In a strategic push to strengthen national security, the Indian Ministry of Defence is finalizing a multi-year contract to deploy a constellation of satellites aimed at monitoring foreign spacecraft that could be surveilling India, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
Valued at ₹150 crore annually, the project is expected to be executed by a team of technical experts, with operations likely outsourced to a private space startup. The satellite network, set to launch by the end of 2026, will mark a major milestone in India’s efforts to expand its space-based surveillance capabilities.
The initiative builds upon ISRO’s existing Network for Space Object Tracking and Analysis (NETRA), launched in 2019 to monitor space debris and safeguard India’s 50+ operational satellites. While NETRA focuses primarily on space debris, the upcoming SBS-3 constellation will be dedicated to detecting and tracking foreign satellites potentially engaging in surveillance or hostile activity.
As part of the Space-Based Surveillance-3 (SBS-3) program, the new satellite constellation will include interconnected satellites capable of relaying real-time data to ground stations. These satellites will help detect, identify, and monitor threats from space, reinforcing India’s space situational awareness (SSA) and bolstering its national security infrastructure.
“This is a key step in using India’s space technology to deter and monitor foreign surveillance,” a senior official told Livemint. “It significantly enhances what NETRA currently offers.” NETRA’s infrastructure—comprising radars in Sriharikota, optical telescopes in Leh, Mount Abu, and Ponmudi, and a new site under development in Assam—can track objects as small as 10 cm in low Earth orbit (LEO) up to 3,400 km. SBS-3 will complement this by focusing on surveillance satellites from adversaries, especially those along the LAC and LoC.
A notable feature of the SBS-3 project is its heavy reliance on India’s private space sector. Bengaluru-based startup Digantara, backed by Peak XV, is reportedly the frontrunner for the contract. Known for its expertise in space situational awareness, Digantara’s involvement would mark one of the largest private-sector engagements in India’s space defense sector.
“This contract symbolizes a turning point,” a source stated. “It demonstrates growing trust in private firms to contribute to national security.” The SBS-3 constellation will operate in coordination with ISRO and potentially share infrastructure with NETRA, ensuring seamless data flow and mission integration. The project’s command and control center is likely to be based in Bengaluru.
This public-private partnership model aligns with the broader goals of IN-SPACE (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center). Its chairman, Pawan Kumar Goenka, has emphasized the government’s evolving role as a major customer for space services, encouraging innovation and private participation in India’s growing space economy.
The urgency behind SBS-3 was underscored by the May 2025 Indo-Pak conflict, Operation Sindoor, during which Indian forces successfully neutralized Pakistani surveillance aircraft and air defence systems. The conflict highlighted the need for real-time satellite intelligence and counter-surveillance measures in modern warfare. With China’s advanced Gaofen satellite series and Pakistan potentially integrating Chinese space technologies, India faces escalating threats from orbital surveillance.
SBS-3 aims to provide early warnings and neutralize such threats. The network will build on existing systems like DRDO’s Sindhu Netra, which monitors the Indian Ocean Region, and the RISAT series of all-weather radar satellites.
The full SBS-3 project includes plans for 52 satellites under a total budget of $3 billion. Alongside Digantara, companies such as Ananth Technologies, Centum Electronics, and Alpha Design Technologies are expected to contribute, working closely with ISRO to meet an ambitious 2026 deployment deadline.
Also Read:
SIM Port Process Time Eased by DoT
Despite its promise, the project faces considerable challenges. Deploying such a complex constellation in under two years will require coordinated efforts, robust cybersecurity, and seamless integration of data across public and private platforms. Chaitanya Giri, space expert at the Observer Research Foundation, noted that the project’s success will only be measurable once operational, especially given India’s current dependency on NETRA and limited ground-based tracking capabilities. Still, the SBS-3 initiative represents a bold step toward securing India’s space assets and asserting its presence in an increasingly contested domain.
