Military Space

ISRO launched GSAT-7, a multiband communication satellite for users over a wide oceanic region including the Indian landmass, on an Ariane-5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana, on 30 August 2013. GSAT-7A, which carries Ku-band transponders for users over the Indian region, followed on GSLV-F11 on 19 December 2018. To address critical capability voids in space, cyber and special forces, the Defence Space Agency, the Defence Cyber Agency and the Armed Forces Special Operations Division were raised in 2018-19. On 27 March 2019, DRDO conducted Mission Shakti, an anti-satellite missile test from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha.

In Mission Shakti on 27 March 2019, a DRDO-developed ballistic missile defence interceptor engaged a live Indian satellite in low Earth orbit in hit-to-kill mode. The interceptor was a three-stage missile with two solid rocket boosters, and tracking data from range sensors confirmed that the mission met all its objectives. The Ministry of Defence said the test demonstrated India's capability to defend its assets in outer space, and that the country had joined a select group of nations with such capability.

The Defence Space Agency works under Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, alongside specialist branches such as the Defence Cyber Agency, the Defence Intelligence Agency and Strategic Forces Command. Mission DefSpace invites private industry, including start-ups, MSMEs and individual innovators, to solve 75 challenges identified by the three services, grouped into five buckets: launch, satellite, communication and payload, ground and software systems. The challenges are routed through iDEX and the Make categories of the Department of Defence Production. The civil space programme, including the Indian Space Policy 2023, is covered on the Space · ISRO page.

At DEFSAT on 7 February 2024, the Chief of Defence Staff said five Mission DefSpace contracts had been signed, four more were being documented and a feasibility study of 12 Make-I challenges was in progress; he also asked the defence space ecosystem to strengthen counter-space capabilities as a deterrent for safeguarding the country's space assets. In May 2024, he said integrated theatre commands would lead to reforms including fusing space and cyberspace into traditional domains. On 1 January 2025, the Ministry of Defence declared 2025 the Year of Reforms and said reforms should focus on new domains such as cyber and space. The Combined Commanders' Conference of 15–17 September 2025 concluded with the release of a Joint Military Space Doctrine, and on 2 November 2025 ISRO launched GSAT-7R (CMS-03), a communication satellite of about 4,400 kg for the Indian Navy.

27 Mar 2019 Mission Shakti anti-satellite missile test. 2018-19 Defence Space Agency raised. 75 Defence Space Challenges under Mission DefSpace (Oct 2022), in 5 buckets. 250th iDEX contract, the first under Mission DefSpace (15 May 2023). 5 DefSpace contracts signed and 4 under documentation (Feb 2024). 11–13 Nov 2024 Antariksha Abhyas, the first-ever space exercise. Sep 2025 Joint Military Space Doctrine released. 2 Nov 2025 GSAT-7R (CMS-03) launched for the Indian Navy. Sources: Ministry of Defence and Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff via PIB; ISRO.