India to Launch 100–150 New Satellites in 3 Years to Boost National Security: ISRO Chief

India is preparing to significantly strengthen its space-based surveillance and national security capabilities by adding between 100 and 150 new satellites over the next three years. This major step, announced by ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, is aimed at giving India complete satellite coverage of its territory—especially along its borders and vast coastlines.

At present, India has around 55 operational satellites. While these serve a variety of purposes including communication, weather forecasting, and navigation, the number is still not enough for a country with such a large landmass and a 7,500-kilometer-long coastline. With increased challenges related to border security and maritime threats, the need for more advanced and widespread satellite monitoring has become urgent.

According to Narayanan, the expansion is a direct response to the growing demand for improved safety and surveillance, especially after recent incidents like the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. He explained that the additional satellites will allow India to monitor its territory in real-time, helping authorities quickly detect and respond to any threats or suspicious movements.

This satellite growth plan is closely tied to the recent reforms in India’s space sector. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the space sector has been opened up to private companies, allowing them to partner with ISRO in designing and launching satellites and rockets. This partnership is expected to speed up satellite production and launch timelines, as well as bring in new innovations.

Narayanan highlighted that ISRO is ready to guide private players as they enter the field, with the goal of creating a vibrant, self-reliant ecosystem. “Through space sector reforms, we can bring in private players to build satellites and we can handhold them,” he said. “In three years, we will be adding another 100–150 satellites. With all those satellites, we can monitor the country completely.”

Beyond security-related initiatives, ISRO is also working on other advanced technologies. Recently, it carried out its second successful satellite docking under the SpaDeX mission, an important step towards future space station operations. The agency is also building a new satellite focused on studying climate change, with plans for international collaboration involving G20 countries.

This large-scale satellite expansion reflects India’s broader vision for its space program, which is becoming increasingly important to the country’s strategic, economic, and technological progress. As private companies join hands with ISRO, India’s space capabilities are expected to reach new heights, strengthening not just national security but also global cooperation in space.