 | |
| Mission type | Communications |
|---|---|
| Operator | Indian Air Force Indian Army[1] |
| COSPAR ID | 2018-105A |
| SATCATno. | 43864 |
| Mission duration | Planned: 8 years Elapsed: 6 years, 2 months, 15 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | I-2K |
| Manufacturer | ISRO Satellite Centre Space Applications Centre |
| Launch mass | 2,250 kilograms (4,960 lb) |
| Power | 3.3 kilowatts[2] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 19 December 2018 10:40 UTC[3] |
| Rocket | GSLV Mk.II F11 |
| Launch site | Satish DhawanSLP |
| Contractor | ISRO |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Slot | 63°E[4] |
| Transponders | |
| Band | Ku band |
| Coverage area | India |
GSAT-7A is an advancedmilitary communications satellite meant primarily for theIndian Air Force withIndian Army using 30% of capacity.[5]
GSAT-7A allowsIAF to interlink different ground radar stations, ground airbase, aircraft to aircraftReal-time Control System,AEW&C aircraft such asBeriev A-50-basedPhalcon andDRDO Netra. The satellite enhancesnetwork-centric warfare capabilities of the Indian Air Force and its global operations.[6][7] The satellite is also used byIndian Army'sAviation Corps for real-time control and communication of its aviation operations.[1][8][9] India is in the process of acquiringhigh-altitude long endurance satellite-controlled UAVs, such as American armedMQ-9B Predator drones, that can fire at enemy targets from long distances.[7][10]
As of December 2018, there are 320 dual use or dedicatedmilitary satellite in the sky, half of which are owned by the United States, followed by Russia, China and India (14).[7] To boost its network-centric operations, the IAF is also likely to get another satelliteGSAT-7C within a few years.[7]
The GSAT-7A, with a mission life of 8 years, is also equipped with thepayload of 10Ku band transponders,[6] which offersseveral advantages over c-band, such more powerfulsatellite uplink and downlink signals,smaller antennas, andnon-interference of communication signals withterrestrialmicrowave systems.
GSAT-7A weighing 2,250 kilograms (4,960 lb) was successfully launched on 19 December 2018 byGSLV Mk II F11 rocket fromSecond Launch Pad ofSatish Dhawan Space Centre.[14] This three-stage launch vehicle 51 meters tall, has a lift-off mass of about 421 tonnes and indigenously developedcryogenic stage.[6][15]
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