Different types of IAF assets will be able to communicate and respond more effectively in a networked environment. (Image credit: IAF)
The Indian Air Force will receive a dedicated communications satellite to strengthen its network-centric warfare capabilities under a Rs 2,563 crore deal signed with NewSpace India Limited.The indigenously designed, developed and manufactured GSAT-7C is intended to provide more secure and resilient communications for the service. Its significance lies not merely in adding another satellite to orbit, but in strengthening the communications network that allows aircraft, radars and command centres to share information and coordinate operations in real time.Network-centric warfare connects sensors, command centres, communications systems and weapon platforms, enabling information to be shared and acted upon simultaneously.
A fighter jet may detect a target, a ground-based radar may track an approaching aircraft, and a command centre may coordinate the response. If these elements cannot exchange information reliably, commanders are left with an incomplete picture of the battlefield, while forces struggle to coordinate their actions.Satellite communications can help bridge these gaps, particularly when operations extend beyond the reach of direct radio links or when terrestrial networks are unavailable or inadequate because of distance, terrain or other limitations.
GSAT-7C is intended to support this capability through software-defined radios. The Defence Acquisition Council cleared the project on November 23, 2021, at an initial cost of Rs 2,236 crore for the satellite and associated ground hubs. The stated objective was to enable real-time connectivity for software-defined radios and secure beyond-line-of-sight communications for the armed forces.Unlike conventional radios, which rely heavily on dedicated hardware for specific functions, software-defined radios use software to perform many of these tasks.
This allows their operating modes and waveforms to be modified or updated without requiring a separate radio for every communication requirement. When integrated with satellite links, compatible radios can exchange information over long distances, extending communications beyond the range of conventional radio networks.For the IAF, this capability could improve coordination across a widely dispersed network of aircraft, radar installations and airborne early warning platforms.
A fighter operating far from its base, for instance, may need to exchange information with other aircraft or command centres beyond direct radio range. An additional space-based communications link could help maintain these connections, supporting the faster flow of information between operational units and decision-makers.The IAF already has a dedicated communications satellite, GSAT-7A, launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on December 19, 2018.
Operating in the Ku band, it provides communications coverage over the Indian region and has been described in defence reporting as linking aircraft, radar stations, airbases and airborne early warning platforms.GSAT-7C will add to this space-based communications capability, although its precise relationship with GSAT-7A remains unclear.The government has not publicly disclosed whether the new satellite will use the same frequency bands, coverage configuration or payload architecture.
GSAT-7A was designed for an eight-year mission life, placing it around the end of that period in December 2026. However, reaching the end of a satellite's designed mission life does not necessarily mean it must immediately cease operating.Greater connectivity, however, also creates vulnerabilities. As armed forces become increasingly dependent on connected sensors, aircraft and command systems, their communications links become potential targets for jamming, interference and cyberattacks.
Satellite services and ground infrastructure can also be targeted in attempts to disrupt the flow of information on which military operations depend.The stated emphasis on secure and resilient communications is therefore central to GSAT-7C's intended role. The satellite's actual resilience will depend on the security and design of the wider communications system, including encryption, anti-jamming capabilities, redundancy, protected ground infrastructure and alternative communication routes.
The objective is not simply to connect more platforms, but to ensure that the network remains usable even when an adversary attempts to disrupt it.The Ministry of Defence's announcement does not specify a launch date, payload details, frequency bands or coverage area. It also does not explain the increase in the contract value to Rs 2,563 crore from the initial approval of Rs 2,236 crore in 2021.