach seeks to
ensure that India not only expands its space assets but also develops the
strategic framework and operational concepts to employ them effectively.
International Collaboration And Future Implications
India's space-based surveillance program incorporates an important
international dimension, particularly through collaboration with France.
Following the signing of a letter of intent on "defence space cooperation" in
January 2024, ISRO is expected to partner with France to develop some of the
surveillance satellites within the SBS-III program. This cooperation brings
valuable technological expertise and reflects India's strategic approach to
balancing indigenous development with international partnerships in critical
defence technologies.
The SBS-III program represents not just a quantitative expansion but a
qualitative leap in India's approach to military space. Unlike previous
generations of satellites, this constellation is designed with redundancy and
survivability as core principles, distributing assets across multiple orbits
to ensure operational continuity even in contested scenarios. This design
philosophy reflects lessons learned from global developments in counter-space
capabilities, including anti-satellite weapons tests and the growing
prevalence of electronic warfare targeting space systems.
Looking forward, the program positions India to address emerging threats while
establishing itself as a significant space power with autonomous capabilities
across the full spectrum of space operations. The involvement of private
industry creates a sustainable ecosystem for continued development,
potentially establishing a model for future military-private collaboration in
strategic technologies. As regional competition intensifies, particularly with
China's expanding space capabilities, India's investment in this domain
represents not just a response to current threats but preparation for an era
where space increasingly defines military advantage.
Conclusion
India's Space-Based Surveillance program under SBS-III marks a pivotal moment
in the nation's defence posture and space capabilities. By integrating private
sector innovation with public sector experience, India is charting a new
course in military space development that promises to enhance national
security while fostering a more diverse and capable space ecosystem. The
deployment of 52 advanced satellites across multiple orbits, combined with the
forthcoming military space doctrine, signals India's determination to
establish itself as a significant space power with comprehensive capabilities
for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
This initiative comes at a critical juncture in the militarisation of space,
particularly as China rapidly expands its capabilities in this domain. India's
response balances immediate security needs with long-term strategic
positioning, creating a foundation for space-based operations that will
influence military planning and operations for decades to come. With first
launches expected by 2027-28, the program represents not just an expansion of
capabilities but a fundamental transformation in how India conceptualises and
utilises space for national defence in an increasingly contested domain.
IDN