Category: Satellite

War in orbit A well equipped, ground based tracking infrastructure is vital to constantly monitor the position of an orbiting satellite and detect its ground track with precision. The satellite pass prediction and real time satellite tracking constitutes the mainstay of the tracking activities. In the ultimate analysis, tracking is also a fundamental step towards […]

Security agencies and defence forces in various parts of the world including India are increasingly falling back on satellite systems for a variety of end uses centring round communications, imaging, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic and signal intelligence, navigation and ocean watch. But one of the pitfalls associated with the use of satellite systems is their […]

For centuries, the mighty and magnificent Himalayas have remained an integral and inseparable part of the national consciousness of India. India’s spiritual literature describes Himalayas as the veritable symbol of divinity, nobility and immortality. As the snow clad abode of Gods, Himalayas continues to be held in reverence by a large segment of the Indian […]

In what has been described as a major step towards acquiring an independent satellite based navigation capability, India’s first dedicated GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite IRNSS-1A was successfully placed into orbit by means of the four stages, Indian space work-horse, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in July 1. It took around 20 minutes for the […]

Given the Indian context the thought arises whether the efficacy of the Network Centric Warfare system (NCW) depends on the existence of a Chief of Defence Staff and the absence of turf wars between the users of the system. Concomitantly, will turf wars disappear once the CDS is operational? As things stand an indigenously developed […]

When the August-launched GSAT-7 satellite became operational in mid-September last year the Indian Navy became better able to keep under surveillance its area of concern which spans three huge water bodies-the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. It will improve the network centricity between its airborne, surface and sub-surface weapons platforms. […]

Indian armed forces have validated its network centric warfare capabilities early last March with full spectrum use of its first ever dedicated military satellite G-SAT7 which coordinated seamlessly with all the 60 warships and 75 aircrafts from Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. This happened  during the Indian Navy’s annual TROPEX i.e. Theater level Operational […]

Since India’s geopolitical interests are growing in the Indian Ocean region, an official estimate of just one aspect of military satellite requirement-for the Indian Navy in its Indian Ocean Region assignment-was placed at between 80 and 100 by Director General of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Dr Avinash Chander not very long ago. Clearly […]

In a landmark development of significance to the national security, India’s first ever dedicated defence satellite, GSAT-7 also known as Rukmini, meant for the exclusive use of the Indian Navy has been fully integrated into the network centric operations designed to boost the defence and offensive capabilities in all their manifestations. For the Indian Navy, […]

Notwithstanding the tremendous strides made by Japan in the frontiers areas of scientific research and cutting edge futuristic technology, the island nation is yet to leave its imprint on the multi billion dollar global market for launching satellites of various categories on commercial terms. While the two other Asian space faring nations, India and China, […]