ISRO Chief: 10 Satellites Working Round-the-Clock for National Security
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan stated that ten Indian satellites are continuously operational for strategic purposes, ensuring the safety and security of the nation's citizens. Speaking at a university convocation in Imphal, he highlighted India's growing stature as a "vibrant space power." These space assets play a crucial role in monitoring and providing vital data for public security, particularly amidst contemporary security challenges, reinforcing India's technological capabilities in safeguarding national interests.
Unpacked:
The ten Indian satellites are used for real-time military planning, border surveillance, maritime monitoring of India's 7,000 km coastline, and providing data for public security and disaster management. They enable continuous surveillance of the northern and western borders, which is especially important during times of heightened tension with neighboring countries like Pakistan.
Satellite monitoring helps India address contemporary security challenges, such as border skirmishes and unrest along its northern and western borders. It allows for constant surveillance, timely intelligence gathering, and rapid response, crucial for a country with extensive land and maritime boundaries and ongoing tensions with neighboring countries.
India's space program is recognized globally for its advanced launch vehicles, Earth observation, and strategic surveillance satellites. While the U.S., China, and Russia have larger constellations and budgets, India has rapidly expanded its capabilities, launching over 130 spacecraft missions and providing critical support for national security, disaster management, and international partnerships.
ISRO is set to launch the EOS-09 (RISAT-1B) satellite, which will improve high-resolution Earth observation and all-weather surveillance for defense and disaster management. Additional missions planned from May to July 2025, including collaboration on international spaceflights, will further boost India's strategic and technological edge.