Army to Get its Dedicated Satellite by 2026

The GSAT 7B satellite, weighing five tonnes, will be indigenously developed by ISRO and is expected to be delivered to the army by 2026. It will greatly enhance the communication capabilities of the army by providing mission-critical beyond line-of-sight communication to troops, formations, and airborne platforms, thus making them more secure and jam-proof.

The GSAT-7B satellite will also support tactical communication requirements of troops on the ground and remotely piloted aircraft, air defence weapons, and other mission-critical and fire support platforms. The satellite will have advanced security features, ensuring that it meets the army's stringent requirements. The project will generate employment opportunities for around 300,000 man-days over the next three-and-a-half years. The GSAT-7B satellite is a vital part of the government's self-reliance campaign, as it falls under the Indian-IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category.

The defence ministry also signed two other contracts worth around ₹2,400 crore with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to enhance the air defence capabilities of the armed forces. The first contract worth ₹1,982 crore is for the implementation of Project Akashteer, an automated air defence control and reporting system that will allow the army's air defence units to operate in an integrated manner. The second contract worth ₹412 crore with BEL is for Sarang electronic support measure systems for Indian Navy helicopters. Both these contracts will also fall under the Indian-IDDM category.