Does Elon Musk¡¯s SpaceX Collaboration With TATA For Indian Spy Satellite Raise Concern For China?
In a significant milestone for India's space program, plans are underway to launch the nation's inaugural domestically manufactured spy satellite aboard a SpaceX rocket in April, marking a pivotal moment in India's pursuit of advanced surveillance capabilities.?
This significant addition will augment the nation's radar imaging satellite (RISAT) fleet, escalating the count from 12 satellites in 2019 to 16,?according to reports from the Economic Times.
Crafted by TATA Advanced Systems (TAS) Limited, the defence arm of the esteemed TATA Group, the satellite is slated to be operated from Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Main goals of spy satellite
Its primary objectives encompass infrastructure monitoring and the acquisition of military targets, enabling India to uphold operational secrecy.?
The satellite is expected to be vital in monitoring the "Line of Actual Control" along the Chinese border. The satellite will have a ground resolution of approximately 0.5 meters.
TAS elucidates that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and two other private entities have recently chosen the company to spearhead the Assembly, Integration, and Testing of Satellites for diverse applications.?
TATA group's involvement with ISRO
This significant milestone marks the first-ever partnership between ISRO and a private sector organization on a large scale in the satellite manufacturing program. It is expected to create new opportunities for TAS to expand its operations by producing satellites for both the Indian and global markets.
Moreover, it will enable TAS to explore adjacent applications in space technology under ISRO's license, further fortifying Tata Advanced Systems' ongoing ventures in the unmanned air systems business.
India has traditionally relied on intelligence data from foreign sources, such as the US, despite possessing sub-meter resolution satellites.
The construction of the satellite has recently been completed, and it has been dispatched to the US for launch preparations.?
India's rapidly expanding prowess in satellite technology is underscored by this milestone, as 25 satellites are produced annually at the TASL plant in Bengaluru.
TASL has also inked an agreement with the Karnataka government for additional investments in the aerospace and defence sectors.
In parallel, efforts are underway to establish a state-of-the-art ground control centre in Bengaluru to facilitate the guidance and processing of satellite imagery. This centre, anticipated to be operational soon, is being developed in partnership with Satellogic, a prominent Latin-American company.
According to reports, TASL's satellite imagery can be shared with other friendly nations to foster better collaboration. While ISRO possesses satellites capable of sharing imagery, their utilization is constrained by the vast area requiring coverage. Consequently, India presently relies on US companies to procure the requisite spy data.
ISRO to launch 50 spy satellites in next 5 years
In December last year, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somanath outlined India's ambitious plans to bolster its satellite fleet for geo-intelligence gathering, aiming to launch 50 spy satellites over the next five years.?
As per a PTI report, strategically positioned in various orbits, these satellites will enhance the country's ability to track troop movements and monitor vast areas. With an emphasis on improving satellite capabilities to detect changes and analyze data using AI-driven approaches, India seeks to strengthen its defence intelligence gathering capabilities.?
Somanath highlighted the importance of expanding satellite communication and imaging technologies to cover extensive border regions daily, underscoring the need for a satellite fleet ten times larger than the current 54 satellites to meet India's aspirations for national security and power.??
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