Space-Based Surveillance-3 (SBS-3) scheme
The Space-Based Surveillance-3 (SBS-3) scheme is a $3 billion programme approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security in October 2024. It aims to build 52 surveillance satellites, significantly enhancing India’s satellite-based intelligence and security capabilities. The goal is to compress the satellite development timeline from 4 years to just 12–18 months. This urgency arises from India’s evolving geopolitical threats, especially after recent tensions with Pakistan and the broader need for 24x7 satellite surveillance for defence and internal security. Surveillance satellites serve multiple strategic and tactical purposes:
• Border monitoring: Continuous tracking of movement along borders with Pakistan and China.
• Terror tracking: Support to anti-terror operations by offering real-time location intelligence.
• Maritime surveillance: Monitoring the Indian Ocean region, crucial for trade routes and naval security.
• Disaster response and internal security: Real-time imaging during floods, insurgencies, or riots.They also help replace dependence on foreign satellite feeds, strengthening India’s data sovereignty.
These are low earth orbit (LEO) satellites equipped with advanced synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and electro-optical sensors. Such systems enable high-resolution imaging even during night or cloudy conditions. The satellites are built to perform:
• Persistent surveillance
• Day-night, all-weather imaging
• High revisit capability over strategic areas
Three Indian private firms are leading this high-speed rollout:
• Ananth Technologies (Hyderabad): Involved in launch integration, electronics, and satellite systems. May launch a satellite as early as 2025.
• Centum Electronics (Bengaluru): Publicly listed, it supplies communication and electronic subsystems.
• Alpha Design Technologies (Bengaluru): Acquired by Adani Defence and Aerospace, plays a vital role in satellite payloads and integration.
All three are long-time partners of ISRO and contributed to Chandrayaan-3 and IRNSS/NavIC missions. Though private firms are building 31 of the 52 satellites, ISRO will build and deploy the rest. ISRO will also manage launch logistics, using rockets like LVM3, or outsourcing to SpaceX when required. ISRO’s role ensures technical oversight, launch safety, and national alignment of the system with security protocols.
This project reflects India’s shift towards strategic privatisation in space:
• It builds on the government’s intent to unlock the space sector to Indian firms under IN-SPACe and NSIL frameworks.
• Private firms now participate not only in component manufacture but also end-to-end satellite delivery.
• These firms are also credit-rated and financially vetted, ensuring reliability for sensitive tasks.
The expected long-term outcomes include
• Stronger defence infrastructure with real-time surveillance capability.
• Boost to private space economy, encouraging more domestic firms to enter strategic domains.
• Enhanced export potential for Indian satellite technologies.
• Creation of dual-use tech that can be applied to civilian monitoring, agriculture, and disaster management.
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