The Defense Ministry on Wednesday signed a Rs 3,000-crore contract with New Space India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), for an advanced communication satellite, GSAT 7B, a long- Permanent requirement, as per an official statement issued by the Ministry.
Unlike the Indian Air Force and Navy, the military currently does not have a dedicated satellite. The ministry said ISRO will indigenously develop the five-tonne geostationary satellite.
According to media reports, the army is expected to get the satellite in 2026.
The advanced security satellite will not only support the tactical communication needs of ground troops, but also remotely piloted aircraft, air defense weapons and other mission-critical and fire support platforms.
In March 2022, the Army’s proposal for the GSAT-7B satellite was approved by India’s Defense Acquisition Council (DAC), the government’s apex arms procurement body. ISRO’s GSAT-7 series of advanced satellites are designed to provide users with communication capabilities over vast distances, including over oceans.
Many satellite parts, sub-assemblies and systems will be sourced from indigenous manufacturers, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and start-ups, according to the ministry, which added that the project will employ around 300,000 people worldwide. Will give next three and a half years.
The Ministry has entered into an agreement with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for an amount of about Rs. Two other contracts of Rs. 2,400 crore for improving the air defense capabilities of the armed forces.
DETAILS OF PROJECTS SIGNED UNDER THE CONTRACT:
Project Akashir: This automated air defense control and reporting system will provide indigenous, state-of-the-art capability to air defense units of the Indian Army to operate in an integrated manner. Akashir will monitor the low level airspace in the battle areas of the Indian Army and effectively control ground based air defense weapon systems.
Sarang System: It is an advanced electronic support measurement system for helicopters of the Indian Navy, designed and developed by the Defense Electronics Research Laboratory at Hyderabad as part of the Samudrika programme.
Advanced Communication Satellite: The satellite will significantly improve the communications capability of the Indian military by providing mission-critical beyond-line-of-sight communications for troops and formations as well as weapon and airborne platforms.
