With the establishment of an advanced constellation of satellites intended to keep an eye on other satellites that might be carrying out surveillance activities against Indian interests, India’s defense ministry is starting an unprecedented space surveillance project.
By going beyond conventional earth observation to incorporate active surveillance of space-based assets managed by other countries, this ground-breaking project marks a substantial advancement in India’s space-based defense capabilities. The project, which has an annual budget of ₹150 crore, would be carried out through a multi-year contract that makes use of both private sector innovation and government experience to establish an extensive counter-surveillance network.
Technical experts who specialize in satellite surveillance and space situational awareness technologies will likely be hired from private space start-ups to manage the project. This policy is in line with India’s larger plan to incorporate private sector capabilities into the country’s defense infrastructure, especially in the quickly developing field of space technology. India’s own spy satellite network is anticipated to be operational by the end of 2026, setting an ambitious but attainable deployment timeframe.
Growing worries about space-based surveillance operations aimed against Indian assets and territory are the driving force behind India’s decision to build satellite monitoring capabilities. The project expands on the ISRO Network for Object Tracking and Analysis (NETRA) program, which is currently in place and mainly concentrates on tracking satellite positions and space debris for mission planning. Targeting surveillance actions carried out by foreign satellites, this new effort, however, marks a substantial increase into active counter-surveillance operations.
It is impossible to exaggerate the initiative’s geopolitical significance, especially in light of India’s complicated border security situation with China and Pakistan. India now has about 55 defense and surveillance satellites in operation, but this is not enough to cover the entire country’s 7,500 kilometers of coastline and extensive borders. Recent security issues, such as heightened tensions along the Line of Actual Control with China and ongoing threats along the Line of Control with Pakistan, have further highlighted the necessity for improved space-based monitoring capabilities.
In order to transmit vital information to ground stations, the satellite constellation will function via an interconnected network. Because of the redundancy and resilience this distributed architecture provides, the system is less susceptible to deliberate attacks or technical malfunctions. With the help of sophisticated artificial intelligence capabilities, the satellites will be able to automatically identify, monitor, and evaluate satellite motions and behaviors that might point to surveillance activity.
According to the system’s technical specs, it can monitor satellites in a variety of orbital planes, ranging from low Earth orbit (LEO) at 400–600 kilometers above sea level to geostationary orbit (GEO) at about 36,000 kilometers. India would be able to track possible surveillance satellites thanks to this thorough coverage, irrespective of their orbital parameters or operational height. The system will be able to differentiate between potentially dangerous monitoring activities and regular satellite operations thanks to the inclusion of AI-driven analytics.
India’s larger Space-Based Surveillance Phase III (SBS-III) program, which entails the deployment of 52 surveillance satellites for extensive earth observation and border monitoring, is enhanced by this counter-surveillance effort. With a budget of ₹27,000 crore, the SBS-III program was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security and is the biggest space-based surveillance project in India to date. By combining satellite monitoring capabilities with this current infrastructure, a multi-layered defense system that tackles threats from both space and the ground is created.
This counter-surveillance operation complements India’s larger Space-Based Surveillance Phase III (SBS-III) program, which involves the deployment of 52 surveillance satellites for wide earth observation and border monitoring. The largest space-based surveillance project in India to date, the SBS-III program was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security and has a budget of ₹27,000 crore. This existing infrastructure is combined with satellite monitoring capabilities to form a multi-layered defense system that addresses threats from the ground and space.
India’s determination to use commercial innovation in defense applications is demonstrated by the choice to contract out technical expertise to private space start-ups. This strategy is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s larger space sector reforms, which promote private sector involvement in satellite production and space technology advancement. Involving private businesses will probably speed up development schedules and provide the project with cutting-edge technologies that may not be accessible through conventional government routes.
Relevant skills in satellite tracking and space situational awareness have previously been shown by a number of Indian private space firms. Digantara Aerospace, for example, has created the Space Camera for Object Tracking (SCOT), which can track objects in Earth’s orbit as small as 5 centimeters. The more specialized needs of satellite counter-surveillance activities are well-supported by such current capabilities.
Given the advanced space situational awareness capabilities already possessed by the US, Russia, and Europe, India’s foray into this field is a major step toward attaining strategic autonomy in space. In addition to providing independent evaluation capabilities that are essential for national security decision-making, the initiative will lessen India’s reliance on outside sources for intelligence regarding possible space-based threats.
India sees space-based challenges to its national security with urgency, as seen by the project’s expedited timeframe. The choice to shorten development timetables from the usual four-year period to 12–18 months shows how important this capacity is. Recent security events and the realization that space-based monitoring capabilities are becoming more and more crucial in contemporary conflicts have contributed to this acceleration.
When the counter-surveillance constellation is operationalized, India’s spy satellite network is expected to be deployed by the end of 2026. India’s strategic posture in space will be greatly improved by this coordinated deployment, which would produce a comprehensive space-based intelligence and counter-intelligence capabilities.
The satellite-monitoring array will give India unparalleled insight into space-based surveillance operations aimed at its territory once it is operational. By analyzing their operational patterns and identifying when foreign satellites are conducting surveillance operations over Indian territory, the system will be able to provide early warning of possible intelligence gathering activities. With this capability, active counter-intelligence operations in space will replace passive defense.
This capacity has diplomatic and deterrence implications in addition to the immediate security advantages. Potential enemies’ actions will probably be influenced by the knowledge that India can keep an eye on and maybe interfere with space-based surveillance operations, which will help maintain regional strategic stability. Additionally, the capacity gives India significant negotiating power in international discussions on arms control and space governance.
An important step in attaining complete space security and making India a significant space power is the country’s satellite-monitoring program. The project is in line with India’s overarching goal of attaining strategic independence and lowering reliance on other countries for vital national security capabilities. India’s investment in counter-surveillance capabilities puts the nation in a position to safeguard its interests and preserve strategic flexibility as space becomes a more disputed area.
Future spending in space security will probably be influenced by the success of this project, which may also serve as a template for other countries looking to build comparable capabilities. India’s strategy of fusing private sector innovation with government experience shows a practical way to achieve advanced space capabilities while controlling development schedules and costs. When the project is finished, India will have established itself as a major force in the world of space security and will have advanced its larger strategic goals in a world that is becoming more interconnected by the day.
