India's Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given the green light for the third phase of the Space Based Surveillance (SBS-III) project. The move will see the launch of 52 spy satellites intended to enhance the country's surveillance capabilities from space amidst the security concerns with Pakistan and China, reported The Times of India.
The Isro source told TOI that the project would cost around Rs 27,000 crore.
The 52 new satellites, which are expected to be launched over five years, aim to improve the monitoring of India's land and sea borders, especially given current security concerns with Pakistan and China, and Chinese activity in the Indian Ocean, the report said.
The new satellites are designed to complement existing satellites like Risat, Cartosat, and the Gsat-7 series. The initial phase of the SBS program began in 2001 under the Vajpayee administration, resulting in the launch of four satellites. Another six satellites were launched in the second phase in 2013.
New satellites with AI power
The new satellites will utilize artificial intelligence to interact with each other and gather geo-intelligence more effectively, said the report.
"We will have communication between satellites, so that if some satellite detects something, which is at GEO at 36,000km altitude, it can ask another satellite in the lower orbit to check much more carefully and then give us more information," said a senior Isro official last December.
This development will "improve the ability of satellites to detect changes, bring in more AI-related and data-driven approaches to analyze data, reduce data downloads, and get only the necessary information," according to the official.
Additionally, the recent Cabinet approval to purchase 31 weaponized Predator drones from US-based General Atomics will further boost the surveillance capabilities of the SBS-III mission.
Similar to earlier dedicated satellites such as Gsat-7B for the Indian Army, GSAT-7 for the Navy, and GSAT-7A for the Air Force, the new satellites will support special operations across different branches of the armed forces.
The SBS system will provide round-the-clock monitoring, unaffected by weather, time of day, or atmospheric conditions.
The Isro source told TOI that the project would cost around Rs 27,000 crore.
The 52 new satellites, which are expected to be launched over five years, aim to improve the monitoring of India's land and sea borders, especially given current security concerns with Pakistan and China, and Chinese activity in the Indian Ocean, the report said.
The new satellites are designed to complement existing satellites like Risat, Cartosat, and the Gsat-7 series. The initial phase of the SBS program began in 2001 under the Vajpayee administration, resulting in the launch of four satellites. Another six satellites were launched in the second phase in 2013.
New satellites with AI power
The new satellites will utilize artificial intelligence to interact with each other and gather geo-intelligence more effectively, said the report.
"We will have communication between satellites, so that if some satellite detects something, which is at GEO at 36,000km altitude, it can ask another satellite in the lower orbit to check much more carefully and then give us more information," said a senior Isro official last December.
This development will "improve the ability of satellites to detect changes, bring in more AI-related and data-driven approaches to analyze data, reduce data downloads, and get only the necessary information," according to the official.
Additionally, the recent Cabinet approval to purchase 31 weaponized Predator drones from US-based General Atomics will further boost the surveillance capabilities of the SBS-III mission.
Similar to earlier dedicated satellites such as Gsat-7B for the Indian Army, GSAT-7 for the Navy, and GSAT-7A for the Air Force, the new satellites will support special operations across different branches of the armed forces.
The SBS system will provide round-the-clock monitoring, unaffected by weather, time of day, or atmospheric conditions.
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