GSAT-7B: Indian Army’s Dedicated Communication Satellite

Context

GSAT-7B, the Indian Army’s first dedicated communication satellite, is expected to be launched around mid-2028. It is being developed to strengthen the Army’s secure, beyond-line-of-sight communication capabilities.

GSAT-7B: Key Features

1. GSAT-7B will be the Indian Army’s first dedicated communication satellite.
2. It is an indigenous, five-tonne-class geostationary satellite being developed by ISRO.
3. The Ministry of Defence signed a ₹2,963 crore contract with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) for the project in March 2023.
4. It will provide high-throughput and beyond-line-of-sight communication to troops, military formations, weapon systems and airborne platforms.
5. A geostationary satellite appears fixed over the same region of Earth, enabling continuous communication coverage.

Military and Strategic Significance

1. Battlefield connectivity: Enables secure communication among widely dispersed military units.
2. Remote-area coverage: Useful in border and high-altitude regions where terrestrial networks may be limited.
3. Command and control: Helps connect headquarters, troops, airborne platforms and weapon systems.
4. Operational resilience: Satellite communication can provide an important backup when terrestrial communication networks are unavailable or disrupted.
5. Atmanirbhar defence: The project falls under the Buy (Indian–IDDM) category and is expected to involve Indian industry, MSMEs and start-ups.

GSAT-7 Series and Defence Communication

1. GSAT-7 (Rukmini): Launched in 2013; primarily associated with the Indian Navy’s communication requirements.
2. GSAT-7A: Launched on 19 December 2018; a Ku-band geostationary communication satellite used mainly for defence communication requirements, particularly associated with the Indian Air Force.
3. GSAT-7R / CMS-03: Launched on 2 November 2025 for the Indian Navy; supports secure communication among ships, aircraft, submarines and Maritime Operations Centres.
4. GSAT-7B: Designed specifically for the Indian Army, strengthening service-specific military satellite communication.

FAQs

Q1. What is GSAT-7B?
The Indian Army’s first dedicated communication satellite.

Q2. Which organization is developing GSAT-7B?
ISRO, with procurement through NSIL.

Q3. Which orbit will GSAT-7B use?
A geostationary orbit.

Q4. What is its main purpose?
To provide secure beyond-line-of-sight military communication.

Q5. When is GSAT-7B expected to be launched?
Around mid-2028.