India is poised to launch its inaugural indigenous spy satellite in April this year, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s space capabilities. The satellite, developed by TATA Advanced Systems (TAS) Limited, a division of the TATA Group focused on defense, will be deployed via a SpaceX launch vehicle, as reported by Interesting Engineering.
The TAS-built satellite is set to augment India’s radar imaging satellite (RISAT) fleet, increasing the count from 12 to 16, with its primary objectives being monitoring infrastructure, acquiring military targets, and enhancing operational confidentiality, according to the Economic Times.
Notably, the satellite is expected to play a crucial role in monitoring the “Line of Actual Control” along the Chinese border, boasting an impressive ground resolution of approximately 1.64 feet (0.5 meters).
The collaboration between TAS and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) marks a groundbreaking move, allowing a private sector company extensive involvement in the satellite build program for the first time. This partnership opens doors for TAS to expand its satellite production for both domestic and global markets and explore adjacent applications in space technology under ISRO’s license.
The completion of the satellite’s construction at the TASL plant in Bengaluru is a significant achievement for India, which traditionally relied on foreign intelligence sources for data despite possessing sub-meter resolution satellites. TASL, capable of producing 25 satellites annually, has also secured agreements with the Karnataka government for further investments in the aerospace and defense sectors.
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