ISRO launches military communication satellite GSAT-7A: How it will add more sting to Air Force's firepower

The 2,250 kg geo-stationary satellite GSAT-7A built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) provides for a secure mode of communication and will be for the exclusive use of the IAF. After a 26-hour countdown, ISRO's rocket GSLV-F11 carrying the satellite lifted off at 4.10 pm from the second launch pad at Sriharikota, about 110 km from Chennai.

(Photo: ISRO) 

The mission also gave the scientists some anxious moments "as the weather god was not very conducive some one week back," Sivan noted. However, the meteorological team here gave correct predictions, he said and congratulated the ISRO team members behind the successful launch, the last for this calendar year. "This is the last mission of this year. We are going to initiate the new year with a grand mission soon," he said. Sivan said the new year would see ISRO taking up challenging launches, including the Chandrayaan-2 moon mission.

(Photo: ISRO)

The launch mission came with many firsts, including increased propellant loading and other features, the ISRO chief said. The "cryogenic stage is burnt to depletion to get a super synchronous transfer orbit to enhance the life of the satellite," he said. The satellite also came with new technology regarding the antenna to improve the performance, Sivan said. Its solar panels have been deployed and orbit raising manoeuvres will be done from Thursday morning from Bengaluru, he said. 

(Photo: ISRO)

Around 19 minutes after the lift-off, the geosynchronous launch vehicle injected the satellite into the intended orbit. According to ISRO, the satellite would take a few days after separation from the launcher to reach its orbital slot. 

The GSLV-F11 is the ISRO's fourth generation launch vehicle with three stages. Four liquid strap-ons and a solid rocket motor at the core form the first stage of the launch vehicle, while the second stage is equipped with a high-thrust engine using liquid fuel, ISRO said. The Cryogenic Upper Stage forms the third and final stage of the vehicle. The seventh launch of 2018 from Sriharikota marks the 69th mission of GSLV-F11 for ISRO.

On November 14, ISRO's GSLV-MkIII-D, which is dubbed by the ISRO as the 'Bahubali' or "fat boy" of Indian rockets, injected into orbit a 3,423 kg communication satellite GSAT-29, the country's heaviest to be put into orbit.

(Photo: ISRO) 

According to the ISRO officials, the advanced communication satellite would facilitate exclusive frequency flight communication for the IAF. The mission life of the GSAT-7A is eight years. It will provide communication in Ku-band over the Indian region.

From the Mission Control Centre, ISRO Chairman K Sivan said the "successful and safe" launch was the third one in 35 days and came close on the heels of the "grand success" of two missions in November. The GSLV-F11 successfully injected the "advanced" communication GSAT-7A into orbit, an elated Sivan said, describing the mission as "wonderful." This was the heaviest satellite lifted by the GSLV with indigenous cryogenic stage, he added. The mission came with many firsts, including increased propellant loading and other features, the ISRO chief said.

(Photo: ISRO)

Along with other communication satellites - GSAT-7 and GSAT-6 - GSAT-7A will change the way Indian armed forces operate and communicate. GSAT-7A will be the first satellite built primarily for the IAF to qualitatively unify its assets and improve combined, common intelligence during operations. It will provide aircraft-to-aircraft communication link and between airborne planes and their commanders on the ground.

(Photo: ISRO) 

GSAT-7A is built exclusively for the IAF but the Indian Army will also use some of its bandwidth. It will provide a unique link between all the on and off ground assets and airbases and command centres of the 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. "The launch is a tremendous jump in our networking capabilities. It will be very beneficial to our communication network," IAF chief Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa told reporters in Jodhpur.

(Photo: Twitter/IAF) 

About 70% of the GSAT-7A network would be for the Air Force and the rest for the needs of the Army. The Indian Navy already has a satellite - GSAT-7 - for its exclusive use which provides it a real-time communication over the Indian Ocean region. The Army's Aviation Corps, which operates many helicopters and UAVs, will use the 30% bandwidth of GSAT-7A. Sources said the satellite using Ku band will enable superior real-time communication between IAF assets and ground control.

(Photo: ISRO)