India will launch a constellation of 52 surveillance satellites over the next five years to strengthen its space-based defence capabilities. The initiative was confirmed by Pawan Kumar Goenka, chairman of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), during the Global Space Exploration Conference 2025 in Delhi.
The satellites will aid the Army, Navy, and Air Force in tracking adversary movements, monitoring borders, and coordinating real-time military operations. &ldquo;We have fairly strong capabilities already. It&rsquo;s just that they need constant enhancement,&rdquo; Goenka said while talking to PTI. He also infirmed that half of the satellites would be developed by ISRO, while the remaining will be built by private players, indicating a major push for private sector involvement in India&rsquo;s national security architecture.
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<h2>Private sector role and strategic readiness</h2>
The expansion includes the transfer of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) technology from ISRO to private industry. SSLVs are efficient in placing satellites weighing 10&ndash;500 kg into low Earth orbit with minimal turnaround and infrastructure. This capability is especially critical for rapid-response situations and 'launch-on-demand&rsquo; missions during an emergency situation. Goenka indicated that the SSLV tech transfer is &ldquo;imminent&rdquo;, indicating that it could be formalised over the next fortnight.
Goenka emphasised that while IN-SPACe is spearheading the satellite deployment, further decisions regarding surveillance operations will rest with the Union Home Ministry and defence forces.
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<h2>Timing of the announcement</h2>
This strategic move comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, where India&rsquo;s precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, in retaliation of the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians. Thus, during such tense times, decisions like these might pove beneficial in enhancing the surveillance capabilities of the Indian military.&nbsp;
Once operational, the 52-satellite network will provide continuous coverage of sensitive zones and reinforce India&rsquo;s deterrent posture.

The satellites will aid the Army, Navy, and Air Force in tracking adversary movements, monitoring borders, and coordinating real-time military operations.

India will launch a constellation of 52 surveillance satellites over the next five years to strengthen its space-based defence capabilities. The initiative was confirmed by Pawan Kumar Goenka, chairman of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), during the Global Space Exploration Conference 2025 in Delhi. The satellites will aid the Army, Navy, and Air Force in tracking adversary movements, monitoring borders, and coordinating real-time military operations. “We have fairly strong capabilities already. It’s just that they need constant enhancement,” Goenka said while talking to PTI. He also infirmed that half of the satellites would be developed by ISRO, while the remaining will be built by private players, indicating a major push for private sector involvement in India’s national security architecture. Also Read: Operation Sindoor: Who is Masood Azhar, whose 10 family members were killed in Indian airstrikes Private sector role and strategic readiness The expansion includes the transfer of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) technology from ISRO to private industry. SSLVs are efficient in placing satellites weighing 10–500 kg into low Earth orbit with minimal turnaround and infrastructure. This capability is especially critical for rapid-response situations and 'launch-on-demand’ missions during an emergency situation. Goenka indicated that the SSLV tech transfer is “imminent”, indicating that it could be formalised over the next fortnight. Goenka emphasised that while IN-SPACe is spearheading the satellite deployment, further decisions regarding surveillance operations will rest with the Union Home Ministry and defence forces. Also Read: Operation Sindoor: What are SCALP and HAMMER missiles used by India's Rafale jets in strikes against Pakistan? Timing of the announcement This strategic move comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, where India’s precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, in retaliation of the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians. Thus, during such tense times, decisions like these might pove beneficial in enhancing the surveillance capabilities of the Indian military. Once operational, the 52-satellite network will provide continuous coverage of sensitive zones and reinforce India’s deterrent posture.

India to deploy 52 spy satellites for ground surveillance in next 5 years: INSPACe Chief

South Korea’s defence ministry, on Monday (Apr 8) said that the country’s second homegrown spy satellite had successfully been launched and entered orbit. The launch took place a day prior on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the John F Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States.

<h2>Second spy satellite launched</h2>

The second launch comes months after the first one&nbsp;put South Korea’s spy satellite into orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California in December.&nbsp;

The recent launch also comes days after North Korea reaffirmed its plan to launch multiple reconnaissance satellites this year.

The successful launch took place at 2317 GMT on Sunday, which was Monday morning in Seoul. South Korea’s defense ministry said that the satellite successfully separated from the launch vehicle 45 minutes after the launch and entered its targeted orbit.&nbsp;

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According to South Korea’s military officials, successful communications with a ground station were made two hours and 40 minutes after the launch.

The recently launched South Korean satellite is equipped with a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) which is said to be capable of producing images regardless of weather conditions.

“With the success of the second military spy satellite launch, our military has acquired an additional independent surveillance ability and further bolstered our ‘kill chain’ capability,” defense ministry spokesperson Jeon Ha Gyu told reporters.&nbsp;

South Korea will launch five spy satellites by 2025 under a contract with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. In 2022, Seoul became the 10th nation in the world to successfully launch a satellite with its own technology by using a homegrown rocket.&nbsp;

“We will proceed with future satellite launches without a hitch,” said a statement by the ministry after the second launch.

<h2>Race with North Korea</h2>

The spy satellite launches come amid growing tensions between Pyongyang and Seoul, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un labelling South Korea as his country’s “principal enemy”.&nbsp;

Both countries have sought to improve their military capabilities in space. North Korea claimed that it successfully launched the Malligyong-1 satellite into orbit in November, after its two fiery failures.&nbsp;

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Speaking about North Korea’s first spy satellite,&nbsp;Marco Langbroek, a satellite expert at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands said, "We can definitely say the satellite is alive,” as&nbsp;quoted by Reuters.

Pyongyang has also previously vowed to launch three new spy satellites in 2024.

South Korean defence minister Shin Won-sik said that North Korea could launch a second spy satellite as early as mid-April, reported news agency Yonhap.&nbsp;

Jeon told reporters that Shin’s comments are based on the military’s observation of North Korea’s related activities.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

South Korea’s defence ministry, on Monday (Apr 8) said that the country’s second homegrown spy satellite had successfully been launched and entered orbit. The launch took place a day prior on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the John F Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States.

South Korea’s defence ministry, on Monday (Apr 8) said that the country’s second homegrown spy satellite had successfully been launched and entered orbit. The launch took place a day prior on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the John F Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States. Second spy satellite launched The second launch comes months after the first one put South Korea’s spy satellite into orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California in December. The recent launch also comes days after North Korea reaffirmed its plan to launch multiple reconnaissance satellites this year. The successful launch took place at 2317 GMT on Sunday, which was Monday morning in Seoul. South Korea’s defense ministry said that the satellite successfully separated from the launch vehicle 45 minutes after the launch and entered its targeted orbit. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine war: Drone strikes damage Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant According to South Korea’s military officials, successful communications with a ground station were made two hours and 40 minutes after the launch. The recently launched South Korean satellite is equipped with a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) which is said to be capable of producing images regardless of weather conditions. “With the success of the second military spy satellite launch, our military has acquired an additional independent surveillance ability and further bolstered our ‘kill chain’ capability,” defense ministry spokesperson Jeon Ha Gyu told reporters. South Korea will launch five spy satellites by 2025 under a contract with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. In 2022, Seoul became the 10th nation in the world to successfully launch a satellite with its own technology by using a homegrown rocket. “We will proceed with future satellite launches without a hitch,” said a statement by the ministry after the second launch. Race with North Korea The spy satellite launches come amid growing tensions between Pyongyang and Seoul, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un labelling South Korea as his country’s “principal enemy”. Both countries have sought to improve their military capabilities in space. North Korea claimed that it successfully launched the Malligyong-1 satellite into orbit in November, after its two fiery failures. Also Read | Probe begins after engine cover falls off Southwest Boeing flight; passenger records 'scary' moment Speaking about North Korea’s first spy satellite, Marco Langbroek, a satellite expert at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands said, "We can definitely say the satellite is alive,” as quoted by Reuters. Pyongyang has also previously vowed to launch three new spy satellites in 2024. South Korean defence minister Shin Won-sik said that North Korea could launch a second spy satellite as early as mid-April, reported news agency Yonhap. Jeon told reporters that Shin’s comments are based on the military’s observation of North Korea’s related activities. (With inputs from agencies)

South Korea successfully launches second military spy satellite amid race with North Korea

North Korea said that it will no longer seek reunification and reconciliation with South Korea as leader Kim Jong Un declared that his country vows&nbsp;to place three new military spy satellites into orbit in 2024. 
 
Speaking about inter-Korean relations, Kim said that it had become “a relationship between two hostile countries and two belligerents at war”, as reported by the state-run news agency KCNA. 
 
“It’s time for us to acknowledge the reality and clarify our relationship with the South,” said Kim, adding that if Washington and Seoul were to attempt a military confrontation with Pyongyang, its “nuclear war deterrent will not hesitate to take serious action.” 
 
“I believe that it is a mistake that we must no longer make to deal with the people who declare us as ‘the main enemy’ and seek only opportunities for ‘[our] regime collapse’ and ‘unification by absorption’ by collaborating for reconciliation and unification,” the North Korean leader added.

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North and South Korea have remained detached from each other after the Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice. The two countries have been at war technically but both the governments have been seeking the goal of reunifying one day.

<h2 lang="en-US">North Korea to launch three new spy satellites in 2024</h2>

Meanwhile, North Korea's state media reported Sunday (Dec 31) that the country has planned to launch three more spy satellites in 2024 as part of its measures to ramp up its military. 
 
Last month, a spy satellite was successfully placed into an orbit by Pyongyang and since then, it has claimed to be providing images of major US and South Korean military sites. 
 
The country this year also carried out a record-breaking number of weapons tests, which included the launch of the country's most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) this month. 
 
"The task of launching three additional reconnaissance satellites in 2024 was declared" as one of the key major decisions at a year-end party meeting for next year, said the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Watch:&nbsp;Japan, US, South Korea share real-time data on North Korea's missiles

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/japan-us-south-korea-share-real-time-data-on-north-koreas-missiles-world-news-wion-671337/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The five-day meeting, which came to an end on Saturday, also saw participation of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. 
 
"The United States, which has long caused and worsened political instability on the Korean peninsula, continues to pose various types of military threat to our country even as the year is coming to an end," said Kim. 
 
In the wake of growing missile and nuclear threats from Pyongyang this year, Seoul, Tokyo and Washington ramped up defence co-operation and also activated a system for sharing real-time data on missile launches by North Korea.

(With inputs from agencies)

North Korea said that it will no longer seek reunification and reconciliation with South Korea as leader Kim Jong Un declared that his country vows to place three new military spy satellites into orbit in 2024.

North Korea said that it will no longer seek reunification and reconciliation with South Korea as leader Kim Jong Un declared that his country vows to place three new military spy satellites into orbit in 2024. Speaking about inter-Korean relations, Kim said that it had become “a relationship between two hostile countries and two belligerents at war”, as reported by the state-run news agency KCNA. “It’s time for us to acknowledge the reality and clarify our relationship with the South,” said Kim, adding that if Washington and Seoul were to attempt a military confrontation with Pyongyang, its “nuclear war deterrent will not hesitate to take serious action.” “I believe that it is a mistake that we must no longer make to deal with the people who declare us as ‘the main enemy’ and seek only opportunities for ‘[our] regime collapse’ and ‘unification by absorption’ by collaborating for reconciliation and unification,” the North Korean leader added. Also read: North Korean officials attend year-end political meeting in luxury cars despite ban North and South Korea have remained detached from each other after the Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice. The two countries have been at war technically but both the governments have been seeking the goal of reunifying one day. North Korea to launch three new spy satellites in 2024 Meanwhile, North Korea's state media reported Sunday (Dec 31) that the country has planned to launch three more spy satellites in 2024 as part of its measures to ramp up its military. Last month, a spy satellite was successfully placed into an orbit by Pyongyang and since then, it has claimed to be providing images of major US and South Korean military sites. The country this year also carried out a record-breaking number of weapons tests, which included the launch of the country's most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) this month. "The task of launching three additional reconnaissance satellites in 2024 was declared" as one of the key major decisions at a year-end party meeting for next year, said the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Watch: Japan, US, South Korea share real-time data on North Korea's missiles The five-day meeting, which came to an end on Saturday, also saw participation of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. "The United States, which has long caused and worsened political instability on the Korean peninsula, continues to pose various types of military threat to our country even as the year is coming to an end," said Kim. In the wake of growing missile and nuclear threats from Pyongyang this year, Seoul, Tokyo and Washington ramped up defence co-operation and also activated a system for sharing real-time data on missile launches by North Korea. (With inputs from agencies)

North Korea rejects idea of reunification with South Korea, plans to launch spy satellites in 2024

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