Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Chair, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), has reportedly approved Phase III of the Space-Based Surveillance (SBS) mission, a development that bodes well for India’s security capabilities. This decision sets the stage for the launch of 52 surveillance satellites into low Earth and geostationary orbits.
The Modi government’s decision is likely to cause concern among adversaries like China and Pakistan, as these neighboring countries will be under continuous surveillance once the capabilities become fully operational.
With this enhanced capability, India will be able to detect enemy submarines operating in the Indo-Pacific region, according to sources familiar with the situation. Additionally, India will be better equipped to monitor and closely observe any illegal infrastructure development by China near the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
This decision to significantly boost India’s space-based surveillance capabilities comes at a critical time, amid rising tensions and shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region. As China continues to assert itself in an effort to expand its presence in the region, the Modi government’s action to deploy surveillance satellites aimed at effectively monitoring and responding to Beijing’s activities is both timely and strategic.
In response to China’s aggressive stance in the region, the Modi administration is implementing robust measures to safeguard India’s maritime and broader security interests. This initiative will promptly detect and neutralize any potential threats from hostile submarines. Moreover, experts suggest that these satellites will play a crucial role in monitoring infrastructure development along India’s land borders with adversarial nations.
The move also includes the monitoring of the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, where the construction of new roads, airstrips, and military outposts has raised significant concerns over the past several years. Furthermore, increased surveillance along the Pakistan border will enable India to track new defense-related infrastructure projects that could pose a threat to national security.
Sources indicate that India will be able to share the intelligence and key information gathered from these satellites about China’s illegal and expansionist activities with other countries as well.
The National Security Council Secretariat, in collaboration with the Defense Space Agency under the Defense Ministry’s integrated headquarters, is managing this satellite surveillance project, which aims to enhance land and maritime domain awareness for both civilian and military purposes. With a budget of ₹26,968 crore, the project includes the construction and launch of 21 satellites by ISRO, while the remaining 31 will be developed by private companies.
