ISRO Has Launched The GSAT-7A And The Indian Air Force Is About To Get A Lot Tougher; Here Is How
Thursday, December 20, 2018 IST
ISRO has successfully launched its 7th satellite for the year 2018 today from its launch base at Sriharikota at 4:10 pm. Named GSAT-7A, the communication satellite was launched atop GSLV Mk-II rocket and carries a particular significance for the Indian Air Force. What? Read on to find out.
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The previous launch of ISRO saw its heaviest rocket to date (GSLV Mk III D2) carrying the GSAT 29, which was aimed to provide an enhanced connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the North-eastern states of India. The GSAT-7A though, has a different mission altogether and is an effort to improve the connectivity among India’s defense forces.
So, what will it do?
Once in the orbit, the GSAT-7A will allow the Indian Air Force (IAF) to interconnect its ground stations as well as Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS) aircraft. This, in turn will result in better network-centric capabilities for the IAF. Direct results of this will come in the form of:
- Detection of aircraft, vessels etc from a long range.
- Real-time air-to-air communication between aircrafts, as well as with the ground.
- Enable surveillance through long range drones by simultaneously transmitting the information to ground bases.
- Also enhance the range and endurance of the UAVs/ drones, enable strikes from long distances at enemy targets through satellite control.
The Cumulative Effect
In layman’s terms, the GSAT-7A will prove to be the long range eyes and ears of the IAF and even a long range remote control for that matter. The multi-part advantage will see improved connectivity within the IAF ground bases, highly improved surveillance capabilities through remote monitoring and controlling of UAVs and an enhanced communication channel for airborne aircrafts. In short, the IAF is set to get a whole lot tougher!
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A Look At The Satellite
The GSAT-7A cost around Rs 500-800 Crore and weighs 2250 Kg. It has been configured on the 1-2K Bus with bi-propellant chemical propulsion system. The satellite constitutes of four solar panels which cumulatively generate 3.3 kilowatts of electrical power.
The GSAT-7A features a KU-Band technology as a payload that allows the radio signals to be captured through smaller antennas and provides wide beam coverage as compared to other bands. It is also less prone to damage through atmospheric disturbances.
The GSAT-7A will be injected into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) post which, it will be placed in its final Geostationary Orbit (GEO). The expected life-span of the satellite is 8 years.
The Military Satellite Count
With the GSAT-7A, the total military satellite count of India has risen up to 14. Before this, ISRO had launched GSAT-7, also called ‘Rukmini’, to help the Indian Navy monitor the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Some other notable military satellites include the Cartosat-series and the Risat-series for scanning the Earth and some other satellites on the geo orbit for communication, surveillance and navigation.
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