India successfully launched its latest advanced satellite that will give a big boost to the strategic communication and networking capabilities of the Indian Air Force(IAF).
Dubbed as "Angry Bird", the satellite is expected to enable the force to interlink different ground radar stations, ground airbase and Airborne early warning and control (AWACS) aircraft.
GSAT-7A will also boost drone operations as it will help the force upgrade from existing ground control stations to satellite-control of military UAVs.
The launch has come at an opportune time as India is in the process of acquiring US armed Predator-B or Sea Guardian drones, which are high-altitude and long endurance satellite-controlled UAVs that can fire at enemy targets from long distances.
The launch of the dedicated IAF satellite comes at a time when the defence ministry has cleared a plan to set up a special "Defence Space Agency" - an integrated tri-services unit that will use all space assets for the benefit of the armed forces.
Gsat-7A will be the second communication satellite dedicated to the military. Earlier, Isro had launched Gsat-7 or Rukmini in September 2013 for the Navy. Rukmini has not only helped the naval force monitor the Indian Ocean Region but also provided real-time inputs to warships, submarines and maritime planes.
With the launch of communication satellite GSAT-7A, ISRO has not only provided the IAF with its own 'eye' in the sky but has achieved a milestone by launching three satellites in just 35 days.
The two other satellites launched in over a month were communication satellite Gsat-29 (Nov 14) and hyperspectral imaging satellite HysiS (Nov 29). If the desi heaviest communication satellite Gsat-11 launched from the European spaceport is also counted, then the number of satellites launched in just 35 days comes to four, a big achievement for the Indian space agency.
Isro will usher in next year with lots of space activities as a series of satellites are lined up for launches in the first half of the year. In January itself, three launches are scheduled.
Isro will launch a PSLV mission carrying EMISAT and then its communication satellite Gsat-31 will be launched from French Guiana that will replace INSAT 4CR, whose end of life is expected soon. India's most highly ambitious moon mission 'Chandrayaan-2' is also scheduled to be launched in January, though its launch window is from January 3 to February 13. Isro also plans to launch remote sensing satellite Risat-2B around the same time.
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