Bharat is preparing to fortify its assets in outer space with an ambitious plan to develop ‘bodyguard satellites’ that can shield its spacecraft from debris and hostile manoeuvres by adversaries. The move comes in the wake of a mid-2024 incident where a neighbouring country’s satellite came alarmingly close, within just 1 kilometre, of a Bharatiya Space Research Organisation (ISRO) satellite orbiting at 500-600 km altitude.
While no collision occurred, the proximity raised eyebrows among security planners. Many analysts believe the manoeuvre was not accidental but a calculated show of strength, signalling how space has become the new frontier of strategic contestation.
A Wider Push: National security in space
The Modi government has already cleared a Rs 27,000-crore ($3 billion) project to launch nearly 50 surveillance satellites, with the first expected to be operational next year. These will provide real-time intelligence, border monitoring, and adversary tracking. But the “bodyguard satellite” programme represents a qualitative leap, moving from surveillance to active defence in space.
Planners are looking at different technologies to make this “space shield” possible. One of them is called a LiDAR-based detection system. LiDAR, in simple terms, works a bit like radar, but instead of using radio waves, it uses laser beams. Imagine shining a powerful torch into the sky and then measuring how quickly the light bounces back after hitting an object. That is how LiDAR helps in detecting and mapping things around it with great accuracy.
In space, such a system could act like a pair of laser eyes for India’s satellites. It would allow them to quickly spot any piece of space junk or even an approaching satellite from another country. This early warning gives ground teams precious time to move the Bhartiya satellite out of harm’s way. Combined with innovations from private startups that are working on 24×7 orbital tracking (a sort of CCTV for space), LiDAR can make Bharat’s “bodyguard satellites” far more effective.
The aim is clear: Bharat must ensure continuous domain awareness and develop the ability to pre-empt hostile attempts at disrupting or shadowing its assets.
Lessons from Operation Sindoor: Space in the theatre of war
The urgency of such measures was underscored during Operation Sindoor earlier this year, when Bharat faced a spike in military tensions with Pakistan. Over 400 ISRO scientists worked round-the-clock to keep Earth observation and communication satellites functional, providing critical intelligence and secure communications for Bharat’s armed forces.
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan confirmed the agency’s pivotal role in supporting national security operations. At the same time, credible reports indicated that China extended covert satellite support to Pakistan, demonstrating how conflicts on Earth are now inseparably linked with space-based capabilities.
What did Bharat learn from Operation Sindoor?
Bharat’s experience during Operation Sindoor revealed some hard lessons about the changing nature of conflict in the modern era. It underscored that space has become a warfighting domain, where satellites can no longer be seen as neutral civilian tools but as strategic force multipliers whose protection or disruption can directly influence outcomes on the ground.
The episode also highlighted adversarial collaboration, with China’s assistance to Pakistan proving that India cannot treat space as a simple bilateral contest; regional conflicts are bound to invite third-party interventions.
At the same time, the operation exposed Bharat’s dependency risks, showing that without indigenous 24×7 orbital tracking and defensive capabilities, the nation remains vulnerable to surprise manoeuvres and electronic warfare in space.
Finally, it emphasised the critical integration of civil and military assets, as ISRO’s civilian infrastructure became indispensable for defence operations, making a strong case for a dual-use doctrine and a closer civil-military fusion in space security.
Strategic Context: China’s lead and Pakistan’s shadow
Bharat today operates over 100 satellites, dwarfing Pakistan’s fleet of just 8. Yet, China towers above with more than 930 active satellites, many under the People’s Liberation Army’s direct control. Experts warn that Beijing’s rapid militarisation of space, anti-satellite (ASAT) tests, co-orbital ‘inspector satellites,’ and electronic warfare units, poses the greatest long-term threat to Bharat’s orbital freedom.
Against this backdrop, Pakistan’s growing dependence on Chinese satellite support introduces an additional layer of complexity. The 2024 near-miss incident is a reminder that Bharat must prepare not only for direct collisions or jamming attempts but also for more subtle forms of pressure, shadowing, espionage, or denial of orbital slots.
Towards a Rashtriya-Suraksha doctrine for space
From the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worldview, the protection of Bharat’s civilisational interests extends into all domains of power—land, sea, cyber, and now space. The Modi government’s forward-looking decision to invest in “bodyguard satellites” represents a recognition that Atmanirbhar Bharat must also be an Atmanirbhar Akash (self-reliant sky).
By combining indigenous innovation, private-sector startups, and the strategic foresight of Operation Sindoor, Bharat is charting a course where its space assets will not merely serve developmental purposes but will become an integral shield of Rashtra Suraksha (national security).
The episode of Operation Sindoor has redefined how Bharat perceives its orbital assets, not as distant, passive tools, but as frontline warriors in an expanding theatre of geopolitical contestation. The proposed “bodyguard satellites” are thus not just a technological leap but a civilisational necessity, ensuring that Bharat can defend its skies, empower its soldiers, and project its sovereignty in the final frontier. As the world moves towards the militarisation of space, Bharat’s doctrine is clear: protect the orbit, secure the nation.
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