Delay in Surveillance Satellites for Armed Forces

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of Defence
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

RAJYASABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION N0.2363
TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2011
Delay in Surveillance Satellites for Armed Forces

2363.  SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

(a)   Whether   there   has   been   a delay   in   providing   dedicated   surveillance   and communication satellites to the Indian Armed Forces;

(b) Whether there has also been a delay in the launch of the tri-service Aerospace Command for space warfare;

(c)  If so, the reasons therefor; and

(d) The steps Government proposes to take in this regard, especially as China is far ahead of India in the military exploitation of space?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF DEFENCE
(SHRI A.K. ANTONY)

(a) The satellite requirements of the Indian Armed Forces are being met from the existing satellites. Steps have also been taken for provision of dedicated satellite facilities for the Armed Forces.

(b) & (c): An Integrated Space Cell (ISC) under Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) has been constituted in August 2009.  The ISC is coordinating action for acquiring the requisite space capabilities.

(d)  Government has mechanisms in place to effectively exploit space resources for the Defence and Security of the country.