New Delhi: In a bid to strengthen Indian Army's surveillance capability, the Defence Ministry of Tuesday cleared a proposal worth Rs 4,000 crore for a dedicated surveillance satellite to keep track of the activities taking place along the borders of China and Pakistan.
Currently, Indian Navy and Air Force have dedicated satellites for surveillance and now the Indian Army will also achieve the capability with the recent approval.
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"The Defence Acquisition Council meeting on Tuesday cleared the proposal for a made in India dedicated satellite for the Indian Army. The project for the satellite GSAT 7B will be carried out in partnership with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and would help the Indian Army enhance its surveillance in border areas," government sources told news agency ANI.
Indian Army has been actively working on several projects to upgrade its military capabilities ever since India witnessed a standoff with China's PLA in Arpil-May 2020 in eastern Ladakh.
The Army has been strengthening its surveillance assets including drones along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
Reacting to the development, Defence officials said that the satellite built by ISRO would also help the "Make in India" programme to develop indigenous industry in the country.
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India and China have been engaged in a border dispute for around two years.
China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has been carrying out construction of a bridge connecting the north and south banks of the Pangong Lake.