Soon, seven eyes in the sky to guard India

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is developing a constellation of seven satellites to give a boost to the country's security apparatus, a top scientist said in New Delhi on Sunday.

ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair said the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) was being developed "considering security related issues".

Speaking at the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi, Nair said: "The proposed system would consist of a constellation of seven satellites and a ground support segment. Three of the satellites will be placed in the geostationary orbit and four near the geostationary orbit.

"Such an arrangement would mean all seven satellites would have continuous radio visibility with the Indian control stations. The satellite payloads will consist of atomic clocks and electronic equipment to generate the navigational signals," he said.

"The system is intended to provide an absolute position accuracy of more than 20 meters throughout India and within a region extending approximately 2,000 km around it," Nair explained.

The system will help in tracking infiltration activities across the border and security personnel maintain better surveillance over tough terrains, mountains or deep inside the sea.

The ISRO chief did not say when the system is expected to be operational.