New Delhi: India is preparing to deploy “bodyguard” satellites to protect its space assets after a near-collision in orbit raised alarm over potential threats from rival nations. According to people familiar with the matter, the initiative is part of a larger push by the Narendra Modi-led government to boost national security in space.
The previously unreported incident took place in mid-2024, when a satellite belonging to a neighbouring country came within one kilometre of an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) satellite orbiting at around 500-600 kilometres above Earth. The Indian satellite was reportedly carrying out tasks with possible military applications, including mapping and ground monitoring. While a collision was avoided, officials believe the unusually close approach could have been a deliberate show of strength or a capability test by the other nation.
ISRO and the Department of Space have not commented on the incident.
The satellite-protection programme is part of India’s broader plan to expand its security presence in orbit. The government has already approved a ₹270 billion ($3 billion) project to launch about 50 surveillance satellites, the first of which is expected to lift off next year. These measures come as India faces growing challenges from both Pakistan and China, with whom it has fought several conflicts over the past seven decades.
Pakistan currently operates eight satellites compared to India’s more than 100, while China boasts over 930, according to space-tracking site N2Y0.com. Experts have repeatedly warned that China’s People’s Liberation Army is rapidly strengthening its capabilities in space, posing new risks to India’s security.
The government is working with Indian startups to find solutions to these challenges, with early discussions focusing on the development of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) satellites to identify threats quickly. This would give ground controllers enough time to send commands to reposition vulnerable satellites.
Such a system would need to be integrated with ground-based radars and telescopes to provide round-the-clock tracking. “We do not have such in-orbit tracking capability on a 24×7 basis, but some of the startups are working on it,” said Sudheer Kumar N, former director at ISRO’s Capacity Building Program Office.
ISRO has already played a crucial role in recent national security operations. During a flare-up between India and Pakistan in May, more than 400 scientists worked continuously to provide real-time data from Earth observation and communication satellites, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan revealed earlier this month.
Indian defence researchers have also reported that China assisted Pakistan in adjusting its satellite coverage during the conflict a sign, officials say, of the growing importance of space in modern warfare.
