In a major boost to India’s sovereign space-based surveillance and deep-tech capabilities, the Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science & Technology (DST) has sanctioned ₹64.05 crore in financial backing to Bengaluru-based Astrome Technologies Pvt Ltd. Funded through the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund via Optionally Convertible Debt (OCD), this support covers half of the ₹128.11 crore project aimed at building an indigenous, Artificial Intelligence-enabled Electronic Intelligence (AI-ELINT) satellite constellation for national security.
The initiative focuses on advancing three critical frontier technologies from Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-4 to operational readiness at TRL-9. These include an Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) payload capable of detecting and analysing signals across a wide frequency spectrum, AI-based ground processing software to rapidly interpret complex orbital data, and inter-satellite communication links that enable satellites to exchange information directly and operate as an integrated network.
Operating in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), the constellation will comprise 50-kg-class microsatellites deployed progressively to deliver persistent surveillance, wider geographical coverage, and faster revisit times over strategic areas of interest. By converging satellite engineering, electronic intelligence, AI, and secure space communications, the project addresses the growing need for self-reliant, real-time intelligence gathering.
Highlighting the strategic push behind the agreement, TDB Secretary Rajesh Kumar Pathak noted that combining indigenous engineering with AI and next-generation communications is vital for emerging national requirements, adding that the RDI Fund is actively backing Indian enterprises working on frontier deep-tech solutions. Echoing this vision, an Astrome Technologies representative stated that the funding will accelerate the engineering, integration, and validation of these systems toward full operational deployment.
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