By A Correspondent

New Delhi: India is ramping up its space defence play with a new satellite surveillance programme to detect and counter foreign snooping efforts. According to Indian media reports, the Ministry of Defence is finalising plans to deploy a dedicated constellation of satellites by 2026 — a move that marks one of the largest collaborations between the Indian government and a private space startup.

Bengaluru-based Digantara, backed by Peak XV Partners, has reportedly secured the lead contract. The project, estimated to cost INR. 150 crore (~US$17.5 million) annually, will form a high-precision surveillance network capable of detecting reconnaissance activity targeting Indian assets.

Unlike the Indian Space Research Organisation’s NETRA system, which monitors space debris, this new constellation is built from the ground up for military-grade surveillance. The satellites will be fully networked, communicating with each other and feeding real-time data to multiple ground stations across India. All hardware and systems, from manufacturing to data relays, will be built domestically.

A central control hub is likely to be established in Bengaluru, with ISRO expected to collaborate to ensure civilian and military systems stay aligned.

“This is part of India’s efforts to weaponise its space infrastructure to counter growing threats,” the reports quoted unnamed sources. The constellation will give Indian defence agencies a sharper eye on potential adversaries and foreign intelligence activity in orbit.

Experts say the project signals a major confidence boost in India’s emerging private space sector. “It’s a small piece of a larger puzzle,” the reports quoted space analyst Chaitanya Giri, “but a meaningful step for national security.”

This deal is one of the biggest handed to a private Indian space firm. Digantara recently expanded to the United States of America, with a Denver office to pursue contracts with DARPA and the US Department of Defense, following the path of fellow Indian startup Pixxel, which now works with NASA.

The broader trend is clear: the government is betting big on Indian space startups. Both the Indian Defence Ministry and the Department of Science and Technology have reportedly asked three firms to fast-track the deployment of the SBS-3 surveillance project.

IN-SPACe chairperson Pawan Kumar Goenka confirmed that ministries are being urged to turn to homegrown space players. Former ISRO chief S. Somanath echoed the strategy, noting that government demand is essential to building a globally competitive space industry.

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