Space technology firm Pixxel showcased its advanced satellite capabilities to the Indian Air Force (IAF) leadership during a high-profile visit by Air Vice Marshal Ichettira Iyappa Kuttappa VM VSM, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Intelligence), at its Bengaluru facility.
During the interaction, Pixxel presented progress on a multi-payload satellite being developed for the IAF and highlighted imagery from its Firefly constellation—a network of six hyperspectral satellites launched earlier this year aboard SpaceX missions. With 5-meter resolution and coverage across 135 spectral bands, the constellation delivers unprecedented Earth observation data for defense, environmental monitoring, and industrial applications.
The IAF leadership was also briefed on Pixxel’s in-house manufacturing ecosystem, advanced Mission Control Center, and Aurora, a no-code analytics platform that transforms raw satellite imagery into actionable intelligence. This capability is expected to reduce India’s reliance on foreign data sources while strengthening sovereign space-based intelligence gathering.
Pixxel’s efforts build on recent milestones, including an iDEX SPARK grant to develop Hyperspectral and Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR) payloads for the IAF. The initiative aligns with India’s broader space defense strategy, which includes the expansion of the Space Based Surveillance (SBS) program to deploy 52 surveillance satellites between 2025 and 2029.
Industry experts view the collaboration as a decisive step toward enhancing India’s self-reliance in space defense technology, with Pixxel positioned as a key contributor to the country’s strategic and security needs.
