In May of last year, India and Pakistan had a tense four-day standoff. During such situations, satellites become the most important tools. They are used to identify enemy movements, monitor borders, and plan actions. However, according to a report by Bloomberg, a problem was exposed.
India’s existing spy satellites were largely ineffective at night or during cloudy weather. Imagine trying to use a regular camera in a dark, foggy room you won’t see much. That was the limitation. This created surveillance gaps, meaning for stretches of time, we couldn’t get a clear picture of what was happening on the ground. To fill these gaps, India even had to temporarily buy satellite images from private US companies to plan its moves.
Meanwhile, Pakistan, which has far fewer satellites of its own, got help from an ally: China. China’s satellites already have the advanced ability to see at night and through clouds. This experience was a wake-up call. It showed that to protect our borders effectively, India needs a 24/7, all-weather watch from space.
The Tech Upgrade
The new satellites will use a technology called Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). Unlike current cameras-in-space that need light, SAR uses radar waves to create clear pictures at any time, day or night, and right through cloud cover.
SBS-3 Programme
This project is called Phase 3 of the Space-Based Surveillance (SBS) programme. It was approved last October and will cost about Rs 26,968 crore. The first batch of satellites could be launched as early as April 2026.
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan has stated the broader goal is to add 100-150 satellites in three years to comprehensively monitor the entire country.
A Faster, Smarter Network
The plan also involves improving how satellites talk to each other. By enabling satellite-to-satellite data transfers, India can reduce reliance on slower ground stations and get critical information faster during conflicts.
Reports also indicate India is developing “bodyguard satellites” to protect its space assets. Furthermore, the government is exploring setting up overseas ground stations in places like the Middle East and Southeast Asia to relay intelligence data more quickly.
Source – telegraphindia
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