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Get the latest updates on Operation Sindoor and India’s launch of 52 defence surveillance satellites. Stay informed with breaking coverage from Fast Track News.
Operation Sindoor: Forging India’s Space & Defence Revolution
Strategic Wake-Up Call
In early May 2025, India conducted Operation Sindoor, a targeted military campaign against terrorist infrastructure across the Line of Control and within Pakistan-administered territory. Triggered by the tragic Pahalgam attack on April 22, which claimed 26 civilian lives, the operation saw coordinated missile strikes, aerial sorties and loitering munitions. India described the strikes as “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” hitting nine sites tied to groups like Jaish‑e‑Mohammed and Lashkar‑e‑Taiba Pakistan responded with counter-shelling and drone strikes before a mutual ceasefire took effect on May 10.
Despite India’s reliance on domestic assets like Cartosat and RISAT alongside commercial satellites, the operation exposed serious surveillance limitations—underscoring long revisit times, resolution gaps, and dependence on non-Indian platforms.
Satellite Surveillance: Mission SBS‑3
In direct response to these ISR shortfalls, India’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) fast‑tracked Phase 3 of the Space‑Based Surveillance (SBS‑3) programme in October 2023, allocating ₹26,968 crore for a constellation of 52 defence satellites by 2029, with efforts underway to pull launch dates forward.
- 21 satellites will be manufactured and launched by ISRO
- 31 satellites will be built by three Indian private sector firms
ISRO’s SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle) technology will support rapid deployment, especially needed during crises. Official sources confirm the first satellite is slated for April 2026, with full deployment by end‑2029, although timelines may be compressed.
Operational Advantage: Deep, Persistent ISR
The SBS‑3 constellation is designed to cover critical regions—including China, Pakistan, and the Indian Ocean Region—with:
- High-resolution imagery
- Short revisit times
- Persistent, near-real-time surveillance
This significantly improves India’s OODA loop—Observe, Orient, Decide, Act—by enabling intelligence collection before threats reach borders.
Defense Doctrine & Pseudo-Satellites
Simultaneously, India is developing a comprehensive military space doctrine to streamline command and control of its space-based assets. The Defence Space Agency (DSA), under the Integrated Defence Staff, will oversee implementation.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is also procuring High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS)—pseudo-satellites flying in the stratosphere for extended ISR missions—that complement the space-based constellation.
Indigenous Defence Tech: Beyond Satellites
Operation Sindoor catalyzed rapid development across India’s defence industry:
- Akashteer C4ISR: Bharat Electronics’ air-defence system, dubbed India’s counterpart to the Iron Dome, provided 100% kill rate against drones during the operation.
- SkyStriker kamikaze drones: Developed by Adani Defence, these were deployed to strike targets during Operation Sindoor .
- Nagastra-1R loitering munitions: Upgraded systems by Solar Aerospace & Defence, fitted with thermal and 360° gimbal cameras, received a ₹hundreds‑crore order for 450 units based on their performance in the operation.
H2 – Cyber Warfare Dimension
Operation Sindoor also included a significant cyber‑warfare component. In Gujarat, 18‑year‑old Jasim Shahnawaz Ansari and an accomplice carried out over 50 cyberattacks on government websites, supported by the hacker group AnonSec. Ansari was arrested in May by the ATS under cyber‑terrorism charges
Simultaneously, in Delhi, an Indian Navy clerk was honey-trapped and paid to leak classified intel to Pakistan, exposing vulnerabilities within the defence apparatus
Political & Public Messaging
- PM Narendra Modi praised Operation Sindoor as proof of India’s resolve and self-reliance, spotlighting the use of indigenous weaponry
- CM Yogi Adityanath emphasized Uttar Pradesh’s role in missile component manufacturing, including during Operation Sindoor, and its contribution to defence self-sufficiency .
Strategic Implications & Regional Balance
The 52-satellite constellation and related systems strengthen India’s strategic deterrence, signal autonomy in surveillance, and counter China’s rapid space militarization—especially its fleet of over 1,000 satellites including 360 ISR units
Integrating real-time satellite data with HAPS, drones, and cyber defence forms a multi-domain ISR tapestry, positioning India to stay ahead in future conflicts.
Conclusion & Future Outlook
Operation Sindoor served as a strategic inflection point, exposing critical gaps and accelerating India’s push toward comprehensive defence modernization:
- Space-based surveillance: 52 dedicated satellites by 2029.
- Military space doctrine and enhanced DSA oversight.
- Advanced ISR capabilities: HAPS, C4ISR systems, and drones.
- Cyber-defensive measures: Arrest of domestic threats and honey-trap fallout.
What began as a tactical military response has sparked a sweeping transformation—propelling India from reactive defence to proactive, integrated strategic posture across air, space, land, sea, and cyber domains. The coming years will reveal how swiftly the SBS‑3 constellation and allied systems can reshape India’s defence and deterrence landscape.
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