Desi Tech-Company Pixxel to Power Next-Gen Imaging for Indian Air Force
Pixxel, a Bengaluru-based space technology company building the world's highest-resolution hyperspectral satellite constellation, has signed a second agreement with the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), Ministry of Defence, Government of India. This new SPARK (Support for Prototype and Research Kickstart) grant, awarded to SpacePixxel Pvt Ltd under IDEX DISC 8 Challenge 6.2, supports the development of advanced Hyperspectral and MWIR (Mid-Wave Infrared) payloads, tailored for the Indian Air Force.advertisementThe grant further strengthens Pixxel's collaboration with the Indian ecosystem, following its selection under the Mission DefSpace Challenge of IDEX Prime (Space) in 2023 to manufacture miniaturised multi-payload satellites.
With this new milestone, Pixxel will leverage its cutting-edge optical engineering and in-house satellite manufacturing capabilities to design and build next-generation Earth observation payloads with security-grade performance. The high-resolution Hyperspectral and MWIR payloads will enhance India's airborne and space-based imaging capabilities across various operational and strategic applications.Speaking on the occasion, Awais Ahmed, Founder and CEO of Pixxel, said: "We're honoured to deepen our partnership with the Government of India and advance our mission of building cutting-edge space infrastructure right here at home. This grant is a proud milestone in our journey to put India at the forefront of next-generation aerospace innovation."advertisementThe grant through the iDEX scheme is designed to accelerate the development of next-generation prototypes and technologies by Indian startups and MSMEs, fostering a self-reliant and innovation-driven landscape in the country. Pixxel's continued participation underscores its commitment to supporting strategic goals and reflects the government's growing confidence in its technology stack.With three Firefly satellites already in orbit and more to launch soon, Pixxel has demonstrated its ability to build scalable, affordable, and versatile space solutions from the ground up. This is further enabled by Pixxel Aurora, the company's Earth Observation Studio, which makes hyperspectral imagery accessible and usable through intuitive visualisation, analysis, and insight generation tools. As the company expands its capabilities, it remains focused on building a real-time, high-fidelity health monitor for the planet.
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