Exclusive| Army to get own communications satellite by mid-2028: Top officials
The Army, unlike the Indian Air Force and the Navy, lacks a dedicated communications satellite and currently relies on the IAF’s GSAT-7A for communication.
The Indian Army is set to receive its own dedicated communications satellite by mid-2028, according to top officials familiar with the matter. The satellite, GSAT-7B, will be launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and will provide the army with secure, round-the-clock connectivity, particularly in remote border areas and challenging terrain.
This development is significant as the Army currently lacks a dedicated communications satellite and relies on the Indian Air Force's GSAT-7A for its communication needs. The defense ministry had signed a ₹3,000-crore contract with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO's commercial arm, to develop the satellite in March 2023. The launch, initially planned for November 2027, is now set to occur six months later due to technical reasons.
The GSAT-7B, India's heaviest communications satellite to date, will enable beyond-line-of-sight communications for deployed troops and various mission-critical assets. Given China's growing space capabilities and potential to disrupt satellite signals, space-based communications are crucial for resilient communication links during conflicts.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
