New Delhi. ICEYE, the global leader in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite operations, has strengthened its engagement with India’s defence-space ecosystem through its active participation in DEFSAT 2026, held from February 24-26 at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. With the theme “Space at the Core of National Security”, the flagship defence-space conference and exposition brought together military leaders, government policymakers, industry stakeholders, and international innovators to advance dialogue on space security, operational resilience, and strategic autonomy.
The event provided ICEYE with an opportunity to showcase its advanced SAR capabilities and to engage with key decision-makers on how resilient, all-weather Earth observation data can support defence, intelligence, and national security operations in India.
Partha P. Roy Chowdhury, Vice President, Missions, ICEYE, addressed stakeholders on the evolving role of space technology in India’s strategic landscape. In his keynote address, he outlined how allied nations across Europe are now fielding sovereign SAR constellations within months of contract signature, and how ICEYE’s ITAR-free, turnkey approach can support India’s own ambitions for space-based surveillance at scale.
Reflecting on ICEYE’s participation, he said, “DEFSAT 2026 provided a tremendous platform to engage with the defence, space, and technology community in India. The dialogues reinforced the critical importance of space-based data for national security, and we are grateful for the opportunity to deepen partnerships across services, government, and industry.
ICEYE’s strategic engagement extended into key thought-leadership forums, including a high-level panel discussion on “EU–India Defence and Space Industrial Cooperation: From Strategic Alignment to Industrial Collaboration.” Abhishek Agarwal, Director of Business Development, ICEYE, represented the company alongside industry and government experts.
“The dialogue clearly reflected the shift from strategic intent to tangible industrial collaboration, particularly in areas such as sovereign SAR capabilities, technology partnerships, and resilient supply chains,” he remarked. “Flexible access to space-based intelligence is no longer optional; it is central to strengthening operational readiness and enabling trusted, long-term cooperation between European and Indian defence ecosystems. ICEYE is an active partner to defence and intelligence organisations in India, supporting critical monitoring requirements across the northern and eastern frontiers. Platforms like DEFSAT 2026 play a pivotal role in translating alignment into actionable collaboration.”
Over three days, DEFSAT 2026 featured strategic dialogues, technology demonstrations, and multi-stakeholder discussions underscoring that space systems are integral to modern defence architecture. ICEYE’s contributions highlighted the role of commercial SAR in augmenting situational awareness, disaster response, and security operations for India’s defence and civil authorities.
