Indian Army’s first dedicated communications satellite, GSAT-7B, is expected to be launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) around mid-2028, according to top officials.
The five-tonne geostationary satellite, described as India’s heaviest communications satellite to date, will provide the Army with secure, round-the-clock connectivity across remote border areas and challenging terrain. It is designed to support day-to-day military operations and effective battlefield command and control by enabling beyond-line-of-sight communications for deployed troops, military formations, weapon systems, airborne platforms, and other mission-critical assets.
This development addresses a long-standing requirement. Unlike the Indian Air Force and the Navy, the Army currently lacks a dedicated communications satellite and relies on the IAF’s GSAT-7A. In March 2023, the Ministry of Defence signed a contract of approximately ₹3,000 crore (reported as ₹2,963 crore) with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, for the indigenous design, development, and manufacture of GSAT-7B.
Officials stated that the launch, initially scheduled for November 2027, has been delayed by six months due to technical reasons. Space-based communications are viewed as critical for resilience during conflict, providing links when terrestrial networks may be disrupted or damaged.
The satellite forms part of India’s broader push to strengthen military space capabilities. The Navy operates GSAT-7 (Rukmini, launched in 2013) and GSAT-7R (launched in November 2025). The IAF has GSAT-7A (launched in 2018) and, last week, the Ministry of Defence signed a ₹2,563-crore contract with NSIL for GSAT-7C, another dedicated communications satellite for the Air Force. The Army has historically used a portion of GSAT-7A’s capacity.
These steps align with the Joint Military Space Doctrine released in 2025 and the Cabinet Committee on Security’s approval in October 2024 of Phase III of the Space Based Surveillance programme, under which India plans to launch 52 dedicated military satellites in a ₹26,968-crore project involving ISRO and private industry.
GSAT-7B is expected to enhance the Army’s network-centric warfare capabilities, particularly in high-altitude and border regions, by delivering dedicated, secure, and jam-resistant connectivity.
