India's Strategic Leap into Space Warfare: 52 Defence Satellites to Be Deployed Post-Operation Sindoor Under ₹26,968-Crore Surveillance Push. In the wake of Operation Sindoor, a high-intensity military engagement with Pakistan between May 7 and 10, 2025, India has significantly intensified its efforts to bolster space-based defence capabilities. The government is now fast-tracking the launch of 52 dedicated defence satellites by 2029 under the ambitious ₹26,968-crore Space-Based Surveillance Phase-3 (SBS-3) programme, marking a monumental shift in India’s strategic doctrine.

The enhanced surveillance infrastructure, led by the Defence Space Agency (DSA) under the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and supported by both ISRO and major private Indian aerospace firms, is poised to dramatically increase India’s situational awareness across critical threat theatres including China, Pakistan, and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). 

The SBS-3 Programme: India’s Most Ambitious Military Space Project

Cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security in October 2024, the SBS-3 programme is a multi-layered initiative aimed at establishing persistent, high-resolution, real-time surveillance over India’s adversaries. Of the 52 satellites, 21 will be developed and launched by ISRO, while 31 satellites will be built by three leading Indian private firms, a clear sign of the country’s push to integrate public-private collaboration in national security.

The satellites are set to be launched in low Earth orbit (LEO) and geostationary orbit (GEO) to ensure layered coverage and continuous observation. The first satellite is expected to be operational by April 2026, although officials have indicated that every effort is being made to compress deployment timelines due to the urgency created by rising geopolitical tensions. “The objective of SBS-3 is to enable more comprehensive surveillance over vast areas of China, Pakistan, and the IOR with shorter revisit times and better resolution. Our national space doctrine is also being updated to integrate this architecture,” a senior defence official told The Times of India. 

Integration with India's Space Doctrine & Emerging Private Sector Role

A key aspect of SBS-3’s implementation involves the finalisation of a new military space doctrine that aims to harmonise orbital surveillance systems with India’s broader strategic and tactical frameworks. With the participation of private space and aerospace firms, the initiative represents a watershed moment in India’s defence industrial evolution, promoting indigenous innovation while reducing external dependencies.

Private firms involved in the project have reportedly been instructed to expedite development, with funding and logistical support being streamlined through a fast-track procurement model to ensure timely delivery of satellite systems.

Complementary Technologies: High-Altitude Pseudo Satellites (HAPS)

In addition to the SBS-3 rollout, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is actively pursuing the acquisition of three High-Altitude Pseudo Satellites (HAPS) — long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles capable of stratospheric intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations. These aircraft will act as pseudo-satellites, providing real-time, high-altitude coverage and functioning in tandem with SBS-3’s orbital assets to ensure 24/7 strategic monitoring.

Lessons Learned from Operation Sindoor

Operation Sindoor served as a strategic wake-up call for Indian defence planners. Although India successfully used Cartosat-class satellites and accessed foreign commercial satellite data to track Pakistani troop movements and infrastructure build-up, critical gaps in real-time surveillance and actionable intelligence were exposed.

“We must drastically shorten our OODA loop — Observe, Orient, Decide, Act. Speed and integration are key. The faster we deploy this 52-satellite constellation, the stronger our deterrence,” said a defence official.

The need for indigenous, dedicated surveillance satellites is now more apparent than ever, particularly in the face of fast-evolving multi-domain threats.

Countering China’s Expanding Space Dominance

India’s satellite deployment push comes amid growing concern over China’s aggressive militarisation of space. In just over a decade, China has grown its satellite fleet from 36 military satellites in 2010 to over 1,000 satellites today, including 360+ ISR satellites. Moreover, China now possesses a comprehensive arsenal of anti-space weapons, including:

• Direct-ascent ASAT missiles

• Co-orbital ‘killer’ satellites

• Electronic warfare platforms

• Directed energy weapons (lasers)

China’s establishment of the PLA Aerospace Force in 2023 underscores its strategic view of space as the “ultimate high ground”, with its satellites even demonstrating dogfighting maneuvers in low Earth orbit — tactics aimed at shadowing or disabling adversary satellites in wartime.

“China has evolved from a ‘kill chain’ to a ‘kill mesh’—a deeply integrated network that fuses ISR satellites with precision weapon systems,” said IDS Chief Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit at a recent seminar.

A Paradigm Shift in India’s Defence Posture

India's SBS-3 programme is not just a technological leap but a strategic pivot. It marks the country’s transition from reactive surveillance to proactive, space-dominant deterrence. The programme is designed to provide India with the ability to monitor potential threats not only at the border but deep inside adversarial territory, including military bases, missile sites, airfields, and staging areas.

This advanced surveillance network — when combined with terrestrial intelligence, aerial reconnaissance, and cyber capabilities — will enable faster decision-making, precise targeting, and enhanced operational readiness in multi-domain conflict scenarios.