Indian Navy to acquire GISAT 2 to enhance operational capabilities

New Delhi: The Indian Navy is set to acquire a dedicated earth imaging satellite, Geo Imaging Satellite-2 (GISAT-2), in the current fiscal year. The satellite will boost its operational capabilities in the Indian Ocean region. This becomes strategically significant against the backdrop of increasing Chinese presence in the region.

The Indian Navy source told Defence Watch that the GISAT-2 will be designed to provide near real-time images of large areas of the region of interest at frequent intervals. It will help Indian Navy in surveillance and also in operations planning.

Operating from a geostationary orbit (GEO), the satellite will facilitate near real-time observations under cloud-free conditions too, they added.

As per the information received from the Ministry of Defence, the GISAT-2 is one of 21 planned procurements, including several long-term buys. In addition, the navy's capabilities development/modernization is being carried out in line with the long-term objectives in place for the next decade.

Under the budget projections for 2022-23, the navy would receive Rs 45,250 crore for modernisation. With a 10% annual growth rate, it is expected to receive more than Rs 2.7 lakh crore for upgrading by 2026-27. According to the Ministry of Defence, the navy's total committed liabilities are Rs 1.20 lakh crores, and modernization schemes worth more than Rs 1.9 lakh crores and Rs 2.5 lakh crores (under Part A and B of the annual acquisition plan) are being advanced for contract conclusion over the next five years.

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