India’s Growing Space Defence Capabilities — What Aspirants Should Know

Introduction

Modern war fighting depends on space: navigation, ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance), communications, and missile-warning. India has been steadily building space-defence capacity through civilian agencies (ISRO), DRDO, and tri-service structures. Below is what’s been announced/developed and how aspirants can use this knowledge in SSB.

Key developments & programmes

• Defence Space Agency (DSA) and space assets: India consolidated space defence responsibilities through the DSA, coordinating military use of satellites and space-based ISR. Operational and planned military satellites include RISAT, Cartosat, GSAT-7 series, EMISAT, and SBS initiatives.
• Space-Based Surveillance (SBS) phase-3 (52 satellites): In 2025 India approved a major ₹26,968 crore plan to field AI-enabled surveillance satellites (21 by ISRO, 31 by private players) over 2025–29 to enhance continuous border surveillance. This represents a force-multiplying ISR grid.
• ASAT & counter-space: India demonstrated anti-satellite capability in earlier years and continues investments in counter-space resilience (hardening, redundancy, space situational awareness). See the policy and technical upgrades being discussed in defence circles.
• Civil-military collaboration: Projects like NASA-ISRO NISAR (large-scale Earth observation) and enhanced communications satellites (GSAT family) show civil tools can bolster military ISR/monitoring. Operational importance (how space helps the armed forces)

1. Real-time ISR: SAR and optical satellites provide day-night and all-weather imagery for border monitoring, maritime domain awareness, and targeting.
2. Secure communications (beyond line of sight): Dedicated military commsats (GSAT-7B etc.) allow resilient battlefield and naval comms.
3. Navigation & timing: GNSS (and backup solutions) are critical for precision weapons and coordinated operations.
4. Early warning & space situational awareness: Tracking adversary satellites, debris, and launches is essential to protect national assets.

What the SBS / 52-satellite plan changes

• Continuous surveillance over sensitive borders and maritime approaches reduces blind spots and enables faster tactical responses.
• AI-enabled analysis reduces operator overload and speeds decision loops — turning raw imagery into actionable inputs
• How to discuss space in SSB (GD / Lecturette / Interview)
• Keep it simple & strategic: Define the capability, then link to effect. Example: “SBS satellites provide persistent ISR, which helps pre-empt infiltration and improves coastal monitoring.”
• Use one clear example: Mention Cartosat or RISAT imagery use in border surveillance; reference civil-military coordination like ISRO-DRDO linkages.
• Avoid technical jargon: Explain concepts (SAR — radar that sees through clouds/night) in one line and move to strategic implications.

Short note for aspirants — facts to memorise

• Defence Space Agency coordinates military space use.
• SBS-3: 52 surveillance satellites approved (2025–29) — major ISR expansion.
• NISAR (ISRO-NASA) and cartographic satellites improve earth observation capabilities.

Final thought

Space capabilities are now core to national security. For SSB aspirants, being able to calmly explain what a capability is and why it matters (instead of overloading with tech) is the key to a strong GD or interview answer.