52 Military Satellites & New Military Space Doctrine
Why in the News?
With an ambition to enhance India’s Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of India recently announced its plan to launch 52 dedicated military satellites. Alongside this, a new Military Space Doctrine was unveiled.
Key Highlights
Military Satellite Programme
- A total of 52 satellites will be launched specifically for military applications.
- These satellites will improve real-time intelligence, monitoring of adversaries, and strategic awareness beyond borders.
- Developed jointly by ISRO and the private sector, these satellites will be equipped with
- Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
- Advanced sensors and high-resolution imaging systems
- Deployment will be across Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and possibly Geostationary Orbit (GEO) for wider coverage and system redundancy.
New Military Space Doctrine
- The doctrine will serve as a guiding policy for India’s armed forces on:
- Space-based threat detection
- Monitoring hostile activities
- Managing real-time ISR operations
- It addresses emerging concerns such as:
- Anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons
- Space debris
- Electronic and cyber warfare in space
Past Developments
- India has previously launched satellites like
- GSAT-7 (Rukmini) – for the Navy
- GSAT-7A (Angry Bird) – for the Air Force
- RISAT series—Radar imaging for all forces
- In 2019, India became the 4th country (after the US, Russia, and China) to successfully demonstrate ASAT capability by destroying a satellite in LEO under Mission Shakti.
Prelims Practice Question
Q. With reference to India’s recent military space developments, consider the following statements:
- India’s 52 new military satellites will be developed solely by ISRO.
- The new Military Space Doctrine will focus only on intelligence gathering within national borders.
- India demonstrated its anti-satellite (ASAT) capability under Mission Shakti in 2019.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 3 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A. 3 only
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect – Development will involve both ISRO and private sector.
Statement 2 is incorrect – The doctrine includes tracking threats beyond national borders.
Statement 3 is correct – Mission Shakti (2019) successfully demonstrated ASAT capability.
