Latest news with #SmallSatelliteLaunchVehicle
New Indian Express
31-07-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
Rajarajan, a composites expert and key force behind Vikram-S, named new VSSC director
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Senior scientist A Rajarajan has been appointed as the new Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram. He will assume charge on August 1, succeeding S Unnikrishnan Nair, who is set to retire on July 31. Dr Rajarajan currently serves as Director of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (SDSC SHAR), Sriharikota. A veteran in the Indian space sector with nearly four decades of experience, Dr Rajarajan is widely regarded as an expert in composite materials, critical for building lightweight, durable, and high-strength structures used in satellites, spacecraft, and launch vehicles. During his tenure at SDSC SHAR, Dr Rajarajan played a pivotal role in enhancing launch infrastructure to meet the growing demands of ISRO's ambitious missions, including the Human Space Programme (Gaganyaan) and the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
SSLV acquisition strategic, we'll look at redesign in future: HAL
BENGALURU: Defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd 's (HAL) winning Rs 511 crore bid for the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) wasn't just about cost — it was a strategic move to own design capabilities and begin charting an independent path in India's launch vehicle ecosystem. The bid, which was significantly higher than competing offers in the Rs 250–310 crore range, was deliberate, HAL CMD DK Sunil told TOI in an interview. 'Our internal estimates were close to what we quoted — slightly lower, but in that range. This is a long-term play. We didn't want to just manufacture. We wanted to understand the rocket, build a cadre, and eventually modify the design ourselves,' he added. Unlike HAL's earlier collaborations with L&T on the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), the SSLV project marks a shift. It's a full transfer of technology (ToT) agreement, with HAL taking sole responsibility — not just for manufacturing, but also for absorbing the design and systems architecture. The formal agreement with Space PSU NewSpace India Ltd (Nsil) is expected to be signed by the end of July, after which HAL will begin building two SSLV prototypes. Sunil sees this as a beginning. 'The idea is to take baby steps. We want to understand avionics, structures, rocket parts, the entire stack. It's not about redesigning in two or three years. But ten years down the line, yes, I would be very happy if HAL builds a rocket from scratch.' The move comes as demand for launch vehicles catering to low-Earth orbit (LEO) small satellite constellations rises — both in the commercial and strategic sectors. HAL's interest in SSLV is not just about assembling hardware, but about developing a future-facing business vertical in rocketry. The immediate focus is on learning and integration, but the eventual goal is autonomy in design and adaptability to different mission profiles. Meanwhile, HAL-L&T work on the PSLV is expected to achieve a milestone later this year. The first rocket built entirely by industry is expected to launch around Oct-Nov 2025. The contract is purely for fabrication, using Isro's design and established supply chain. Even so, it has seen initial delays. 'There were some issues with sourcing materials, and the external environment has contributed to some slowdown,' Sunil admitted. 'But integration is under way. These are still early days, but we're now in better shape,' he added. Despite the differences in scope, HAL's engagement with both PSLV and SSLV signals a broader repositioning of the aerospace PSU — from being a supplier of structures to becoming a deeper stakeholder in space systems. The SSLV project, in particular, marks the beginning of HAL's ambition to design, adapt, and one day build rockets of its own. 'It's a journey,' said Sunil. 'Like how we built our aircraft capability over decades. We are starting that journey now for space.'
India Gazette
30-06-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
India to speed up launch of military satellites media
New Delhi is aiming to enhance its space-based surveillance capabilities to deal with potential conflicts India has fast-tracked the deployment of 52 surveillance satellites to enhance its space-based defense capabilities, according to media reports on Monday. The rollout is expected to begin with the launch of the first satellite in April 2026, and the entire constellation is slated to be fully operational by the end of 2029, India Today reported. The $3.57 billion project aims to provide real-time monitoring and improve border security, it added. Once deployed, the satellite constellation will offer high-resolution imagery and reduced revisit times, enabling India's army, navy, and air force to closely monitor movements within hostile territory. Indian space agency officials have said the country aims tomitigate threatsby deploying a diverse array of satellites in different orbits that are capable of tracking the movement of troops and photographing thousands of kilometers along the borders with neighboring China and Pakistan. In its recent military confrontation with Pakistan, India is believed to have used indigenous and commercial satellite-based tracking to destroy suspected terror bases in the neighboring country, local media reports said. India's Integrated Defense Staff is overseeing the development of the 52 defense surveillance satellites, which will operate in both low Earth orbit and geostationary orbit, according to reports. The satellite network is designed to serve as a strategic deterrent and countermeasure to China's advancing anti-satellite capabilities, including kinetic weapons and electronic warfare systems. Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, chief of the Integrated Defense Staff, was cited by India Today as saying that the country should be able to "detect, identify, and track potential threats" while they are still in their early stages, such as in launch areas, airfields, and bases located deep within enemy territory. A key aspect of the project is the significant involvement of private industry, as the state-owned Indian Space Research Organization intends to transfer its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) technology to private firms, allowing for swift launches in emergency situations. (
Hans India
30-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
India Accelerates Deployment Of 52 Military Surveillance Satellites Following Operation Sindoor
India has expedited its ambitious military satellite program, announcing plans to deploy 52 defense surveillance satellites by 2029 as part of a comprehensive strategy to strengthen space-based monitoring capabilities across sensitive border regions with China and Pakistan, as well as the Indian Ocean Region. The substantial Rs 26,968 crore initiative represents a direct response to China's expanding military space infrastructure and aims to establish continuous real-time surveillance and enhanced border security measures. The program has gained urgency following strategic insights gained from Operation Sindoor, which demonstrated the critical importance of indigenous and commercial satellite-based tracking systems. Under the third phase of the Space-Based Surveillance program, the Indian Space Research Organisation will be responsible for launching 21 satellites, while three private sector companies will develop and deploy the remaining 31 satellites. This public-private partnership approach marks a significant shift in India's defense satellite strategy, emphasizing rapid deployment capabilities and technological innovation. The satellite constellation's deployment timeline begins with the first satellite launch scheduled for April 2026, with the entire network expected to achieve full operational capacity by the end of 2029. The system will provide high-resolution imaging capabilities and enhanced revisit frequencies to support India's Army, Navy, and Air Force in monitoring adversary movements within enemy territory. A key innovation in this program involves ISRO's plan to transfer Small Satellite Launch Vehicle technology to private partners, enabling swift satellite deployment during emergency situations. This capability ensures rapid response times for critical surveillance needs and maintains operational flexibility during periods of heightened tension. Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, emphasized the strategic importance of early threat detection, stating that India must identify and track potential threats while they remain in staging areas, airfields, and bases deep within adversary territory, rather than waiting until they approach Indian borders. The Integrated Defence Staff is supervising the comprehensive project, which will utilize both low Earth orbit and geostationary orbit configurations to maximize coverage and surveillance effectiveness. The satellite network is designed to serve as both a deterrent and countermeasure against China's developing anti-satellite capabilities, including kinetic weapons and electronic warfare systems. The acceleration of this program reflects India's recognition of space as a critical domain for national security, particularly given the evolving threat landscape in the region. The constellation will significantly enhance India's ability to monitor strategic locations, track military movements, and maintain situational awareness across vast geographical areas. This initiative positions India among the leading nations in military space capabilities, demonstrating its commitment to maintaining strategic autonomy and defensive preparedness in an increasingly complex security environment. The project's success will establish India as a formidable player in space-based defense systems while providing essential intelligence capabilities for national security operations.
India Today
30-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
India fast-tracks launch of 52 military satellites after Operation Sindoor
India is fast-tracking the launch of 52 defence surveillance satellites to enhance its space-based surveillance capabilities, particularly along its borders with China and Pakistan, and in the Indian Ocean Region. The Rs 26,968 crore project aims to provide real-time monitoring and improve border security. The initiative is a response to China's growing military space capabilities. Under Phase 3 of the Space-Based Surveillance (SBS) initiative, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch 21 satellites, while three private firms will develop and deploy the remaining 31. advertisement The first satellite in this constellation is scheduled to launch in April 2026, with full deployment targeted by the end of constellation will provide high-resolution imagery and faster revisit times to assist India's Army, Navy and Air Force in tracking enemy movements deep within adversary territory. Notably, the project marks a significant role for private industry, as ISRO plans to transfer Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) technology to enable rapid launches during of Integrated Defence Staff, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, recently talked about the strategic imperative of detecting threats at their source and said, 'We must detect, identify and track potential threats not when they approach our borders, but when they are still in their staging areas, airfields and bases, deep within an adversary's territory.'The Integrated Defence Staff is overseeing the project which will focus on both low Earth and geostationary orbits. The satellite network also serves as a deterrent and counter to China's evolving anti-satellite capabilities, including kinetic weapons and electronic warfare recent Operation Sindoor highlighted the value of indigenous and commercial satellite-based tracking.- EndsTune In
