India Plans “Bodyguard Satellites” to Shield National Assets in Space
- By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
- Sep 22, 2025
- 613
In response to growing threats in space and the military activities of neighboring nations, the Indian government is preparing to deploy specialized “bodyguard satellites” to protect its orbiting assets. The initiative gained urgency after a foreign satellite passed within 1 km of an ISRO satellite in 2024, performing reconnaissance and mapping operations, which experts interpreted as a possible show of strength.
Under the Defence Space Agency’s Space-Based Surveillance Phase-3 (SBS-3) program, India plans to launch 52 AI-enabled defence satellites by 2029. These satellites will communicate with each other at 36,000 km altitude, ensuring rapid transmission of data, signals, and images back to Earth. The ₹26,968 crore project will use advanced technologies like LiDAR satellites and ground-based radars to identify threats and move satellites to safe positions.
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit had earlier warned that China’s expanding space capabilities could pose serious security risks. The SBS-3 mission is expected to enhance surveillance along the Pakistan-China border and improve real-time intelligence after operational gaps were revealed during Operation Sindoor in May 2025.
A government official emphasized to the Economic Times: “The sooner we put 52 satellites into space, the stronger our security will be.”