India’s recent launch of the LVM3 rocket, nicknamed Bahubali, carrying the 4,410 kg CMS-03 satellite, marks a major step in the country’s strategic space capabilities. Beyond the attention given to lunar and Mars missions, India is quietly building military space infrastructure, recognising that future conflicts may increasingly be fought in orbit rather than on land or sea.
The LVM3, a 43.5-metre, three-stage heavy-lift rocket, delivered CMS-03, also known as GSAT-7R, to replace the ageing Rukmini satellite. This satellite significantly enhances the Indian Navy’s networked warfare capacity, enabling secure real-time communication between ships, submarines, aircraft, and shore-based command centres across thousands of kilometres. CMS-03 expands operational reach from the Strait of Hormuz to the Malacca Strait, compressing decision cycles and enabling coordinated strikes—capabilities central to modern high-intensity warfare.
India’s space warfare portfolio extends beyond communications. Mission Shakti in 2019 demonstrated anti-satellite capabilities, placing India alongside the US, Russia, and China in this strategic domain. The country has also developed advanced electronic warfare systems, including satellite navigation jammers and high-frequency early warning platforms, while deploying directed energy weapons along sensitive borders.
The Defence Space Agency, founded in 2019, coordinates space-based intelligence, surveillance, and electronic warfare systems. India is also developing “bodyguard satellites” to protect high-value orbital assets, with operational deployment planned by 2026 under a Rs 27,000 crore initiative.
India’s technological achievements include the Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing, the Mars Orbiter Mission, the Aditya-L1 solar observatory, the Agni-V ICBM with potential MIRV capability, and the regional Navic navigation system. Despite these milestones, India must accelerate satellite launches to expand its military constellation, aiming for 78 satellites by 2031 under the SBS-III programme.
Private sector participation is key to this expansion. Over 200 startups, supported by government reforms, are delivering cost-effective satellite and launch solutions, complementing ISRO’s work and enabling faster deployment cycles. Companies like Skyroot Aerospace, Agnikul Cosmos, Pixxel, and Dhruva Space exemplify India’s growing NewSpace ecosystem.
India’s space economy, currently valued at $8 billion, is projected to reach $44 billion by 2033. While India’s approach has been measured compared to China’s rapid militarisation, the planned expansion of military satellites will give India unprecedented regional surveillance dominance. Gaps remain in real-time orbital monitoring, counter-space systems, and AI-driven space situational awareness, highlighting the need for greater funding and the evolution of the Defence Space Agency into a fully capable Space Command.
The next major conflict, whether in the Himalayas or across the Indian Ocean, will likely be influenced by space superiority. India’s cost advantages, technological progress, and strategic imperatives position it to play a decisive role in the final frontier, provided resources and ambition are aligned.
