The Space Applications Centre (SAC – ISRO), Ahmedabad and the Indian Navy signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on August 5 regarding data sharing and collaboration on satellite-based naval applications in oceanology and meteorology.

With the help of this initiative, both organisations will have a common ground for cooperation, allowing the scientific developments made by SAC to be integrated into the efforts of the Indian Navy to keep the country’s defence in step with the rapid advancements made in the field of satellite data retrieval and applications. The collaboration between the two organisations will advance thanks to this MoU, which is an extension of an earlier MoU signed in 2017.

The broad area of cooperation includes the exchange of non-confidential observational data, the operational exploitation of SAC-generated weather products, and the provision of Subject Matter Experts (SME) for the processing of satellite data for the development of new tools, the calibration of ocean models, and the validation of ocean models.

The Indian Navy and SAC signed the MoU, according to a press release from the Navy, in order to continue deepening their mutually beneficial interactions and business dealings.

Several long-term acquisitions, including the GISAT-2, are among the 21 planned purchases, according to information from the ministry of defence (MoD). Additionally, the navy’s capability development and modernisation efforts are being carried out in line with the long-term plans being established for the ensuing ten years.

According to budget projections for 2022–2023, the navy has been given Rs 45,250 crore for modernisation. By 2026–2027, it is anticipated that it will receive more than Rs 2.7 lakh crore for modernisation, assuming a 10% annual growth rate. According to the MoD, modernisation projects totalling more than Rs 1.9 lakh crore and Rs 2.5 lakh crore (under Part A and B of the annual acquisition plan) are being advanced for contract conclusion over the next five years. The navy’s total committed liabilities as of right now are Rs. 1.20 lakh crore.

Aside from GISAT-2, the navy will acquire the following: next generation missile vessels, fleet support ship (FSS), high and medium altitude long endurance remotely piloted aircraft systems, multi-role carrier borne fighters, indigenous aircraft carrier-2, next generation fast attack craft, next generation corvettes, destroyers, fast interceptor craft, and survey vessel, national hospital ship, electronic warfare system, extra large unmanned underwater vehicle, anti-ship missiles.

Although the MoD has designated GISAT-2 for procurement during this fiscal year, a firm schedule for the satellite’s development and launch has not yet been established. When it comes to acquiring satellites, the Navy has been in the lead among the armed forces.

GISAT Satellite family

The GISAT-2 will be built to deliver images of significant regions of interest in close to real time at regular intervals, aiding the navy not only in surveillance but also in the planning of operations. The satellite, which is in a geostationary orbit, will enable near-real-time observations even when there are no clouds.

Similar to GISAT-1, a satellite of the 2+ tonne class called GISAT-2 will be built around an altered I-2k satellite bus. In August of last year, ISRO’s attempt to launch GISAT-1 into orbit was unsuccessful because the GSLV-Mk2 carrying it experienced problems with the cryogenic upper stage.

The space agency attempted to launch the satellite three times before deciding against it for various reasons. The most recent attempt was in August 2021.

According to insider sources, ISRO is developing a variety of payloads and that GISAT-2’s payload specifications will differ from those of GISAT-1. Another official stated, “The first one (GISAT-1) was for civilian use, but GISAT-2 is for strategic purposes, and the navy has very specific requirements that the ISRO need to meet.” The satellite will be launched by ISRO on the GSLV-MK2 once it has received the necessary financial approvals.

Defence Satellites

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), under the direction of Rajnath Singh, the defence minister, granted acceptance of necessity (AoN) for military proposals totaling 8,357 crore on March 22, 2022. According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the equipment will be purchased domestically. The Indian Army’s (IA) GSAT-7B satellite, air defence fire control radars, light vehicles, and image intensifiers are all included in the AoN. The acquisition of these tools and systems will improve operational readiness of the armed forces by enhancing mobility, communication, visibility, and the ability to detect enemy aircraft, according to a statement from the MoD.

An existing GSAT-7 satellite belongs to the Indian Navy (IN). The DAC granted AoN for a Rs 2,236 crore proposal by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to purchase GSAT-7C satellites and ground hubs for enhanced real-time communication in November 2021. The GSAT-7 series of high-tech satellites is designed and constructed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to offer users communication capabilities over wide areas, including over oceans. The Indian Army could improve border area surveillance with the aid of the GSAT-7B satellite. The Indian Navy and Air Force use the GSAT-7 (Rukmini) and GSAT-7A (Angry Bird) satellites, which are the country’s only two solely dedicated military satellites.

Additionally on March 22, 2022, the DAC authorised the purchase from start-ups and micro, small, and medium-sized businesses of 14 defence items for more than 380 crore (MSMEs). This year, India has allocated 68% of the military’s capital budget for domestic purchases, and the approvals follow Atmanirbhar Bharat. Because of the conflict in Ukraine, which the US is escalating against Russia by using Ukraine as a pawn, there are additional worries. Supply chains may be disrupted and our need for defence may be affected by a protracted conflict, as the US desires.

The government has recently promoted self-reliance in the defence industry and increased the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit from 49% to 74%, announced a list of defence products that cannot be imported, and established a separate budget for purchasing locally made military equipment. However, the DAC’s approval of the AoN for the aforementioned defence items is merely the first step in the process of acquiring military hardware; there is still much work to be done before the equipment is developed and, more importantly, put into service.

This entails the issuance of a request for information (RFI), the specification of specific qualitative requirements (QR), the request for proposals (RFP) and the response, the choice of a development agency (DA), a thorough technical evaluation, field tests, and similar procedures prior to the signing of the contract, production, and fielding.

Given ISRO’s track record, it is certain that the Army will receive its own exclusive military satellite as soon as possible. What remains unclear, though, is when the military will receive the remaining approved items. In this context, a number of issues need to be addressed, including the continued presence of foreign content in varying degrees in what we refer to as “indigenous” and “Make in India.”

As per the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, India was the world’s second-largest importer of defence equipment between 2016 and 2020 after Saudi Arabia, making up 9.5% of the global arms trade (SIPRI). In addition, the MoD imported an average of 41.24 percent of its materiel requirements annually between financial years 2010 and financial years 21 worth Rs 3,25,942.53 crore ($42.73 billion), according to an analysis of previous reports by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence.

In contrast, India’s domestic purchases during the same time period came to a total of Rs 4,64,383.01 crore ($60.88 billion), but they also included a variety of imports made by Indian manufacturers, including gearboxes and transmission systems, missiles, radars, specialised ammunition, rockets, and various sub-assemblies and components. The MoD purposely left these items off the import list, misleading the public in the process, all in an effort to win brownie points for Atmanirbhar Bharat or self-reliance.

While serving as the Chief of Army Staff, General V.K. Singh, who is currently a Minister of State in the Ministries of Road Transport and Highways and Civil Aviation, claimed that all files pertaining to military purchases slid sharply back to the top from the middle just as the end appeared imminent, similar to how the counters do in the game “snakes and ladders.” Since then, our great bureaucracy hasn’t changed much, and it’s unlikely that will change until they continue to hold the politicians captive and maintain their hegemonic position in the government.

Recently, the government has promoted self-reliance in the defence industry, increased the foreign direct investment (FDI) ceiling from 49% to 74%, announced a list of defence products that cannot be imported, and established a separate budget for purchasing military equipment made in-country.

‘Make in India’ will still involve the original equipment manufacturers. India is one of the harshest and trickiest markets to operate in, according to an unnamed OEM, who was quoted in the media. This is because of India’s complex acquisition procedures and the MoD’s uncooperative and erratic bureaucracy, which make it difficult to do business there. The ability of the MoD to develop defence policy plans and procurements and to successfully carry them out, in contrast to other “compact and self-contained” ministries like the railways and commerce and industry, was a “mystery,” according to Amit Cowshish, a former MoD acquisitions advisor. He claimed that the MoD could be described as a “siphonophore” or an assembly of zooids, similar to a wide variety of marine species that clone.

– The writer is an Aerospace and Defence Analyst & Director ADD Engineering Components (India) Pvt Ltd (An Indo- German Company). The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda