Indian Army to acquire dedicated communications satellite by mid-2028

The Indian Army is set to acquire its own dedicated communications satellite by the middle of 2028, according to senior defence officials. Unlike the Indian Air Force and Navy, which operate their own dedicated satellite systems, the Army has until now depended on the IAF's GSAT-7A satellite for critical communications needs.

The new satellite will provide the Army with independent, secure communications capabilities essential for modern military operations. Officials indicated the initiative represents a significant step towards enhancing operational autonomy and reducing dependence on other services' assets for strategic communications.

The GSAT-7A, launched in 2018, has served as the primary communications platform for the IAF and has been shared with the Army. However, the armed service's growing operational requirements and the need for dedicated bandwidth have necessitated the development of a separate satellite system.

Defence analysts suggest the dedicated satellite will bolster the Army's capacity for real-time command and control, particularly in remote operational theatres. The initiative aligns with India's broader strategy to strengthen indigenous defence capabilities and reduce reliance on shared military infrastructure.

The project comes as India continues modernizing its armed forces across multiple domains, including space-based systems critical to contemporary military operations.