The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched the country’s first electronic surveillance satellite, EMISAT. It was launched on-board PSLV-C45. As many as 28 small satellites of international customers were also put in space as secondary riders. EMISAT is an advanced electronic intelligence (ELINT) satellite jointly developed by ISRO-DRDO. It is meant for electromagnetic spectrum measurements.

Over the last one year, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) took giant leaps forward, one success after the other.

• INSAT: The system is a network of satellites that facilitates communication and broadcasting across the south Asian region. It ushered in a revolution in India’s television and radio broadcasting, telecommunications and meteorological sector.
• Created Polarized Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) to make cost effective launch system. This has also increased international space collaboration by launching satellites of other nations at low costs.
• Chandrayaan 1: It has launched Chandrayaan 1 lunar probe mission in 2008.
• Mangalyan: ISRO has launched Mars Orbiter Mission in 2013 and created history by launching Mangalyan (mission spacecraft) into the Mars orbit in maiden attempt.
• ASTROSAT: It has launched first space observatory in 2015 to become fourth agency to do so after NASA, Roscosmos and ESA.
• Scramjet: Supersonic Combusting Ramjet has been launched by ISRO. This system works on Air-breathing Propulsion System which uses atmospheric oxygen to burn the fuel in the rocket.
• RLV-TD: ISRO demonstrated its Reusable Launch vehicle space shuttle RLV -TD to launch satellites around earth orbit and re-enter into the atmosphere.
• 104 satellites: ISRO has created history by launching 104 satellites in one go.
• Crew Escape module: ISRO has test-launched Crew Escape Module paving the way for manned space mission Gaganyaan.

Besides, NAVIC (Indian Regional navigation satellites system) and South Asia Satellite are other missions which are a remarkable example of international coordination in the space arena. ISRO is preparing for its missions of Aditya (Solar Mission), Chandrayaan-II and Gaganyaan (Manned Space Mission).

Space Based Intelligence:

• Military satellites are used for several important functions, which include research, meteorology, and geodesy, in addition to reconnaissance.
• Space-based electronic intelligence or ELINT from the 436-kg EMISAT spacecraft will add teeth to situational awareness of the Armed Forces as it will provide location and information of hostile radars placed at the borders.
• The main capability of EMISAT is in signal intelligence — intercepting signals broadcasted by communication systems, radars, and other electronic systems. The Ka-band frequency that EMISAT is sensitive to, allows the EMISAT — India’s newest spy in the sky — to scan through ice, rain, coastal zones, land masses, forests and wave heights with ease.
• This will be another dimension to current land or aircraft-based ELINT, according to defence experts.
• The recent PSLV-45 had PS-4 stage in rocket which carried an ISRO test on Automatic Identification System (AIS) related to tracking ships on sea.
• AMSAT or the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, India, has sent a payload called the Automatic Packet Repeating System. This is expected to help amateur radio operators to get improved locational accuracy in their tracking and monitoring.

Previous efforts:

• Earlier in the year 2019, ISRO launched MICROSAT R for the DRDO. MICROSAT R is an imaging satellite, meant for military purposes, but ISRO has not given out any details about it.
• India’s first exclusive defence satellite, GSAT-7 was launched in 2013. GSAT-7 was designed to provide communication capabilities over a wide oceanic region, including the Indian landmass. It helped in marine communications and helped the Navy in providing real-time inputs to Indian vessels.
• In December 2018, ISRO successfully launched its second advanced defence satellite exclusively for the Indian Airforce, called the GSAT-7 A. Dubbed the “Angry Bird”, this satellite allows the Indian Air Force to interlink different ground radar stations, ground airbase and Airborne early warning and control aircraft. It also facilitates exclusive frequency flight communication for the Indian Air Force.
• CartoSat-2A was the first dual-use satellite, with capabilities of monitoring missile launches in India’s neighbourhood. This was the first exclusive military satellite that was launched in April 2008. This was followed by CartoSat-2B in July, 2010.

Conclusion:

 Thus, EMISAT has added strength to Indian Intelligence and Strategic systems. At present, India has over 13 satellites, which can be used for mapping surveillance and border areas, and are primarily used for keeping an eye on enemies on both land and sea. However, there is a clear need for India to increase its investment in the military satellite arena. More importantly, India needs to invest in systems beyond navigation and communications and expand its existing infrastructure.