At least 10 satellites monitoring for threats, ISRO chief says

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman V Narayanan said that 10 satellites are actively monitoring India’s borders and coastlines to support the country’s security efforts amid the ongoing tensions with Pakistan.

Narayanan’s comments came at during the fifth convocation of the Central Agricultural University in Agartala on 11 May, where he spoke about the strategic importance of space-based surveillance.

“If we want to ensure the safety of our country, we have to serve through our satellites,” he said, stressing the necessity of technology in securing India’s long seashores and land boundaries.

Narayanan noted that satellite and drone systems are important for comprehensive security coverage.

“We have to monitor our 7,000 km seashore areas. Without satellite and drone technology, we can’t achieve many things,” he said.

ISRO has so far launched 127 satellites, including those developed by private firms and academic institutions.

Of these, 22 are positioned in low Earth orbit, while 29 are in geosynchronous orbit under government operation.

India’s current satellite fleet includes about 12 dedicated surveillance satellites, such as the Cartosat and RISAT series, EMISAT, and MicroSat series, each serving specific reconnaissance functions.

The ISRO chief’s remarks come ahead of the planned launch of the EOS-09 (RISAT-1B), a radar imaging satellite scheduled for 18 May. Once in sun-synchronous orbit, the satellite is expected to improve India’s surveillance capabilities, particularly along sensitive border regions.

Narayanan’s statement comes against backdrop of escalations along India’s border with Pakistan—triggered by New Delhi’s 7 May launch of Operation Sindoor in response to the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack that killed at least 26 tourists.

The two nuclear-armed rivals engaged in cross-border firing before the US announced a ceasefire between them on 10 May.

Addressing India on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a stern warning to Pakistan that New Delhi has merely paused its operations against Islamabad—and that future action will depend completely on its conduct.

Modi said that while Pakistan pleaded India to put an end to the military escalation, India considered it only after Islamabad gauranteed to stop its misadventures.

Modi called the Pahalgam terror attack the most “barbaric face of terrorism,” and said that it was personal pain for him.

The prime minister also said Operation Sindoor was not just a name but through it the whole world saw India’s resolve turn into action and more than 100 dreaded terrorists were slain in the Indian attack.

“India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. We have only kept in abeyance our operations against Pakistan, future will depend on their behavior. Operation Sindoor is now India’s new policy against terrorism, a new line has been drawn,” he said.