India is determined to strengthen its defence base for which it is buying new combat weapons that will replace obsolete ammunition. The country has extended these operations to electronic space arena as well.
India on April 1 will launch an electronic intelligence satellite EMISAT for the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) along with 28 third party satellites.The satellite will help to detect enemy radars and sensors deployed along the border.?
According to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), a new variant of its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket will first put the 436 kg EMISAT into a 749 km orbit. Times of India reported that the satellite will help in collecting imagery and communication intelligence.?
Photo: isro.gov.in/ Microsat-R launch on Jan 24, 2019
These satellites will identify the exact topography of enemy areas and find out how many communication devices are active in the area. The satellite will help India to keep an eagle eye on hostile nations.
Though, drones, balloons and aerostats are used by the security agencies to keep an eye on the enemies, they all have their limitations. For instance, drones can fly up to only a few hours, balloons can run out of helium gas and satellites are not static.?
Photo: isro.gov.in/ GSLV Mk-III-D2
Therefore, a number of security devices can help keep a check on enemy groups. Advanced electronic satellites can even decode the conversation between two users of communication devices.
On January 24, DRDO had launched Microsat-R which had the capability of capturing images at night.?
An ISRO source told TOI, Ą°Out of the total 47 operational satellites, India currently has six-eight satellites which are entirely used for military and surveillance purposes. Besides the cloud-penetrating Risat-2 satellite that has night surveillance capability, there are four Cartosat-2 series satellites (2C, 2D, 2E, 2F). These Cartosat satellites with their high-resolution panchromatic (PAN) cameras can take black and white pictures of the earth and can cover swath of 9.6 km at a time.Ąą?
Photo: isro.gov.in
Other international satellites that will be launched along with EMISAT will include, 24 from the U.S, two from Lithuania and one each from Spain and Switzerland- will weigh about 220 kg.?
ISRO Chairman K. Sivan had earlier told IANS that the launch will be a special mission, Ą°We will be using a PSLV rocket with four strap-on motors. Further, for the first time we will be trying to orbit the rocket at three different altitudes."?
The ISRO will also be launching two more defence satellites sometime in July or August with its new rocket Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).