Satellite procurement
India signs ₹2,563 crore GSAT-7C satellite contract
The defence ministry has contracted NewSpace India for a dedicated Indian Air Force communications satellite. Its announcement gives no launch or commissioning date.
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Add us as a preferred source on Google
The Ministry of Defence signed a ₹2,563 crore contract with NewSpace India Limited on October 15 for GSAT-7C, a dedicated communications satellite for the Indian Air Force. The ministry announced the agreement through the Press Information Bureau after the signing in New Delhi.
The ministry describes GSAT-7C as an indigenously designed, developed and manufactured satellite intended to strengthen secure and resilient communications among Air Force assets. Those are the intended capabilities of the procurement; the announcement does not establish that the satellite is ready for service.
The ₹4,106 crore figure in the announcement covers two contracts. GSAT-7C accounts for ₹2,563 crore; a separate ₹1,543 crore order covers Varunastra heavyweight torpedoes for the Indian Navy. The larger total is therefore not the price of the satellite.
GSAT-7C had received in-principle procurement approval on November 23, 2021. That earlier Ministry of Defence notice described a ₹2,236 crore proposal for the satellite and associated ground hubs, intended to connect software-defined radios in real time. It envisaged design, development and launch within India, with secure communications beyond the direct line of sight between users.
The October contract announcement does not itemise the satellite and ground infrastructure or explain how its scope compares with the 2021 proposal.
The Tribune reported that the Air Force has been sharing satellite transponder capacity with the Army and Navy. Its report describes GSAT-7C as a dedicated capability intended to improve connectivity among aircraft and ground command elements; the operational benefits remain prospective.
NewSpace India, known as NSIL, is a wholly government-owned company under the Department of Space. ISRO lists building communications and Earth-observation satellites to customer requirements among its business areas. The October 15 release gives no GSAT-7C launch date, delivery timetable or date for commissioning the new capability.
Reporting trail
Primary sources
Press Information Bureau, Ministry of DefenceMoD inks Rs 4,106 crore contracts for GSAT-7C communication satellite and Varunastra Heavy Weight Torpedoespib.gov.in
Press Information Bureau, Ministry of DefenceDefence Acquisition Council headed by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh approves proposal of value Rs. 2,236 Cr.pib.gov.in
The TribuneIndian Air Force to get its own satellite as Defence Ministry signs Rs 2,563 crore dealtribuneindia.com
ISRONewSpace India Limited (NSIL)isro.gov.in
For an image post, download the card and copy this suggested caption.
The defence ministry has contracted NewSpace India for a dedicated Indian Air Force communications satellite. Its announcement gives no launch or commissioning date. Read the full report: https://www.spaceexploration.in/news/gsat7c-nsil-iaf-contract #SpaceExplorationNews #SpaceNews #SpacePolicy
