Indian Army Gets Satellite, Defence Ministry Signs Rs 3,000 Crore Contract

The defense ministry signed a 3,000-crore contract with New Space India Limited for an advanced communication satellite called GSAT 7B. This was done to meet a long-standing need.

According to an official statement from the ministry, the defense ministry signed a 3,000-crore contract with New Space India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), on Wednesday for an advanced communication satellite for the army called GSAT 7B. This will meet a long-standing need.

The Indian Army does not have a dedicated satellite like the Indian Air Force and Navy do. The five-ton geostationary satellite will be made in India, the ministry said.

Reports from the media say that the army should get the satellite in 2026.

The advanced security satellite will help ground troops, remotely piloted aircraft, air defense weapons, and other mission-critical and fire support platforms with their tactical communication needs.

India’s defense acquisition council (DAC), which is the government’s top body for buying weapons, agreed to the army’s plan for a GSAT-7B satellite in March 2022. ISRO’s GSAT-7 series of advanced satellites are made to let people talk to each other over long distances, even across oceans.

According to the ministry, many satellite parts, subassemblies, and systems will come from local manufacturers, such as micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and start-ups. The project will also put about 300,000 people to work over the next three and a half years.

The ministry also signed two other contracts with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) worth about Rs. 2,400 crores to improve the air defense capabilities of the armed forces.

Information about the projects covered by the contract:

Project Akashteer: This automated air defense control and reporting system will give the air defense units of the Indian army a way to work together that is cutting-edge and made in India. Akashteer will keep an eye on the low-level airspace over the battle areas of the Indian army and be able to control ground-based air defense weapons.

As part of the Samudrika program, the defence electronics research laboratory in Hyderabad designed and built Sarang Systems, an advanced electronic support system for Indian Navy helicopters.

Advanced Communication Satellite: The satellite will greatly improve the Indian Army’s ability to communicate by letting troops, formations, weapons, and airborne platforms talk to each other even when they can’t see the satellite.