Army set to get its own satellite worth ₹3,000 crore by 2026

Army set to get its own satellite worth ₹3,000 crore by 2026

Daily Current Affairs   /   Army set to get its own satellite worth ₹3,000 crore by 2026

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Category : Defense Published on: April 01 2023

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  • After Navy & IAF, Indian Army to get dedicated satellite GSAT-7B as Ministry of Defence inks ₹3,000 crore deal with NSIL.
  • The defence ministry signed a 3,000-crore contract with New Space India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), or an advanced communication satellite, GSAT 7B, for the army to fulfil a long-standing need.
  • ISRO will construct the five-tonne geostationary satellite entirely on its own. The army will most likely receive the satellite in 2026. 
  • The satellite with advanced security features will support tactical communication requirements of not only troops on the ground, but also remotely piloted aircraft, air defence weapons, and other mission critical and fire support platforms.
  • In the absence of its own dedicated satellite, the Indian Army currently uses some of the transponders on-board GSLV-7A.
  • India currently has two military communication satellites – GSAT-7 (Rukmini for the Indian Navy) and GSAT-7A (Angry Bird for the IAF) that were launched in the last decade.
  • The first one GSAT-7 had 11 transponders including a UHF (ultra high frequency) one to communicate with submarines and was launched in 2013.
  • GSAT-7A (Angry Bird) was launched five years later in December 2018 from Sriharikota using the indigenous GSLV. This was one of the heaviest satellites lifted by the GSLV.
  • The Defence Ministry also signed contracts worth more than Rs 2,000 crore with Bharat Electronics Limited for purchasing an automated air defence control and reporting system named “Project Akashteer” to boost Indian Army’s air-defence capability and Sarang electronic support measures for Indian Navy helicopters.
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