Indian armed forces leverage space assets to power Operation Sindoor

In addition to India’s space assets, the armed forces leveraged satellite imagery from Maxar, Europe’s Sentinel program, and other US commercial providers, gaining near-real-time updates daily, compared to India’s satellites, which provide updates every 14 days

The Indian armed forces strategically employed a range of space assets—both domestic and international—to support the success of Operation Sindoor, a critical military operation in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. The use of advanced space technology has significantly enhanced India's defence capabilities, allowing for more precise planning, surveillance, and communication during the operation. This marks a significant step forward in the integration of space for national security purposes.

According to reports, senior officials from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) confirmed that the country’s space assets played a vital role in the operation. An ISRO official stated, "All of ISRO’s strategic assets were employed in various ways to assist the armed forces. We are proud that our teams have been working tirelessly to support our forces with crucial space data." The assets involved included India’s military satellites as well as data sourced from global commercial satellite providers.

India’s strategic military satellite fleet

India’s military satellite fleet comprises 9 to 11 satellites, including assets from the Cartosat, Risat, and GSAT families. The Cartosat series, known for its high-resolution imagery, has been particularly vital for military reconnaissance and surveillance. For example, Cartosat-2C, with a resolution of 0.65 meters, has played a key role in providing precise imagery for operational planning. These satellites provide both image and video data, which have been crucial for military intelligence, especially in operations like the 2016 Surgical Strike.

Along with India’s own space assets, the armed forces also utilized satellite imagery from Maxar, a US-based provider of high-resolution satellite imagery. Maxar is widely used by governments and non-government organizations across the world. While it is unclear if Pakistan has used Maxar’s services in its operations, India’s access to such commercial satellite data has strengthened its intelligence-gathering capabilities.

ISRO also facilitated the use of satellite data from Europe’s Sentinel program and other US-based commercial providers. These data sources allowed the armed forces to access near-real-time information with updates available once a day, compared to the updates from India’s own satellites, which offer data every 14 days.

Radar, navigation, and satellites strengthen operations

The RISAT satellites, providing radar imagery, proved crucial in tracking enemy movements, especially in scenarios where optical imagery might be hindered by weather conditions or darkness. Additionally, the GSAT satellites ensured secure communications for military coordination, further improving the efficiency of operations.

India’s NavIC system, combined with global GPS technologies, provided accurate positioning, navigation, and timing, vital for precise military operations and coordination.

Lt Gen (retd) AK Bhat, Director-General of the Indian Space Association (ISpA), emphasized the increasing importance of space assets in modern warfare. "Space technology plays an essential role in military operations, offering capabilities in imagery, communication, and navigation," he said.

ISRO is set to launch the EOS-09 (RISAT-1B) satellite on May 18, 2025, equipped with advanced radar technology to boost India’s surveillance capabilities. In addition, ISRO plans to launch 100 to 150 satellites over the next five years, including 52 satellites under the Space-Based Surveillance-3 (SBS-3) program.

India’s space advancements continue to strengthen its defense strategies, positioning the country at the forefront of global security.

Also Read: Post Operation Sindoor, PM Modi calls for global space collaboration