India's Strategic Space Prowess: The Sindoor Operation
During Operation Sindoor, the Indian armed forces leveraged an array of domestic and international space assets, demonstrating India’s growing reliance on advanced space technology for military operations.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) played a pivotal role, deploying satellites like Cartosat and Risat, alongside commercial imagery from U.S.-based Maxar Technologies, to support mission-critical intelligence, surveillance, and communication.
ISRO’s Cartosat satellites provided high-resolution imagery and video, enabling precise planning, while Risat’s radar capabilities offered all-weather tracking of movements, unaffected by cloud cover or darkness. The (Geostationary Satellite) GSAT family ensured robust satellite communication, and India’s NavIC, combined with global GPS systems, enhanced positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT). With 9-11 dedicated military satellites, India supplemented its capabilities with commercial data from Maxar and Europe’s Sentinel, which provided daily imagery compared to domestic satellites’ 14-day revisit cycles.
“All our strategic assets were utilized effectively by the armed forces,” an ISRO official noted, highlighting round-the-clock efforts to support the mission. Maxar’s global imagery services, widely used by governments, were integral, though it’s unclear if Pakistan accessed similar data or relied on China’s military space assets during the conflict.
Looking ahead, ISRO is set to launch EOS-09 (Risat-1B) on May 18, 2025, equipped with a C-band synthetic aperture radar for high-resolution, all-weather imaging. “This satellite will significantly enhance India’s surveillance capabilities,” said ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, emphasizing its role in modern warfare. The Indian Space Association’s Lt Gen (retd) AK Bhat underscored the critical role of space assets in imagery, sat-com, and PNT, cementing their place in India’s defense strategy.
Operation Sindoor highlights India’s digital-first approach to military operations, reimagining warfare through integrated space technology. As ISRO plans further enhancements, India’s armed forces are poised for greater self-reliance and precision in future missions.
