New Delhi: India’s national security and border surveillance capabilities are expected to receive a significant boost with the scheduled launch of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) new radar imaging satellite, RISAT-1B, also designated as EOS-09, from the Sriharikota space centre on May 18.
Equipped with an advanced C-band synthetic aperture radar, RISAT-1B is capable of capturing high-resolution images of the Earth’s surface regardless of weather conditions or time of day. Unlike optical camera satellites, which struggle during cloudy, rainy, or nighttime conditions, RISAT-1B’s radar technology ensures uninterrupted imaging capability, offering an all-weather surveillance solution.
The launch comes just days after India’s Operation Sindoor and is being viewed as a strategic step to enhance the country’s monitoring abilities along its sensitive borders with Pakistan and China, as well as its extensive coastline. Experts have highlighted the satellite’s potential to give Indian defence forces a crucial technological edge in border security and counterterrorism operations.
RISAT-1B is designed to support defence intelligence by detecting infiltrations, tracking enemy movement, and assisting in anti-terrorism missions. Its high-resolution radar can identify minute changes on the ground, such as freshly disturbed soil from military equipment movement, new encampments, or vehicular activity, which may be missed by conventional surveillance systems.
An advanced iteration of the earlier RISAT series, which played a critical role during operations like the Balakot air strikes, RISAT-1B significantly expands India’s reconnaissance capabilities. Its imaging modes include five distinct settings that range from ultra-high-resolution views to broad area scans, allowing for varied uses across military and civilian sectors.
In addition to its defence applications, the satellite is expected to aid in agricultural monitoring, forestry assessment, soil moisture tracking, geological surveys, and flood management. RISAT-1B will also complement other satellites in ISRO’s Earth observation fleet, including Resourcesat, Cartosat, and RISAT-2B, helping to establish a comprehensive network for Earth monitoring.
As an upgraded version of RISAT-1, RISAT-1B marks another milestone in India’s growing prowess in space-based surveillance and reconnaissance technologies.
With IANS inputs