The Union Cabinet has approved the next phase of space surveillance programme with 52 defence satellites, according to a report.
The Space Based Surveillance (SBS) programme was launched in 2001 and four satellites were launched over the next decade. The second phase was launched in 2013 in which six satellites were launched.
Now, the Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the third phase of SBS (SBS-III), which would involve the development and launch of 52 satellites for defence purposes, according to Hindustan Times.
The decision comes shortly after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by Modi, approved the development of two nuclear submarines and acquisition of 31 MQ-1 ‘Predator’ drones.
Under the SBS-III, India will develop and launch at least 52 satellites in low earth orbit (LEO) and geostationary orbit for surveillance, as per HT.
The newspaper reported that SBS-III will be a public-private partnership and the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) will develop 21 satellites and the private sector will develop 31 at a projected cost of Rs 26,968 crore.
The three military services will have dedicated satellites for their land, sea or air-based missions, as per the newspaper.
Even though the government has not formally announced the approval of SBS-III, it signed a letter of intent with France in January for collaboration on military satellites.
With SBS-III, the government wishes to develop capabilities to detect hostile submarines in the Indo-Pacific and track infrastructure development in land and maritime border regions, according to the newspaper.
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Indian govt clears next phase of space surveillance programme with 52 defence satellites: Report
