RISAT/CARTOSAT : India's Intelligence Satellites in Orbit

[nitesh]

cross posting

from: ISRO's website

RISAT-2 Stowed Configuration

RISAT-2 Deployed Configuration

ANUSAT

Nozzle end segment of first stage being moved to VAB

Interstage 1-2 being unload-stacked 1st stage at background

4th stage after stacking

Fully Stacked PSLV-C12 ready to move from VAB

PSLV exiting from Vehicle Assembly Building

On its way to Launchpad

PSLV - C12 On Launchpad

 

[nitesh]

Launch successful guys Times Now is giving the live pictures of lift off

 

[nitesh]

seems like RISAT 2 is injected to the orbit. Please confirm this

 

[nitesh]

Yes it is confirmed satellite is in orbit scientists are just being cautious more or less we have the satellite. Dr. madhavan nair will have a confernece at 9AM

 

[Pintu]

Congratulation for ISRO for launching RISAT successfully. Times Now says that official announcement will come from ISRO on 9 o'clock when Mr. Nair will address the press. Times Now says that RISAT is in orbit.


Regards

 

[pyromaniac]

Spy satellite RISAT takes off from Sriharikota

Aiming to enhance India's defence surveillance capabilities, ISRO on Monday morning launched its first Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT)
from Sriharikota.

As per specifications, RISAT is different from previous remote sensing satellites as it uses Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), equipped with many antennas to receive signals that are processed into high-resolution pictures.

The SAR, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, gives RISAT defence capabilities.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...-off-from-Sriharikota/articleshow/4422984.cms


India readies Israeli radar spysat to eye Pakistan

India is poised to launch a $200 million military imaging radar reconnaissance satellite purchased secretly from Israel to locate hostile Pakistani or terrorist operations at night and during all weather conditions.

The secret spacecraft was rushed to completion following the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai, Indian officials say.

The spacecraft's 15-foot diameter dish radar antenna will be able to see through the thickest clouds and rain, snow or fog conditions during night or day to provide the Indian Army with 1-meter resolution images. It can also "see" through camouflage like cloth or foliage used to conceal camps or vehicles.

Officials at Lockheed Martin tell Spaceflight Now that the satellite will give India a radar reconnaissance imaging capability comparable to the imaging radars carried by the most modern versions of the high-flying U-2 spy plane operated by the U.S. Air Force.

The 660-pound RISAT 2 spacecraft is to be launched April 20 on board an Indian Space Research Organization Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, fired from the Satish Dhawan Space Center at 6:45 a.m. local time, or 0115 GMT.

The mission is part of an expanding Indian military space program driven by serious concerns over monitoring Pakistan and terrorist groups like Al Qaeda.

The radar satellite will add to the more traditional visual imaging intelligence capability India already has. The country last year launched its first fairly high resolution reconnaissance satellite, but has operated medium and low resolution remote sensing spacecraft for years. Those spacecraft, however, can not see through clouds or at night.

The new RISAT spacecraft is being placed in a 342-mile-high orbit, along with a small microsatellite to be used for imaging educational purposes.

The new spacecraft was built by Israeli Aircraft Industries MBT Space subsidiary. The radar was developed by its Elta subsidiary.

The satellite will monitor the hundreds of mountain valleys that connect India with Pakistan and terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan further north. It should also help keep track of ships at sea that could pose a threat.

The satellite is an upgraded version of Israel's TecSAR synthetic aperture radar satellite. Space-based radars are especially good for monitoring rocky mountain valleys for infiltrating vehicles that show up well in radar imagery.

The project also illustrates the growing military space ties between India and Israel, which can build highly capable spacecraft but lacks the kind of booster power India has to launch them. Within the last year, India launched the TecSAR radar satellite for Israel and is likely sharing its data downlink and change detection software capability.

Indian Space Research Organization officials said the new satellite was rushed to completion "on a war footing" in the wake the terrorist attack in Mumbai.

The imaging radar can provide spot, mosaic and strip imaging modes. But its spot mode can focus high-powered radar beams on a small area to build a high resolution picture of what is there. These modes will provide a multitude of different radar "aspect angles" -- views from electronically different directions-- from which to illuminate targets on the ground.

While the Indian RISAT 2 mission is readied, the U.S. is also preparing for the launch of two new military satellites on May 5.

One will be launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on a United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket.

But a much different highly advanced imaging intelligence satellite is to be fired into space on the same day from the new Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops Island, Va. Depending on the launch time and weather conditions, that rocket launch could be easily visible to people in Washington, D.C.

The Indian radar satellite and the U.S. missions set for May 5 are at the vanguard of major new U.S. and international military space developments.

The programs over the long term span multi-billion dollar replacements just approved by the Obama administration for the extremely high resolution Advanced KH-11 class of electro-optical satellites favored by the intelligence community. President Obama also approved the procurement of additional smaller, more operationally responsive spacecraft favored by the military services.

The White House has also just approved the continued procurement of more commercially-based programs like those operated by the DigitalGlobe and GeoEye companies.

Unique imaging programs to improve space situational awareness are also underway.

The most intriguing of these is the highly secret twin Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency "Mitex" satellites currently prowling geosynchronous orbit at nearly 25,000 miles altitude. The Mitex satellites can secretly sneak up and image spacecraft, like those from China, that are otherwise so far away they are essentially invisible and difficult to characterize.

Earlier this year the Mitex satellites traveled from opposite sides of the planet to rendezvous with and inspect a crippled U.S. missile warning spacecraft.

Some Chinese and other international space officials are highly critical of the new Mitex capability because if a U.S. satellite can sneak up to take a picture, it could possibly also disable the other satellite without leaving evidence that it had been done by a U.S. satellite.

The May 5 Vandenberg mission will involve the first of three new low altitude military surveillance satellites planned for launch this summer. Two others will be launched piggyback in late July on a single Delta 2 fired from Cape Canaveral



The combined cost of all three new, largely-similar satellites is several hundred million dollars.

The initial mission May 5 will carry the Northrop Grumman Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) spacecraft for the Missile Defense Agency.

The flight will more specifically will be part of the STSS program's Advanced Technology Risk Reduction (STSS-ATRR) research and development flight mission for the agency.

The mission was previously called the Block 2010 Spacecraft Risk Reduction satellite. NASA will oversee the Delta 2 launch for the Defense Department.

This first satellite will be placed in a relatively low altitude, but high inclination orbit relative to the equator. The Pentagon has not announced the specific orbital parameters to be used.

The payload is part of the original "SBIRS Low" infrared sensor development program for the tracking of ballistic missile launches midway through flight.

"The STSS Space Tracking and Surveillance test program is designed to provide space-based sensor components for the Ballistic Missile Defense System," the Missile Defense Agency says. The STSS satellites will use special sensors "to detect visible and infrared light for a persistent, global detection, tracking and fire control capability," the agency says

The satellite will use a wide-view acquisition sensor, a narrow-view tracking sensor, and a signal and data processor subsystem to detect and track ballistic missile launches, the agency said.

The following two SSTS spacecraft are on course for a July 29 Cape Canaveral launch into more of a mid-latitude orbit.

Another major military space mission set for launch May 5 is being prepared at the commercial Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport where final integration is underway on the $80 million Air Force Research Laboratory TacSat 3 hyperspectral imaging satellite.

Raytheon is the primary contractor for the "ARTEMIS" Advanced Responsive Tactically Effective Military Imaging Spectrometer at the core of TacSat 3 while ATK built the spacecraft structure.

Hyperspectral imaging is every bit as exotic as it sounds.

Systems like the ARTEMIS scanner on TacSat 3 can break wavelengths of light down into hundreds of bands revealing remarkable details about the target being imaged.

The 880-pound TacSat 3 will be launched on board a solid propellant Orbital Sciences Minotaur rocket using Minuteman ICBM and other rocket stages.

It will be the third Minotaur military space mission launched from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, which although a key new military satellite launch site, has received relatively little notice in the area close to the national capital region.

At 65 feet tall with 210,000 pounds of brilliant orange thrust, the Minotaur rockets are easily large enough to be seen from Washington, D.C., roaring into space during night launches at the spaceport.

TacSat 3 is to increase the speed and resolution of imagery that can be tasked directly by U.S. battlefield commanders.

Instead of waiting on the Air Force or Central Intelligence Agency to call for a picture of a specific area, TacSat 3 is to demonstrate how a small $80 million 21st century satellite can be tasked by a tech-savvy soldier or Marine to quickly obtain a picture that used to require possibly several days to obtain by a $1 billion-class asset like the advanced KH-11 or Lacrosse space-based radar craft.

Initiated four years ago in response to military requirements for responsive, flexible and affordable spacecraft, TacSat 3 consists of three unique payloads: the Advanced Responsive Tactically Effective Military Imaging Spectrometer hyperspectral imager, the Office of Naval Research's Satellite Communications Package and the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Avionics Experiment.

Designated as the small satellite's main demonstration, the ARTEMIS payload will provide, within 10 minutes of its collection, target detection and identification information, as well as battlefield preparation and combat assessment data.

"Capabilities of the ARTEMIS sensor are that it can identify characteristics by seeing through camouflage and foliage. It can also recognize physical characteristics such as oil and paint," said Thom Davis, TacSat 3 program manager. "It will also demonstrate its ability to provide real-time information to the warfighter via a text message or on a laptop computer. With the data supplied by the spacecraft, the commander in the theater of interest can determine if the object is something to be concerned about or a decoy."

In addition, the heart and soul of the spacecraft, a first-generation modular bus, will be evaluated for its operational adaptability for future TacSat flights.

TacSat 3 involves a partnership between the Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Air Force Space Command, the Department of Defense's Operationally Responsive Space office at Kirtland Air Force Base, the Office of Naval Research, the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency and AFRL's Sensors Directorate.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0904/17milsat/

 

[nitesh]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...-education-satellites/articleshow/4423032.cms

ISRO chairman G. Madhavan Nair said: "This is a fantastic New Year gift for the country. We are happy. Performance of the vehicle is precise. There is no deviation to the planned flight path. Both the spacecraft being delivered into the orbit."

He also said that 2009 is going to be the year of fireworks for ISRO. "We ll be launching resourcesat, oceansat and others. Indigenously developed cryogenic engine will be inducted this year."

 

[nitesh]

hmm what about this guys:

PSLV - C12 Lift Off View - 1

PSLV - C12 Lift Off View - 2

PSLV - C12 Lift Off View - 3

PSLV - C12 Lift Off View - 4

PSLV - C12 Lift Off View - 5

From: ISRO

 

[nitesh]

Tango with Israel

Tango with Israel

R. RAMACHANDRAN

The recent launch of the spy satellite RISAT-2 by India’s PSLV-C12 emphasises the widening of strategic ties between India and Israel.

THE TECSAR SPY satellite at an unkown location.

THE charade put on by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) around its twin-satellite launch on April 20, aboard the 15th mission of its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C12), was completely uncalled for and, not surprisingly, unsustainable. It was clear from reports worldwide that the main payload of the mission, a 300-kilogram radar imaging satellite called RISAT-2, was a microwave-based high-resolution imaging reconnaissance (or spy) satellite, which India had procured from Israel. Radar-based imaging has an all-weather – including cloudy and foggy conditions – 24-hour viewing capability as well as an ability to distinguish camouflaged formations from surrounding terrain. But ISRO chose to pretend it was a satellite “realised by ISRO in association with Israel Aerospace Industries [IAI]…[that] will enhance ISRO’s capability for earth observation, especially during floods, cyclones, landslides and management of disasters in a more effective way” (emphasis added).

Why ISRO resorted to obfuscation using words such as “realised” cannot be fathomed. Insiders say that it was a decision at the highest level of the government. ISRO obviously could not say that the satellite was collaboratively built with the IAI because it clearly was not. For one, ISRO’s earth observation systems specialists are busy sorting out technical problems with its own radar imaging satellite, RISAT-1, which was originally slated to go on PSLV-C12, and it is extremely unlikely that the organisation has enough specialists to put together another earth observation team for a system with a totally different technology. It now seems that all the problems with RISAT-1 have been successfully solved, and the indigenous radar imaging satellite, which has a high-resolution reconnaissance capability, could take to the skies by the end of the year.

Two, if RISAT-2 were a satellite jointly built by ISRO and the IAI for remote sensing applications, it would have at least found a mention in the annual reports of the Department of Space or in the detailed demands for grants or in the outcome budgets of the last couple of years. It did not figure even in the latest Vote-on-Account statement for the department. More importantly, according to reliable sources, the Hyderabad-based National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) is in no way associated with the mission, which would not be the case if it were for civilian remote sensing applications. It would also be highly unlikely that the IAI would transfer any technology or even design features necessary for the integration of the satellite with bought-out parts, such as the highly innovative five-metre-diameter dish-shaped Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) that forms the heart of the spacecraft.

Given that ISRO’s RISAT-1 weighs 1,750 kg, and other current SAR-based reconnaissance satellites are also of the same order, a SAR satellite weighing just 300 kg is indeed remarkable. The IAI tied up exclusively with the United State’s Northrop Grumman Corporation in 2007 to supply these SAR-based reconnaissance satellites to the U.S. government. Israeli agencies – the IAI and its subsidiary firm Elta, which designed the SAR – seem to have developed this advanced technology on their own without any U.S. assistance. As a result, Israel could export to India without any need for a U.S. Department of State export licence.

Interestingly, this is the first time ever that ISRO has not released any photograph of the satellite as is its normal practice in its press releases of launches. What is available are schematic diagrams of the satellite in stowed and deployed conditions or a photograph of a stowed satellite at an unknown location.

As will be at present argued, most probably the entire satellite was bought out by some Indian agency – which is clearly not ISRO and is presumably some intelligence agency – and ISRO has merely launched it. This is what analysts and media reports also generally believe. But, in keeping with its claims of openness and transparency, ISRO could have stated this up front and this might have been more acceptable from a national security point of view and gone down better in international perception.

ISRO

PSLV-C12 COMING OUT of the Vehicle Assembly Building in Sriharikota, readied to launch RISAT-2.


The political implications of India’s increased strategic ties and dealings with Israel are, however, doubtless serious and undesirable, notwithstanding the fatal attraction of mutually advantageous geostrategic locations of the two countries from a space-based surveillance perspective. This aspect will become clear shortly.

One could also pertinently ask why the great hurry to buy an Israeli satellite, that too at an enormous cost? Indeed, a news report in Spaceflight Now shortly before the launch stated that the satellite cost about $200 million (as compared with RISAT-1’s project cost of about Rs.380 crore), and the IAI is likely to have sold the complete package, including ground station communication hardware and software, which would have cost an equal amount or much more. Who has actually paid for the satellite and its associated systems is, of course, a well-kept secret.

An argument that is advanced is that, given the delay in launching RISAT-1, the need for an alternate reconnaissance mission became necessary in the wake of the Mumbai terror attack and amid increasing serious concerns about growing pro-Taliban activities in Pakistan and the need to monitor the movements of terrorists belonging to organisations such as Al Qaeda. Of course, media reports suggesting that infiltration from across the border can be monitored are grossly misplaced, unless it occurs in unlikely groups of large numbers. Given that the velocity of the spacecraft is about 8 kilometres/second, it would be just meaningless to say that a small band of infiltrators could be detected.


Just as in remote sensing, reconnaissance involves repeated surveillance of a given area to detect unexpected or suspicious changes in the viewed region with the aid of image-processing techniques and value addition. These generally require combining data over 4 pixels, which means that the least size that can be meaningfully observed should be at least four times the size of the highest resolution (4 × 1 m in this case). So, only a relatively slowly changing scenario in terms of group formations or vehicular movements can be detected and discerned.

Notwithstanding ISRO’s experience with handling TecSAR data, it is likely to be at least a few months before ISRO scientists get familiar with the new RISAT-2 imaging hardware, the new image-processing software and the new communication systems, by which time India should be close to the launch of RISAT-1. Admittedly though, RISAT-1 – whose SAR seems to be very similar to Canada’s Radarsat-2 in terms of design and technology and whose data ISRO has been receiving – is less capable than RISAT-2. Indeed, U.S. analysts say that RISAT-2 will give India a radar-reconnaissance-imaging capability comparable to the imaging radars carried by the most modern versions of the high-flying U-2 spy plane operated by the U.S. Air Force.

India-Israel space cooperation began with the launch by ISRO’s PSLV in January 2008 of TecSAR, Israel’s first radar-based spy satellite, which was a technology demonstrator for the novel and advanced design of the SAR. It is interesting to note that TecSAR and RISAT-2 are identical, in terms of appearance as well as actual detailed configuration. Both are 300 kg satellites with a SAR resolution of 1 m to 10 m depending on the mode of operation in terms of different ground-viewing aspect angles and scanning. If RISAT-2 had been configured and built by ISRO with the SAR supplied by the IAI, as is being claimed, this would be a highly improbable coincidence. Even more interesting is the fact that the orbits into which the two were launched are also nearly identical. TecSAR’s orbit parameters are an altitude of 450 km × 580 km, an inclination of 410 and an orbit period of 94.6 minutes. RISAT-2’s orbit parameters – according to an April 2009 Jonathan Space Report based on tracking by a U.S. ground station – are an altitude of 455 km × 557 km, an inclination of 41.10 and an orbit period of 94.19 minutes.

An inclined orbit of 410 becomes strategically important for both countries because of their fortuitous relative geographic locations. A Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite in an inclined orbit covers the area lying between 410 N and 410 S extremely well during its repeated orbits and that too quickly. As can be seen from an atlas, this region covers the areas of strategic interest for both countries – the entire West Asia region for Israel, and Pakistan and China, except for a part of its north, for India.

From a purely Pakistan-centric security perspective, an inclination of a little less than 400 would suffice. But if China is also a consideration, particularly its missile deployments directed towards the subcontinent as per the threat perception of Indian security agencies, a 410 inclination includes these locations as well and such a surveillance capability would be regarded as useful.

From this strategic perspective, a polar orbiting satellite would be inefficient as it would spend too much time looking at areas that are not important. This is precisely why Israel has chosen such an orbit configuration for its reconnaissance needs.


EO PORTAL, EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY

SCHEMATIC OF RISAT-2 in deployed configuration.


The up-coming Indian RISAT-1, on the other hand, is designed to be a polar orbiting satellite, with a SAR resolution of 3 m to 50 m in operational-scanning modes and a 1 m resolution in an experimental-scanning mode. Inclined orbits at appropriate altitudes have also the advantage of much shorter revisit periods of the satellite, when the satellite returns to repeat its ground track, as compared with polar orbits.

For the particular case of TecSAR and RISAT-2, the naive revisit period is about four days as compared with 18 to 22 days for polar orbiting satellites such as the Indian remote sensing satellites. With a low mass of 300 kg and a diameter of just 1 m, TecSAR is extremely manoeuvrable so that the viewing angle can be altered very quickly if required. This would render the revisit period even shorter. Presumably, RISAT-2 has the same manoeuvrability. The above reasoning would have been the geostrategic fatal attraction for Indian intelligence agencies.

The fatal attraction is mutual. For Israel this comes from the east-facing launch site at Sriharikota. If Israel were to launch satellites on its own using its Shavit launcher, as indeed it has been doing with its Ofeq series of reconnaissance satellites (of similar weight) with optical, ultraviolet and infrared viewing capabilities, it would have to be in an east-to-west retrograde orbit, which would be against the rotation of the earth and a drain on the on-board fuel resources. The orbits of the Ofeq satellites had an inclination of about 1410 to 1430 (which is equivalent to a west-to-east orbit with an inclination of about 400) and about the same altitudes and orbit periods but with lifetimes of only one to three years. But by launching eastwards with ISRO’s help, the satellite’s lifetime increases. According to an April 2006 paper by Y. Sharay and U. Naftly, the original Israeli plan before ISRO came into the picture was to launch TecSAR westwards aboard Shavit into a 143.30 inclined orbit. TecSAR’s life is now stated to be about five years.

According to reports, there is also an intelligence-sharing arrangement between the two countries, and information from TecSAR is probably being exchanged already by the intelligence agencies. It is believed that under this arrangement Israel is also sharing its data downlink and change detection software capability with ISRO. The pro-Israel Indian political executive obviously sees this as a win-win situation for the two countries and, clearly, the launch of RISAT-2 fits into that logic and thinking.

Indeed, when TecSAR was launched, news reports from elsewhere, quoting the U.S.-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said that India was also interested in purchasing a TecSAR-class imaging radar satellite design from Israel for its own military reconnaissance operations to focus specifically on Pakistan and China. In fact, the TecSAR and RISAT-2 launches may not be the end of ISRO’s tango with Israel. Soon after TecSAR’s launch, Ami Haldersberg, Director of Remote Sensing at the IAI’s MBT Space Division, stated that with increasing need for quick revisits of a given location, a constellation of such satellites that are launched in quick succession was very much on the cards. He suggested that the TecSAR-class satellites, being modular in design, could also be quickly modified to carry an optical payload to supplement the radar imageries.

Beginning of cooperation

India-Israel cooperation actually began with the visit of Shimon Peres, the then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, to ISRO on January 9, 2002, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government was at the Centre. A few months later, an umbrella space cooperation agreement was signed, the details of which are not known.

In 2003, then Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon visited India, the first Israeli Prime Minister to do so. This was soon followed by another space cooperation agreement in 2003 when the then ISRO chief K. Kasturirangan visited Israel. This agreement included a contract for an ISRO launch of the Israeli astronomy satellite TAUVEX carrying an ultraviolet telescope. TAUVEX is yet to be launched. The other details of the agreement are, however, not known. Since for Israel an Indian launch seems to be ideal, and India was only too ready and willing a partner in such an engagement, this agreement presumably includes launches by ISRO of all future Israeli reconnaissance missions as well.


EO PORTAL, EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY

SCHEMATIC OF TECSAR in deployed configuration and (right) a detailed schematic of TecSAR.


The growing India-Israeli ties under BJP rule have since been sustained and even stepped up by the present Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government in the past five years, particularly in defence acquisitions and joint military exercises and training. This was also the period when India-Israel science and technology cooperation for joint investment in research and development projects was initiated (2004) and a joint venture was launched between the IAI and Tata Advanced Systems for offset production in defence- and aerospace-related areas in India against various strategic acquisitions (February 2008).

But widening India-Israeli strategic ties will only lead to a vicious cycle of increasing backlash that in turn will make pro-Israeli politicians push the country even closer to Israel. The sooner the Indian scientific community realises the grave political and national security implications of this and takes a principled stand on such matters, the better it will be for the country.•

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Indian RISAT: An Israeli spying machine

Pakistan Observer - Newspaper online edition - Article
Indian RISAT: An Israeli spying machine
Afshain Afzal

Few days back, Chairman Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), G Madhavan Nair confirmed that India’s Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT), which was launched on April 20, 2009 has begun sending images. The 300-kilograms satellite, RISAT in a 550 kilometers height orbit with an inclination of 41 degrees to the equator and an orbital period of about 90 minutes. The launch marked the covert operational use of the Indo-Israeli jointly developed Advanced Mission Computers and Advanced Telemetry System, which guided the vehicle from lift-off till the injection of the two satellites in the desired orbit. RISAT is a dual purpose ‘civil and military’ acquired from Israel for surveillance that can take 1 meter resolution images at night and through clouds.

It is interesting to know that why India acquired an Israeli satellite when it was already in possession of military reconnaissance satellites ‘Technology Experiment Satellite (TES)’ weighing over 1000 kilograms, which was equipped with optical sensors and powerful telescopic cameras. Unofficial reports suggest that the satellite turned blind during night, under heavy cloud and in monsoons. It is also being said that the images of this satellite are hazy and is not effected tool for analyzing military movements. India was utilizing the facilities of Canadian all-weather satellite before the RISAT was sent to the orbit. For the latest defence purpose imageries, India was commercially purchasing it from different countries including Russia, Israel and US. RISAT is equipped with spying capabilities and capable of taking high-resolution images through clouds due to its inbuilt night vision device. This spy satellite, which will basically target Pakistan, Afghanistan Iran, Bangladesh, China and other target countries of interest will help Indian, Israeli, Italian and US intelligence agencies to keep a watch on real time movement of important personalities, groups and other strategic cum tactical developments. Although India is tight lipped and claims that RISAT would be mainly used for disaster management purpose but pictures taken by the said satellite can be used for any clandestine purpose including defence.

RISAT has a unique feature as compared to India’s other remote-sensing satellites as it uses the Israeli developed Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), equipped with many antennas to receive signals that are processed into high-resolution pictures. Reacting to media reports terming RISAT a spy satellite or defence surveillance satellite, the ISRO Chairman Madhavan Nair dismissed reports labeling RISAT a spy satellite and said that it is an imaging satellite that can identify features on ground and has a global coverage and that India will use it only for its own use. Irrespective of India’s official stand, no one can deny that the satellite’s synthetic aperture radar gives it day-night capability and the ability to look through clouds and fog, thus giving it defence and spying applications.

Indo-Israeli military and intelligence collaboration is reaching to a danger mark. The successful launching of an Israeli procured sophisticated surveillance satellite ‘RISAT’, is directly threatening the very existence of some Middle Eastern and Asian countries including Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Bangladesh as well as China. India is fooling the world when it claims that the satellite “will enhance ISRO’s capability for earth observation, especially during floods, cyclones, landslides and in management of disasters.” Although ISRO Chairman has officially denied that the satellite would primarily serve intelligence purposes but he himself has admitted that “spying depends on the user of the satellite.”

At many occasion in off-the-record statements, India has attested to the fact that the satellite was meant for military surveillance of India’s borders and coastal areas, to prevent terror attacks and infiltration. India has reportedly made secret agreements with US, UK, Israel and Italy with regard of selling sensitive imagery for the utilization of defence and security agencies. Although RISAT is a dual purposes satellite but India must make it clear, whether IRSO will use it for military purposes and sell its imageries commercially. In that case there may be countries who would think about developing Anti Satellites (ASAT). There are reports that Israel has intentionally launched RISAT through India to camouflage its missions against Muslim world. The similarity of RISAT with Israeli TecSAR satellite which was launched on January 21, 2008 has put a big question mark on ISRO’s claim of indigenous development. There can be no doubt that RISAT’s prime objective is to keep an eye on Pakistani and Iranian nuclear and missile development programmes. Another prime target of this satellite is China. The policy makers in India are much perturbed over Indian intelligence reports, especially RAW, that mass infiltration of militants from Pakistan into India territories has become a constant feature. The government of India feels helpless in tackling with bundles of intelligence reports that Pakistan is attempting to disintegrate India union. India considers that its new spy satellite ‘RISAT’ will help its security agencies to keep close surveillance of India’s borders and neighbouring areas, the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, coastal and maritime areas etc. One thing good about the ‘RISAT’ is that India would be able to realize very soon that its intelligence agencies including RAW had been bluffing Indian government that infiltration of Pakistani and foreign mercenaries is taking place and Pakistan is the prime cause of unrest in India.

It is pertinent to mention here that it will be India’s mistake to presume that its joint conspiracy in Asian and Middle Eastern regions would be a success story. Just to remind India and Israel, Soviet Union had technological edge over its revivals but today it is a history. Similarly, Israel and many other powerful countries united against tiny state of Palestine but six decades of efforts could not bring fruits. India needs to keep the example of Soviet Union in its mind and concentrate on its own home grown problems rather than wandering what other states are doing. Pakistan is hopeful that once India finds out the truth that Pakistan is not sponsoring terrorism inside its territories, there would be bright chances that Pakistan and India may come closer and resume Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) which may lead to the resolution of all the pending irritants including right of self determination of people of Jammu and Kashmir.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Top Stories | Pakistan Observer Newspaper online edition


Enemy, ‘friendly’ satellites monitor Pak nuke sites

Akhtar Jamal

Islamabad—At a time when Pakistan is busy fighting internal and external terrorists several foreign satellites are monitoring the region and taking images of Pakistan’s nuclear sites particularly that of near Khushab and exchanging with each others. According to an authoritative source Indian, American, Israeli and French satellites have recently been engaged clandestinely taking images of suspected nuclear sites of Pakistan in an apparent bids to re-play Nuclear Card against Pakistan. Officials here are dismayed by the moves carried out by foes and friends while ignoring the fast growing nuclear and thermo-nuclear projects being worked out in India and Israel.

The latest sharing of satellite images on Pakistan are causing some concern here but experts have rejected a recent report released by American news sources on alleged expansion of Pakistani nuclear programme. MSNBC has recently telecast a detailed report on Pakistan’s nuclear programme while American Institute for Science and International Security is openly displaying latest images of Pakistani nuclear sites gained from foreign satellites in the region. According to Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) a comparison of commercial imagery of the second Khushab reactor from September 3, 2008 and January 30, 2009, shows that in the span of almost four months, there have been few changes to the structures and that there does not appear to be ongoing construction of any additional buildings.

“This indicates that major construction of the buildings associated with the second Khushab reactor may have been completed,” ISIS added and claimed that satellite pictures suggested that Pakistan was preparing for construction of a third nuclear reactor there. According to experts an Indian satellite Cartostat 2-A launched recently is busy sending telemetry data of the region to Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. While another Indian satellite equipped with multi-spectral camera onboard IMS-1 is able to send high quality imagery while the Hyper Spectral Imaging (HySI) camera onboard IMS-1 and panchromatic (PAN) camera onboard Cartosat-2A are working 24 hour to monitor the region.

On the other hand Israeli satellite TecSAR, specially designed as reconnaissance satellite, equipped with synthetic aperture radar and launch by India on 21 January 2008 is also reportedly taking and passing pictures of Pakistan and Iranian nuclear sites. Experts say that Israeli TecSAR satellite is fitted with a large dish-like antenna to transmit and receive radar signals that can penetrate darkness and thick clouds. Meanwhile another Israeli statellite, Ofek-7, also known as Ofeq 7 serving as an earth observation satellite and launched on June 11, 2007 is also equipped with most advanced technology to provide improved imagery.

The United States, Britain, France and Russia are also maintaining over a dozen military satellites tailored to take pictures of suspected nuclear and military sites. What is more bothering for area experts is the fact that drones quipped with latest and most advanced cameras can also supply pictures and images of sensitive areas and plants to the military leaders.

The American Lacrosse radar imaging satellite is one of the leading sources optimized for tactical and strategic military targets partly due to a sophisticated imaging process that involves Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), making it capable of resolving images to within 1 meter. Although the resolution is not as high as the KH series, Lacrosse is an all-weather, day-night satellite and is able to detect and target large objects like ships and aircraft. Lacrosse also uses other radar emissions such as GMTI to track moving vehicles, locate field bunkers up to three meters underground and submerged submarines at periscope depth (40 to 50 feet). Satellite images of sensitive buildings or areas are also available commercially and can be bought from private satellites. For example Ikonos-2 satellite images are said to be among the best available to the public.

They were added to photographs already being collected by military satellites and airplanes for the American National Imagery and Mapping Agency. Ikonos pictures cost buyers up to $200 per square kilometer of imagery plus an extra $3,000 for quick turnaround work. Western news media often pay as much as $500 per picture or image. Ikonos-2 has a camera on board that, when shooting black-and-white photos, can see objects on Earth as small as one meter square (three feet or one yard). The company claims, “You can count the cars in a parking lot, tell which are pickups and sedans, and tell what color they are.”

European photo-reconnaissance planes, including France’s Mirage IV-P and Britain’s Canberra PR-9 also secures pictures and images and make available for military use. The Canberras, flying out of missile range at 50,000 feet (15,245 meters), take pictures of “unbelievable clarity” while French Mirage IV-P with ability to fly very low, hugging the nape of the earth sometimes only 100 feet (30 meters) below the pilot. It can take pictures that include sideways views into mountainsides to disclose caves hidden from cameras in aircraft flying at higher altitudes.

There are also fears that American, Israeli and Indian drones flying in the area can also take images of desired spots or targets but for the time being the U.S. drones have restricted their flight in only designated areas. However, Israeli UAVs some linked with foreign military forces might have made bids to captures pictures of Pakistan’s sensitive areas and establishments. Few years ago Pakistan Air Force had shot down an Israeli UAV operated by Indian Air Force over Pakistani territory.

 

[NikSha]

Amazing stuff. Monitoring terrorist activity 24/7 is the only way to check the infiltration and prepare for any off border attacks in the near future (it seems). Good job ISRO.

 

[venkat]

"Pakistan is hopeful that once India finds out the truth that Pakistan is not sponsoring terrorism inside its territories, there would be bright chances that Pakistan and India may come closer and resume Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) which may lead to the resolution of all the pending irritants including right of self determination of people of Jammu and Kashmir."

LF! its pure bakwas !

 

[enlightened1]

IAF to have data network centricity in two years

IAF to have data network centricity in two years​

http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-36544.html​

http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-36544.htmlhttp://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-36544.html

Bangalore, Jan 22: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will have a central network in the next two years to process data that will help during critical operations, Chief of Air Staff P.V. Naik said Friday.

"I am looking at a two years' time to have a net centric environment to process data in real time for combat operations and optimal performance," Naik told reporters on the margins of an air force event here.

With technology at the core of operations, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will use optical fibre cable as a backbone for its network AFNet (Air Force Net) with the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) as the ground arm, Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), radars and electronic warfare system for data links as the base arm and satellites as a space arm.

"AFNet will be active by June this year and IACCS will be ready in a couple of years. AWACS and radars are in place for integration with other arms for building a network centricity by 2012-13," Naik said after delivering the fourth L. M. Khatre Memorial Lecture here.

Unfolding the vision of the air force 'requisite capability - well in time, 'adaptive organisation' and the 'right people', Naik said to achieve the capability, the IAF had a three-pronged transformation plan to preserve and maintain what it had, selectively upgrade and improve the lethality of its assets and to progress with acquisitions and replacements.

"We need satellites, force multipliers and strategic lift capability, fourth and fifth generation fighters, latest weapons, weapons systems and sensors, network centricity and communication and trained and motivated air warriors," Naik said in his 30-minute address to serving and retired air force personnel and aerospace people from the industry.

--IANS

 

[Armand2REP]

Only two years?? Network-centric warfare is all about bandwidth. How many digital com sats does the military have?

 

[enlightened1]

Only two years?? Network-centric warfare is all about bandwidth. How many digital com sats does the military have?

Cartosat2A & Risat 2 are already in position. Risat 1, Air force sat & navy sat are scheduled to be launched this year.

 

[p2prada]

Only two years?? Network-centric warfare is all about bandwidth. How many digital com sats does the military have?

We don't need satellites. Europe, China and the US are going that route. We are going the underground route. We supposedly already have the largest fibre optic connections in the world. The army has a 65000km network and was used successfully under the name Project Mercury Thunder during Kargil war. The airforce already have an unknown cable network.

This year a PSU called BSNL will start building a $2Billion OFC channel that will span another 65000km to 100000 km for communications for the armed forces. This is after the armed forces releases 45Mhz for the 3G civilian communication system.
The Hindu Business Line : Optical fibre network for Air Force near completion

Something about Mercury Thunder:
?Mercury Thunder? To Enable Real Time Battlefield Data Transfer

A satellite overlay is expected. But all of this will be achieved in 2 years.

 

[neo29]

Its good news, but i feel such sensitive acquisitions or upgrades must be kept secret.

 

[Armand2REP]

We don't need satellites. Europe, China and the US are going that route. We are going the underground route. We supposedly already have the largest fibre optic connections in the world. The army has a 65000km network and was used successfully under the name Project Mercury Thunder during Kargil war. The airforce already have an unknown cable network.

You don't need satellties yet Mercury Thunder is the addition of satellites. Fibre optics isn't any good if you don't have anything transmitting to it. High speed radio and microwave is only LOS to the ground nodes so unless your troops don't plan on leaving the network area they will need a satellite uplink. Not only do satellites provide a wider coverage area but they also handle more bandwidth and less prone to environmental interference than LOS transmitters. If IAF are conducting strikes or IN is operating off the littoral it is a necessity. If troops are advancing outside the network they won't have time to lay cable and set up reciever stations. Using cellular services increases bandwidth but it is immobile and subject to surface strike, as well as network ground nodes. Having geosationary sats over your own territory will prevent them from being targetted by the PLA while any ground system can be hit by PLAAF. Once Chinese interceptors are neutralised, the sat can be moved to a new orbit to support advancing forces. That is far easier, faster, and more capable than setting up ground relays.

 

[Armand2REP]

Cartosat2A & Risat 2 are already in position. Risat 1, Air force sat & navy sat are scheduled to be launched this year.

Those are spy sats, not com sats.