To boost surveillance, Govt taps global firms for high-resolution satellite imagery
The initiation of talks with these satellite imagery providers comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor in May, where it has been inferred that China provided live inputs through satellite support to Pakistan. Senior Army officials have since said that when the DGMO-level talks were on, Pakistan flagged information about 'specific vectors' on the Indian side that were being primed and readied for action, likely from satellite inputs facilities by China.
'We are in talks with commercial satellite imagery providers. We have to deepen our surveillance measures,' an official told The Indian Express.
The objective of these discussions is to extend the surveillance envelope and be able to do real-time surveillance at the time of conflicts for more efficient military actions, officials said.
The move likely includes Maxar Technologies, which operates some of the world's most advanced Earth observation satellites that can capture images with 30-centimetre resolution, detailed enough to discern targets such as infrastructure, buildings, artillery gun systems and even vehicles.
When contacted by The Indian Express, Maxar's spokesperson said they 'don't comment on contract negotiations'.
While India's satellites, including the Cartosat and RISAT, have played a big role in helping defence forces to strategise, track enemy mobilisation and confirm strike impact, while maintaining real-time situational awareness which prevented any major damage to the country's military assets, these domestic satellites face some limitations in their capabilities.
The Cartosat-3 satellite was designed to offer resolution of up to 30-centimetre, but is claimed to provide good quality imagery at about 50 centimetres. Also, Cartosat-3 operates alone, which limits how frequently it can scan the same area, something that is crucial during fast-paced military engagements where the battlefield is limited to a specific sector. Visibility is crucial, which the Pakistanis are believed to have with Chinese inputs.
India's satellites, including the Cartosat and RISAT, have played a big role in helping defence forces to strategise and maintain real-time situational awareness, but there are some limitations in their capabilities. The move to rope in global players is aimed at plugging these gaps.
India is already working on upgrading its satellite capabilities and has fast-tracked deployment of 52 surveillance satellites under the SBS (Space Based Surveillance)-III programme after Operation Sindoor, to enable efficient and enhanced monitoring of land and sea borders, with stronger imaging and all-weather functionalities. 'They will start launching the satellites from next year onwards and the deployment of all satellites will be completed by 2029,' the official said.
In October last year, the Union Cabinet approved $3.2 billion for the SBS-III programme to develop next-generation satellites over the next decade. Under the programme, ISRO will manufacture and launch the first 21 satellites, while private companies will handle the remaining 31. The Defence Space Agency will oversee the operation of the newly launched satellite system.
Aanchal Magazine is Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and reports on the macro economy and fiscal policy, with a special focus on economic science, labour trends, taxation and revenue metrics. With over 13 years of newsroom experience, she has also reported in detail on macroeconomic data such as trends and policy actions related to inflation, GDP growth and fiscal arithmetic. Interested in the history of her homeland, Kashmir, she likes to read about its culture and tradition in her spare time, along with trying to map the journeys of displacement from there.
... Read More
Anil Sasi is National Business Editor with the Indian Express and writes on business and finance issues. He has worked with The Hindu Business Line and Business Standard and is an alumnus of Delhi University. ... Read More
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
28 minutes ago
- India.com
Trump Cozying Up To Pakistan – Will It Push India Closer To China?
New Delhi: A meeting in Washington last month between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Pakistan Field Marshal Asim Munir sparked concern in New Delhi. Just days earlier, a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, South Kashmir, had killed 26 innocent civilians. India blamed Pakistan after a group linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba claimed responsibility. Foreign policy watchers are now weighing a critical question: could this renewed U.S.-Pakistan engagement unsettle India's fragile equation with China? For years, Beijing has served as the strategic common threat binding India and the United States. Both nations view China as a geopolitical rival and have steadily expanded cooperation to counter its influence. But Trump's warm overtures toward China-backed Pakistan are forcing India to rethink its calculus. Diplomatic experts say India is unlikely to pivot dramatically toward China based solely on the Trump-Munir meeting. Moves to de-escalate tensions with Beijing had already been set in motion months earlier. Still, the symbolism of the meeting and its implications for India's long-term strategy are difficult to ignore. Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington D.C., said the meeting must be viewed in light of recent India-Pakistan military flare-ups during Operation Sindoor. 'It is not that India is suddenly leaning toward China because of Trump's outreach to Pakistan. But the context matters, especially given that Pakistan used Chinese weapons against India for the first time during that conflict,' he explained. He added that uncertainty around U.S.-India ties under Trump remains a major concern in New Delhi. 'There is no clear indication of how Trump plans to deal with China. At times, he talks tough, at others, he calls for cooperation. India is wary of assuming that the United States will always align with its strategic interests on China.' That ambiguity, Kugelman said, is one reason India has begun hedging its bets by stabilising ties with Beijing. A Subtle Thaw Between India and China Since October 2024, signs of a diplomatic thaw have emerged. Border troops from both sides have started withdrawing from several flashpoints along the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC). Earlier this month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Chinese President Xi Jinping during the SCO foreign ministers' summit, marking his first visit to Beijing in six years. Direct commercial flights between India and China are set to resume. The long-suspended Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has reopened for Indian pilgrims. In a move with economic implications, the government think tank NITI Aayog has proposed allowing up to 24% Chinese equity in Indian companies without special clearance. Foreign policy commentator Indrani Bagchi believes India is proceeding cautiously. 'The government is trying to introduce a degree of stability into its relationship with China. We may see some Chinese investment flowing in, but it's unlikely to go much beyond that,' she said. She also warned against overreacting to Trump's overtures to Pakistan. 'This is not the first time Washington has leaned toward Islamabad. Whenever it does, the trust factor in U.S.-India ties takes a hit. If the United States resumes military aid to Pakistan, it will definitely raise red flags in New Delhi,' she added. At the same time, she noted, India has been attempting to diversify its defense partnerships, gradually reducing dependence on Russia and increasing procurement from the United States. 'If America is using Pakistan as a bridge to reach China, India will be forced to reassess,' she added. What Is Beijing's Game? Some former diplomats argue that if India extends a hand, China will likely respond with caution but openness. Achal Malhotra, a former ambassador, said New Delhi's foreign policy is guided by realism, not alignment. 'Our relations with China stand on their own merit. We are prudent but sovereign in our choices. The United States knows this. Trump's meeting with Munir likely reflects Pakistan's geographic utility in Afghanistan and Central Asia. Unless that directly threatens India, it is not an alarming development,' he said. Strategic analyst Zakir Hussain suggested it is U.S. inconsistency that might be nudging India toward China. 'The way Washington handles its ties with India is part of the reason New Delhi may explore a less confrontational path with Beijing. Economically, some of India's moves may lower tensions. But let us be clear that China will never abandon Pakistan for India,' he said.
India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
India's Nuclear Submarines, K-6 Missiles & MIRV Power Can Crush China, Rattle US
New Delhi: India's BrahMos missiles struck 11 major airbases inside Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. The destruction left behind was severe. Most of those bases still remain non-operational. The attack exposed India's combat strength, and that revelation has triggered visible fear in Pakistan's press. The Dawn has published a series of articles warning the world about India's growing missile power. Just last week, it raised alarms about India's bunker-buster bombs, calling them a significant threat to Pakistan's national security. Now, a new report highlights the one fear that Islamabad cannot shake – India's rapidly expanding naval nuclear arsenal. Dr. Aqil Akhtar, visiting faculty at Pakistan's National Defence University, warns that India's sea-based missile systems pose a direct threat. He writes that India is aggressively expanding its naval presence and firepower across the Indian Ocean, Pacific and Arabian Sea. According to him, the scale of this buildup exceeds India's defensive needs by a wide margin. India's naval modernisation is accelerating military competition and destabilising strategic balance. The analysis singles out India's nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) and attack submarines (SSNs) as a major danger for Pakistan. The report describes India's sea-based nuclear deterrent programme as a shift from a defensive posture to an offensive maritime doctrine. Why Pakistan Fears INS Arihant, INS Arighat According to Dr. Akhtar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is weaponising the Indian Ocean under a bold maritime strategy. The article describes this strategy as a trigger for regional and global instability. India's SSBN programme has reached a mature phase, which has sent alarm bells ringing in Islamabad. In direct combat terms, Pakistan stands no match. China, too, is now within India's striking range. India's sea-based missile power has reached a point where, in a full-scale war, India could inflict complete destruction on any adversary, including China. The Dawn expresses growing panic over India's nuclear submarines such as the INS Arihant and the INS Arighat. These platforms have completed India's nuclear triad, giving New Delhi second-strike capabilities from land, air and sea. The subs carry K-15 missiles (750 km range) and K-4 missiles (3,500 km range). India is preparing to deploy K-5 (6,000 km) and K-6 (8,000 km) SLBMs in the near future. Agni Missiles and MIRV Weapons Raise Global Alarms The article claims Pakistan's fear goes beyond regional considerations. India's strategic capability now spans global distances. The analysis notes that India is capable of storing over 400 nuclear warheads, with at least 100 ready for submarine launch. With this arsenal, even major powers like China and the United States would hesitate before engaging India militarily. According to the Dawn , India's recent behavior marks a drift from its stated policy of 'credible minimum deterrence'. The article suggests that India is now showcasing offensive power openly. Weapons equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) technology give India rapid first-strike potential, a shift that could destabilise nuclear strategy across Asia. A Threat That Can't Be Ignored Dr. Akhtar references senior Carnegie Fellow Ashley J. Tellis, who wrote in the Foreign Affairs that India's maritime strategy goes beyond China. According to the article, India aims to counter any nation seeking dominance, even the United States. The policy is rooted in the belief that countries have interests, not permanent friends. India's SSBN capability forms the backbone of its second-strike doctrine. That means if a nuclear attack is launched against India, retaliation is guaranteed and unavoidable. No enemy would be left standing. Pakistan has approached the United Nations Security Council and Western governments, urging them to stop India's development of long-range intercontinental missile systems such as the Agni-V and the Agni-VI.
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Operation Sindoor: India's actions were measured, non-escalatory, govt tells Parliament
Operation Sindoor was launched in response to a "barbaric" attack by "Pakistan-sponsored terrorists", and the action focussed on dismantling terror infrastructure and neutralising terrorists likely to be sent across to India, the government said on Thursday (July 24, 2025). In a written response to a query in the Rajya Sabha, Minster of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh also said India's actions were "focussed, measured and non-escalatory". The Ministry of External Affairs was asked whether it is a fact that Operation Sindoor was "announced under international pressure", and the "factual position" in this regard. Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman also asked about the impact of "sudden announcement of ceasefire in Operation Sindoor" on the morale of the Indian forces which were "achieving significant success", but suddenly "declaring ceasefire was against their morale and the sentiments of the people of the country". Union Minister Mr. Singh said Operation Sindoor was launched to respond to a "barbaric cross-border terror attack by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists. It focussed on dismantling terrorist infrastructure and neutralising terrorists likely to be sent across to India". Pakistan, however, attempted targeting Indian civilian areas, in addition to some military facilities, he said. "These provocations and escalatory actions by Pakistan were met with a strong and decisive response from the Indian armed forces, inflicting significant damage on the Pakistani military. Subsequently, on 10 May, 2025, the Director General of Military Operations of Pakistan approached his Indian counterpart to request for cessation of firing and military activities, which was agreed to later that day," the MoS said. Under Operation Sindoor, India had decimated nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7 in pre-dawn precision strikes. It was carried out to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam terror strike. In a separate query, the MEA was also asked whether the Ministry had taken efforts to "alienate" Pakistan on world forum. As part of the U.N. Security Council's routine annual process, the Chairs and Vice- Chairs of its subsidiary bodies and committees are selected from amongst its permanent and elected non-permanent members. In addition to Russia and France, Pakistan has been selected as one of the Vice-Chairs of the U.N. Counter Terrorism Committee for 2025, Mr. Singh said. It may be noted that India was the Chair of the U.N. Counter Terrorism Committee in 2022. Similarly, India was also the Chair of the same committee during its 2011-12 term, the MoS added. "The Government of India has been sensitising all concerned interlocutors on the menace of cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. Due to India's persistent efforts, the global community has a greater understanding of India's concerns on cross-border terrorism," he said. India's efforts over the years have led to listing of several Pakistan-based terrorists and terrorist entities under the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee and the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) "grey listing of Pakistan", the Minister said. The UNSC press statement in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack also "strongly condemned" the terror attack and acknowledged the need to hold the perpetrators, organisers, sponsors and financiers of the attack accountable, he said. Several world leaders have recognised and supported India's actions to combat terrorism following the Pahalgam attack. Most recently, the US has designated The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, he said. In a separate query, the MEA was asked whether the government has "formally raised concerns" with the US. .regarding continued military aid and arms supplies to Pakistan, which could be "misused against India"; and whether India has taken "diplomatic steps" to counter "growing China–Pakistan military cooperation, particularly in PoK". Mr. Singh in his written response said the government of India "closely monitors" all military and security-related developments in its neighbourhood and regularly takes up "our concerns in this regard in interactions with our partners at appropriate levels". "India has consistently conveyed its concerns in this regard to the United States, with a view to ensuring that these developments do not compromise India's security or regional stability," he said. It has been India's consistent and principled position that the entire Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh "are, have been, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India". The government closely monitors all developments that have a bearing on India's national interest and takes timely and necessary steps to safeguard its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security interests, the MoS said. "Counter-terrorism remains a vital pillar of the India-US comprehensive global strategic partnership. India and the United States maintain a robust institutional framework for cooperation, including a dedicated Counter-Terrorism Dialogue mechanism that meets regularly. "Both sides collaborate closely on terrorist designations at domestic and international forums, and extend mutual legal assistance, including on extradition matters," he added.
