ISRO, plans to almost triple its satellite constellation from the current 55 to approximately 165 over the next three years to meet national demands for surveillance, environmental monitoring, and communications. This goal, part of the broader space roadmap, targets completion by 2028 or early 2029.
Strategic Push for Border Security & Coastal Surveillance
With India currently operating around 55 satellites, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan emphasized that this number is insufficient for monitoring India’s 7,500 km coastline and extensive land borders. The agency aims to add another 100–150 satellites by 2028, driving up national surveillance coverage.
Defence Surveillance Constellation: SBS‑III Program
Under the Space-Based Surveillance Phase III (SBS‑III) initiative, India has approval to deploy 52 dedicated spy satellites by 2027–28, enhancing defence capabilities across land, sea, and aerial domains. The program involves both ISRO and private sector participation, with 31 satellites to be built by industry players and 21 by ISRO. The project has an estimated budget of ₹27,000 crore.
Supporting Infrastructure & Launch Cadence Expansion
- Launch Facilities: ISRO is building two new launchpads—one in Sriharikota (AP) and another in Tamil Nadu—to support the heightened mission frequency. These are expected to be operational within two years.
- Mission Volume: ISRO projects up to 12 launch vehicle missions in 2025, including major Earth observation missions like NASA-ISRO’s NISAR.
- Sector Growth: PTI confirms plans for 12 missions this year, supporting both national surveillance and scientific goals.
Long‑Term Ambitions: Space Station & Exploration
- ISRO plans to launch India’s first space station module—part of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS‑1)—by 2028, with the full station expected to be operational by 2035.
- The redevelopment of Gaganyaan and Chandrayaan‑4 missions feeds into ISRO’s broader goal of becoming a global space leader by 2040.
Why the Satellite Multiply Matters
- Security: Satellite-based surveillance supports digital intelligence, coastal monitoring, and border security.
- AI-enabled geospatial intelligence: ISRO’s growing satellite fleet will capture multi-modal data for analysis via machine learning and AI.
- Private sector boost: Space reforms and funding support over 300 space startups, enabling industrial scale-up in satellite manufacturing and launch services.
Summary
- ISRO plans to nearly triple its satellites—from ~55 to ~160–165—by 2028.
- Projects include launching 100–150 new satellites, including 52 military SBS‑III satellites, for surveillance and national security.
- Supporting infrastructure includes two new launchpads, mission cadence of 12+ per year, and space station and lunar exploration targets.
- This growth democratizes India’s space ecosystem, blends public and private capabilities, and positions India competitively by 2040.
