India accelerates military space architecture development

India is accelerating the development of a stronger military space architecture to enhance its defense capabilities. This shift is driven by the increasing dependence of modern joint operations on space-based assets for surveillance, secure communications, navigation, and missile warnings.

Lessons from Operation Sindoor highlighted the critical need for persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) cycles. The push for space resilience is further motivated by China’s expanding counter-space arsenal and the inherent vulnerability of concentrated satellite architectures. To address these needs, India aims to deploy a new surveillance constellation, including plans for 52 satellites, to ensure sovereign access to critical capabilities during wartime.