Why India is fast-tracking a $3.6bn spy satellite expansion
India is fast-tracking plans to launch dozens of new spy satellites as it seeks to strengthen its national security after discovering surveillance gaps during a military standoff with Pakistan last year.
Officials say the government plans to deploy more than 50 new surveillance satellites in the near term, with as many as 150 eventually planned. The expansion, estimated to cost about 260 billion rupees ($3.6 billion), is aimed at improving India’s ability to monitor its borders and respond quickly to potential threats.
The push follows a brief but intense conflict with Pakistan in May 2025, during which Indian forces relied heavily on satellite imagery to track military movements. Officials said the confrontation exposed blind spots in India’s surveillance capabilities, particularly at night and in bad weather.
To address this, India plans to upgrade its satellites with synthetic aperture radar, a technology that allows imaging in darkness and through cloud cover. The government is also working on systems that enable satellites to share data directly, reducing reliance on ground stations.
The first batch of 52 satellites, under a programme known as Space-Based Surveillance-3, is being fast-tracked and could begin launching as early as April 2026, according to earlier reports by Indian media.
India is also considering building overseas ground stations in regions such as the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Scandinavia to speed up data transmission, though these plans would require approval from host governments.
During the 2025 standoff, satellites played a key role in identifying targets, while China reportedly helped Pakistan adjust its satellite coverage, according to an Indian defence research body.
India currently has more than 100 satellites in orbit, compared with about eight operated by Pakistan, according to satellite tracking data.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
