The Indian Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹3,000-crore ($400 millionI) contract with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), for an advanced communication satellite, GSAT 7B, to meet the long-standing communication needs of the Indian Army. Unlike the Indian Air Force and the navy, the army currently does not have a dedicated satellite.
The satellite is expected to considerably enhance the army’s communication capability by providing mission-critical beyond line-of-sight communication to troops and formations, as well as weapon and airborne platforms. The five-tonne geostationary satellite with advanced security features will be developed indigenously by ISRO, and the army is likely to receive it in 2026. The project will generate employment of around 300,000 man-days over the next three-and-a-half years. In addition, the Ministry of Defence has signed two other contracts worth around ₹2,400 crore with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to enhance the air defence capabilities of the armed forces.
Project Akashteer is an automated air defense control and reporting system aimed at enhancing the air defense capabilities of the Indian Army. The system will enable the army’s air defense units to operate in an integrated manner and effectively control ground-based air defense weapon systems. The project, worth ₹1,982 crore, will enable the monitoring of low-level airspace over battle areas of the Indian Army, according to the defense ministry. The implementation of Project Akashteer is expected to further strengthen India’s air defense capabilities.