Defence Space Agency Seeks Up To Six Dedicated Satellites for HIMALAYAN Region
In order to closely monitor the activities of the Chinese military both near the Indian territory as well as in its depth areas all along the 4,000 kilometre Line of Actual Control (LAC) astride the Indo Tibetan Border, the Defence Space Agency needs to have at least six dedicated satellites to help keep the Chinese under complete Surveillance.
The need has been there since ages but now has been accentuated after the Chinese Army first carried out a major exercise in the Xinjiang region on its side of the LAC and then suddenly mobilised more than 40,000 troops along with heavy weaponry and artillery and started moving them towards the LAC along the Indo Tibetan Border. Thereafter they transgressed across the LAC into Indian territory at multiple locations surprising New Delhi.
“To improve the coverage of the activities of the Chinese troops and forces in both near Indian territory and in their depth areas, there is a need for four to six dedicated satellites with very high-resolution sensors and cameras giving ability to keep a close watch even on the movement of small objects and individuals,” defence sources said.
The capability and assets would also help the country to reduce dependence on foreign associates to keep a watch on Chinese and other adversaries, they said. The Indian Armed Forces already have a few military satellites which are used for keeping a close watch on the adversaries but there is a need to further strengthen that capability, the sources said.
At the moment, Chinese troops have transgressed into certain areas along the Panging Tso lake where they are refusing to disengage completely and want to create an observation post at Finger-5. In the Gogra area also, they are maintaining some elements.
Because of the lack of adequate infrastructure, the Indian side took time to build up its numbers in Ladakh and to pump in additional forces from adjoining areas and reserve formations.
The Chinese have also created a similar build up all along the LAC opposite Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh but the Chinese troops there are in depth areas.
The Chinese had started the conflict with India on May 5 when they marched into the Galwan valley and tried to change the status quo on the LAC but the Indian forces pushed them back and handled the situation well.
