India is stepping into a new era of space security with the planned deployment of “bodyguard satellites” a Rs.27,000-crore programme designed to safeguard its growing orbital infrastructure. The urgency of this initiative was underscored by a near-miss in 2024, when a neighboring country’s satellite came dangerously close to an Indian Earth-observation craft, exposing the risks of both orbital debris and potential hostile manoeuvres.
The project envisions nearly 50 surveillance and protection satellites, the first of which is expected to be launched in 2026. Equipped with LiDAR sensors, precision radars, and agile propulsion systems, these sentinels will monitor low-Earth orbit, track debris, and intervene to prevent collisions or encroachments. Ground-based radars and telescopes will complement their operations, forming a multi-layered space situational awareness grid.
ISRO will lead the initiative, drawing support from private industry and defense partners, signaling India’s intent to build an indigenous, resilient space defense architecture. Strategically, the programme reflects a recognition that space is no longer a benign frontier but a contested domain where powers like China and the U.S. already field orbital security assets. By advancing bodyguard satellites, India aims not only to shield its satellites but also to project technological maturity and strategic foresight in an era of intensifying space competition.
