Space-tech companies get an opening as India seeks more eyes in the sky

After Operation Sindoor, there is a growing push to enhance India’s satellite-based Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. Lt Gen AK Bhatt (Retd), Director General of the Indian Space Association (ISpA), told ET. While India currently operates around 10–11 defence satellites, mostly from the Cartosat and RISAT series which are one of the bests--“revisit times are long,” and there was an urgent need for more satellites to ensure persistent coverage, he said.

“The Space Based Surveillance (SBS-III) programme is critical, but with a 4-5 year timeline, there’s pressure to fast-track it and reduce dependence on foreign or commercial satellite data after the escalations between the two countries,” said Bhatt, a former director general of military operation (DGMO) who oversaw the Doklam crisis. He added that the upcoming 52 satellites under SBS-III will be owned and operated by India, offering real-time access to imagery from both low Earth and geostationary orbits.

The private sector will play a big role in the surveillance programme as 31 satellites will be made by three firms. The remaining 21 will come from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).


Experts said accurate satellite imagery plays a critical role in identifying enemy locations, planning operations, and confirming if the target has hit the intended spot. It serves as a reliable layer of intelligence even during active conflicts, complementing drones and ground-based radars, they explained.

Space startups and Geographic Information System (GIS) firms said they can bridge the gap between demand and supply. Many are working on launching their own satellite constellations, building advanced analytics platforms, and calling for improved ground station infrastructure to ensure faster downlink speeds.

Space for defence

“A lot of high-resolution data still comes from foreign constellations, but Indian startups are beginning to fill this gap. As more Indian satellites go up, reliance on foreign sources will reduce," said Agendra Kumar, managing director of GIS company Esri India. He added that other countries have constellations that have different types of sensors and fairly high-resolution data.

Suhora Technologies, a space analytics startup focused on defence and security, derives 70% of its revenue from the Indian armed forces. It monitors cross-border military activity in real time using data from international satellite operators such as Finland’s ICEYE--a microsatellite manufacturer, which runs a constellation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites.

“We partner with Finnish, Japanese and other operators to ensure constant data flow,” said Amit Kumar, cofounder of Suhora. “We process terabytes of satellite imagery daily, applying AI for actionable insights. This supports both terrain and maritime surveillance, the latter covering areas over 10 million square kilometres.”

Suhora has also partnered with UK-based Satellite Vu, operating the HotSat-1 satellite to gain regional access to its thermal satellite, adding a new layer to its analytics stack.

“Thermal imagery helps us know whether an asset has just landed or has been idle for days. This time-based insight is crucial in defence,” Kumar said.

Bengaluru-based GalaxEye is indigenously building an edge computing system for satellites under the IDEX challenge. “Our technology will enable real-time data processing on the satellite itself, allowing critical insights to be beamed down instantly,” said Rakshit Bhatt, cofounder of GalaxEye.

He said the company’s Drishti sensor, part of a larger constellation, will also combine this edge computing with its proprietary EO-SAR fusion system to offer all-weather, day-and-night surveillance. “With rising geopolitical tensions, demand for such capabilities has accelerated with more interest in understanding how it works,” Bhatt said.

Algorithms for real-time detection

GalaxEye said its payloads are compatible with multiple platforms, including UAVs, HAPs, and satellites. “We’re not just collecting data, we’re building products to make satellite insights more accessible across industries,” Bhatt said.

GIS technologies are also seeing wider adoption in strategic planning and deployment. “GIS plays a key role in field missions, helping defence forces decide where to strike or position systems,” said Kumar of Esri India. “We use 3D terrain data and satellite imagery to model installations, and AI to identify objects like ships and warplanes in real time.”

Esri India recently launched product ArcGIS Reality, creating highly realistic 3D models of buildings and environments. “We’re training more AI models to speed up identification of vessel movement, heading, and behaviour, making real-time ISR faster and more accurate,” Kumar added. Esri said about 70% of its revenue comes from government clients, including defence labs such as DRDO.