Next-gen maritime communication: ISRO's GSAT-7R launch signals enhanced naval capabilities

New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch the Indian Navy’s GSAT-7R (CMS-03) communication satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on Sunday. The satellite will significantly boost the Navy’s space-based communication and maritime domain awareness capabilities.

According to the Defence Ministry, GSAT-7R is the most advanced communication satellite developed for the Indian Navy to date. Entirely indigenously designed and developed, the satellite weighs around 4,400 kg, making it India’s heaviest communication satellite so far, and features several state-of-the-art components built to meet the Navy’s specific operational needs.

The ministry said GSAT-7R will provide robust telecommunication coverage across the Indian Ocean Region, with transponders capable of supporting voice, data, and video communications across multiple frequency bands. The new satellite is expected to enhance high-capacity bandwidth connectivity, ensuring seamless and secure communication between ships, aircraft, submarines, and maritime operations centres.

“In an era of complex security challenges, GSAT-7R symbolises the Indian Navy’s resolve to safeguard the nation’s maritime interests through advanced, indigenously developed technology,” the ministry said.

ISRO described CMS-03 as a multi-band communication satellite designed to provide wide coverage across the oceanic region, including the Indian landmass.

The satellite will be launched aboard India’s heavy-lift LVM3 rocket, which can carry payloads of up to 4,000 kg into space. The LVM3, which previously launched missions such as Chandrayaan-3, making India the first nation to successfully land near the lunar south pole, will undertake its fifth operational flight, designated LVM3-M5, for this mission.

“The launch vehicle has been fully assembled and integrated with the spacecraft, and was moved to the launch pad on 26 October for final pre-launch operations,” ISRO confirmed.

GSAT-7R will replace GSAT-7 Rukmini, which has served the Indian Navy since its launch in 2013. With upgraded payloads and extended coverage, GSAT-7R will strengthen secure, multi-band communications and expand the Navy’s operational reach across strategic maritime zones.

The CMS-03 payload includes transponders for voice, data, and video links over C, extended C, and Ku bands.

IANS