Bharat Global Time | June 12, 2025
With China and Russia advancing rapidly in hypersonic missile technology, India is facing a new era of strategic vulnerability. According to top defense scientists and DRDO insiders, India will require a network of 300–500 satellites in low-Earth orbit to effectively track, detect, and neutralize hypersonic weapons.
This marks a dramatic shift in India’s space-defense doctrine, where outer space is no longer a passive platform — but the first line of defense.
Why Are Hypersonic Missiles So Dangerous?
Unlike conventional ballistic missiles, hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs):
- Fly at Mach 5+ speeds
- Can manoeuvre mid-air to avoid detection
- Travel at low altitudes, dodging radar networks
- Strike targets within minutes, not hours
India’s existing radar and satellite infrastructure, built around ballistic threats, is not sufficient to track such fast and agile projectiles.
A DRDO official stated:
“Our early-warning systems are not built for the hypersonic era. We need eyes in the sky — hundreds of them.”
India’s Current Satellite Capabilities: Not Enough
India currently has around 60 active defense and dual-use satellites, mostly focused on:
- Communications (GSAT series)
- Reconnaissance (RISAT, EMISAT)
- Navigation (NavIC)
- Ocean & border surveillance
But real-time tracking of a hypersonic missile demands:
- 24/7 coverage
- Infrared heat signature tracking
- Machine-learning-powered trajectory prediction
This requires a satellite swarm architecture — a dense constellation of small, fast-deploying satellites in LEO (Low-Earth Orbit).
DRDO & ISRO’s Plan: ‘Project Suraksha Net’
India is reportedly developing a secretive program called “Project Suraksha Net”, which aims to:
- Launch 300+ LEO satellites by 2030
- Use AI to coordinate tracking, threat analysis, and interception
- Collaborate with ISRO, BEL, and private startups like Pixxel & Skyroot
These satellites will be able to track ultra-fast, low-signature threats and feed data into:
- Indian Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Phase 2
- The upcoming DRDO Laser Interceptor program
- Naval-based hypersonic sensors
What Are China & US Doing?
| Country | Satellite Strategy | Hypersonic Capability |
|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇳 China | Over 400 military LEO satellites | DF-ZF glide vehicle operational |
| 🇺🇸 USA | 500+ DoD satellites + Space Force mesh | Multiple HGV prototypes in deployment |
| 🇮🇳 India | Needs 300+ more satellites urgently | HSTDV tests in progress |
India’s HSTDV (Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle) has shown promise, but without satellite support, detection and interception remain almost impossible.
Cost & Timeline
DRDO projects that building such a satellite shield will cost ₹35,000–₹45,000 crore over 5–7 years.
However, if India collaborates with:
- Private space firms (Skyroot, Agnikul, Bellatrix)
- Friendly nations like France, Japan, and UAE
- QUAD intelligence-sharing network
…the cost and timeline could be reduced significantly.
What’s at Stake?
Defense experts warn that India’s ability to survive a “first strike” in a hypersonic battlefield depends entirely on:
- Space-based early warning
- AI-assisted interception systems
- Global data fusion & allied response coordination
Without this, India risks being blindsided in a 6-minute war scenario.
Final Word: The Sky is Now the Battlefield
As the Indo-Pacific heats up and great power rivalry moves to the stratosphere, India cannot afford to treat space as a civilian domain anymore.
Satellites are no longer just for weather and telecom — they are the digital soldiers of modern warfare.
If India wants to stay safe, sovereign, and superpower-ready, the path forward is clear:
Launch, or be left behind.
