New Delhi: India is drawing up plans to deploy dedicated satellites that can guard its space assets, following a close call-in orbit that raised security concerns. According to reports, the government is considering “bodyguard satellites” capable of detecting and countering potential threats.
The push comes after an incident in mid-2024, when a satellite from a neighbouring country passed within one kilometre of an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) satellite operating at around 500–600 kilometres above Earth. The same low-Earth orbit is heavily used by global satellite operators, including Elon Musk’s Starlink. While no collision occurred, the near encounter has been interpreted by some observers as a demonstration of capability.
The satellite-protection initiative is part of India’s wider space security agenda. The government has already approved a Rs 270 billion ($3 billion) plan to deploy about 50 surveillance satellites, with the first launch expected next year. These satellites are intended to strengthen border monitoring, track adversary movements, and enhance intelligence gathering.
Analysts suggest that India’s project will require parallel investments in ground-based radars and telescopes to maintain round-the-clock tracking of objects in orbit. According to the reports, former ISRO director Sudheer Kumar N stated, “We do not have such in-orbit tracking capability on a 24×7 basis, but some startups are working on it”.
Experts note that India’s space assets have previously played a strategic role in times of conflict. ISRO chairman V. Narayanan recently said that during heightened tensions with Pakistan, more than 400 ISRO scientists worked continuously to provide real-time support through Earth observation and communication satellites. The latest move reflects New Delhi’s growing recognition that protecting satellites is now central to both national security and geopolitical competition in space.
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