The Chennai-based space startup Agnikul Cosmos aims to launch satellites from land, sea, and air during times of conflict.  EtherealX’s reusable launch vehicle, the first of its kind in India, is prepared to transport military payloads as needed in Bengaluru.  Moreover, the earth observation satellite tool developed by Dhruva Space, located in Hyderabad, has attracted interest from government agencies seeking real-time data from space.  In the wake of the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, India’s space-tech startups are increasingly shifting their focus from civilian to defense infrastructure.

Lieutenant General Anil Kumar Bhatt, who serves as the Director General of the Indian Space Association (ISpA) and has previously held the position of Director General of Military Operations in the Indian Army, stated, “Space is a domain for warfare, just like air, land, and water.”  “The Indian government has recently made some progressive decisions by informing the private sector of ways to engage in the space defence domain.”

In India’s expanding space defence strategy, satellite surveillance has developed into an essential frontier.  Moreover, the approximately 200 space-tech startups in India are spearheading this initiative, blending innovation with state-of-the-art technologies.  They are speeding up their plans, innovating under time constraints, and working together with Indian defence agencies. 

The private sector is raising the stakes in areas ranging from surveillance to reconnaissance and anti-satellite systems, as India aims to expedite the launch of 52 dedicated satellites for the Armed Forces.  It is reported that the complete constellation will be deployed by 2029, with the first of these satellites expected to launch in April 2026.

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After Operation Sindoor, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC), urged private players to be “partners” in national security rather than just vendors, highlighting the importance of space-based assets in improving India’s surveillance infrastructure.  It is anticipated that the new Military Space Doctrine, which was unveiled on 7 April of this year, will provide a framework for the Indian Defence Forces and support India’s ambition to become a global space power.

Tanveer Ahmed, Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of the space tech company Digantara, stated, “If you examine any global conflict, whether it’s Operation Sindoor or the Russia-Ukraine conflict, governments are utilizing private space capabilities – for imagery or communications.”

Starting with the Defence Space Agency in 2018 and continuing with initiatives like the Mission DefSpace challenge for new space defence startups in 2022 and Phase III of the Space Based Surveillance (SBS-III) mission in 2024, the Government of India approved numerous programs aimed at enhancing private sector involvement in the nation’s defence capabilities.

In February of last year, General Anil Chauhan, the Chief of Defence Staff, announced that more than Rs 25,000 crore had been allocated for space defence needs, thereby boosting the domestic space defence sector.  Lieutenant General (Dr) PJS Pannu (retired) noted in the Indian Aerospace and Defence Bulletin that the government is anticipated to dedicate $3 billion for defence-related space contracts over the coming few years.

“India has already demonstrated that its technologies excel in space.  Now we must achieve scale and launch hundreds of satellites into space to establish our defense. Ahmed stated, “This is where the private sector plays a role.”

India’s private space industry is rapidly transitioning from experimental launches to mission-critical technologies with direct military relevance. Fueled by supportive policy shifts, public-private collaborations, and demand for indigenous defence capabilities, a new wave of space-tech startups is bridging the gap between civilian innovation and strategic national interest. These ventures are not just innovating; they are redefining the boundaries of what Indian space companies can achieve—developing imaging systems that pierce through weather and foliage, satellites that prevent orbital collisions, and rockets built for both commercial and military payloads.

Below are some of the most notable Indian startups leading this charge, building technologies that serve both civil and defence purposes, and setting the stage for India’s deeper integration into global space security frameworks.

Sisir Radar, a Kolkata-based startup that is only three years old, has already become a world leader in remote sensing technology capable of capturing images of the Earth in darkness and through clouds, smoke, and foliage.

Due to its ability to produce images in all weather conditions and at any time of day, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology is extensively employed in the military.  High-frequency bands (C, X, Ku) provide improved resolution.  Nonetheless, they do not go through trees and soil.  This is accomplished using lower frequency bands (L, P), which allow for penetration through foliage and the ground, albeit at a low resolution.  Sisir Radar has accomplished notable enhancements in resolution for the lower frequency bands.

An L-Band SAR system with ‘super vision’ has been developed by it.

Soumya Mishra, CEO of Sisir Radar, stated, “Our achievement surpasses one metre resolution in L-Band and three metres in P Band.”  He added, “This means a resolution improvement of 10 times, not only in India but worldwide.”

Mounted on satellites and aircraft, SAR captures images used in defense applications within the space sector.  Additionally, Sisir is in the process of creating the first privately manufactured L-Band SAR satellite for the system.  Mishra views the development of private space defence technology in Indian markets as a logical consequence.

Mishra stated, “Any technology that is going to space is naturally avant-garde or cutting-edge technology.”  “And across the world, cutting-edge technology has always been in the domain of defence first. Whether it is the internet or the microwave oven, all of them were initially created for defense purposes.

Conversely, Digantara has operated by concentrating on space situational awareness, an area that was previously the domain of governments and national space agencies.  Situational awareness involves monitoring objects in space to prevent collisions with other satellites and debris.  Given that there are more than 11,000 satellites currently orbiting the Earth and that new ones are being launched annually, situational awareness is set to become a crucial service—particularly for the protection of defense assets in space.

In January 2025, Digantara made history by becoming the first commercial entity to commission a situational awareness satellite globally.

Ahmed stated, “Through its policies, the government has sent a clear message that it wants space-based R&D to focus on defence use cases.”  “Now it is also the private sector’s turn to meet the challenge.”

“In the Space domain, the Government often serves as the anchor customer for emerging private players, and this foundational relationship lays the groundwork for strategic collaboration,” said Sanjay Nekkanti, CEO and co-founder of Dhruva Space.

He cited AstraView, which was introduced in 2025 as part of Dhruva’s virtual constellation providing access to more than 250 Earth Observation satellites, as an example. He noted that it has already attracted interest from the Indian government.

Nekkanti stated, “In India, the need for near-real-time space-based data has become mission-critical for planning, surveillance, and national resilience.”

Co-founder Manu J Nair aims for his startup EtherealX to provide affordable launch vehicle technology, positioning it as India’s equivalent to Elon Musk’s SpaceX.  The main products of his company – rockets – are technologies that can be used for two purposes by their nature.

“Any rocket can be used for civilian or military purposes depending on the payload, by design,” he explained.  “We are currently concentrating on commercial applications, but we are still receptive to military payloads.  Should the country need it, we are completely ready to assist with defence missions as well.

Currently, the domain of space defense extends beyond just surveillance and information.  Nations are developing precision missiles, drones, and even anti-satellite weapons (ASATs) as common tools to extend conflicts beyond Earth.

Gunjan Singh, an associate professor at OP Jindal University who specializes in space security, stated, “Tomorrow, in a conflict between two nations, if one strikes the GPS satellite (the global positioning system) or vital communication satellites, the entire world will go blind.” “We don’t realise how dependent we are on satellites, and what ASATs and space weapons are now capable of.”

In numerous aspects, India is trying to catch up with Europe and the United States.  In 2019, the United States created a Space Force, akin to its other branches of the Armed Forces.  Similar to a Star Wars chapter, their Space Force Doctrine explicitly details how this new ‘force’ of ‘guardians’ will strive to safeguard America’s space security.  It also has responsibilities for space domain awareness (similar to Digantara’s work), space mobility, and orbital warfare.

These responsibilities delineate the US perspective on space: it is not merely a grey zone, but rather an actively militarised area that can be weaponised under extraordinary circumstances.

Gunjan Singh states that these concerns are primarily being addressed by the Indian space defence sector.

“At present, India has two problematic borders: those with China and Pakistan.  She explained that the necessity for space technology for surveillance and reconnaissance is intensified along these borders.

India’s space programme has historically been characterized by a ‘civilian bent’.  The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been leading our achievements in space, resulting in a division between the country’s space operations and its defense requirements, with a greater focus on civilian and human development.

“Unlike the US or Russia, whose space research emerged from the Cold War and had clear military implications, India’s approach has been different,” said Singh. “But now our space and defence needs have integrated, and more and more independent startups are coming in.”

Lieutenant General Bhatt (retired) elaborated on this by detailing how, initially, space defence startups required government backing to gain a foothold and establish themselves.  The Indian government offered just that through programs like the iDEX Startup Challenge.

“To begin with, the challenge served to clarify for Indian startups what the needs of the Indian government in terms of space defense are,” he said.  “It also offered financial backing and incentives to innovative startups, assisting them in establishing their businesses if their ideas developed into viable products.  Crucially, it integrated them into the ecosystem of the Indian government, linking them to prospective users and markets. ”

The government has always overseen the defence sector.  Participation of private entities – even as suppliers of arms and ammunition – is tightly controlled.

In the case of delicate domains like satellite imagery or defense communication, the stakes are raised to a whole new level.

Earlier in May, ThePrint reported on a private satellite company, Maxar Technologies, that received orders for satellite images of Pahalgam just two months before the terrorist attack, shortly after a Pakistani firm partnered with it.

As per Bhatt, the initial disruptions in India’s space defence industry are being observed, with private entities entering the field, innovating, and establishing collaborations with the government.

“But globally, it has been there for a while. Whether it’s SpaceX, Boeing, or Airbus, private firms have been supplying space technology for defense purposes for years – and we’ve observed it working effectively with security matters managed,” said Bhatt.

An article in the Indian Journal of Law and Legal Research describes the shared ‘synergies’ between India’s 2023 Civilian Space Policy and the forthcoming Military Space Doctrine regarding the country’s approach to space defence.  According to it, there is a mutual aspiration for innovation and creativity between India’s military and civilian space sectors. They share a belief in the dual-use potential of their infrastructure: civilian applications that can serve defense purposes as well.

Bhatt stated, “Once the Military Space Doctrine is released, everything will be much clearer.”  “We’ve already made sufficient progress in incorporating the private sector into defense space operations, but the doctrine will enhance this by providing clarity for our future partnerships.”

For private space companies such as Digantara and Sisir Radar, the path is already open.  Due to the rising emphasis by governments on space defence and the establishment of new agreements with defence authorities, they perceive a transition—both globally and nationally—toward greater private sector participation in military space domains.

Tanveer Ahmed from Digantara stated, “Private space operations are emerging as the first line of defence in space.”