Operation Sindoor gave us chance to use space technologies on Pakistan soil: Minister

NEW DELHI: Space minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday revealed during National Space Day that space technology played a significant role during Operation Sindoor.

While mentioning the operation during which India launched missiles deep into Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack, the minister said, “A few months ago, you saw Operation Sindoor. What you saw was the full presentation of Indian space technology from Earth to space. All you saw was the energy of two key departments — the department of space and department of atomic energy. But what is more important is that these capabilities have been achieved in the last 10 years. Technology development and technology transfer happened in the last 10 years.”

“Operation Sindoor gave us an opportunity to test these technologies on Pakistan soil. And, the world got to know what has happened in the last 11 years of the Modi government,” he said.

Soon after the operation, Isro chairman V Narayanan had said in May, “At least 10 satellites are working 24x7 for the strategic purpose to ensure the safety and security of the citizens of this country. Without satellite and drone tech, we cannot achieve that (operation).”

Isro's satellites provide physical and navigation services for the military.

Space-based navigation services of NavIC are used to guide weapons and missiles to their specific targets, Insat satellites provide weather condition information and communication services to the armed forces, Gsat services are being used for strategic communication operations and SAR satellites like Risat provide earth surveillance and observation data.

While outlining Isro’s future programmes, which started in 2025 with the launch of an advanced NavIC satellite and will be followed later this year by the uncrewed Gaganyaan-1 mission with a humanoid, the minister said the two of the four astronauts will go to space as part of the manned Gaganyaan mission in 2027. “Thereafter, many more astronauts will go to space,” he said.

The manned mission will be followed by Chandrayaan-4 in 2028, a mission to Venus, and the establishment of the proposed Bharat Antariksh Station by 2035. Singh said India has set its sights on placing an astronaut on the Moon by 2040, an endeavour that would symbolically mark the country’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047.

India plans to launch more than 100 satellites over the next 15 years, and it will be a mix of govt technology missions and private sector-led operational missions, he said while releasing a roadmap for the space sector for the next 15 years.

Singh said the roadmap will guide India's space journey to 2040 and beyond, supporting the vision of Viksit Bharat by leveraging space technology for food and water security, disaster resilience, environmental sustainability and inclusive growth.


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